God & the Oil Spill: A lack of leadership
June 21, 2010 by William K. Wolfrum
On April 20, 2010, British Petroleum’s Deep Water Horizon oil rig exploded, killing 11 men and allowing millions of gallons of oil to gush into the Gulf of Mexico. Almost immediately the call went out to him. Yet there was no reply.
Since then, the call to him has been made by many, from President Barack Obama to ex-Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin. And still no response. God, it appears, is refusing to take a leadership position when he’s needed the most.
Yes, in the two months since the oil began destroying the livlihoods of fisherman and the Gulf of Mexico, God has had no comment. This despite incessant pleas for help from the Louisiana Senate, from U.S. Bishops and Gulf pastors, as well as hundreds of thousands of Americans.
But God has turned a blind eye.
Some have chastised God’s unwillingness to help, claiming he has spent far too much time helping soccer players score goals in the World Cup (they all thank him after scoring). Others were irked at his appearances at the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. Yes, while the Gulf of Mexico is being destroyed, God golfs.
Others have been sharper in their criticism, stating that God caused the oil spill in order to pass comprehensive energy legislation, or to force Americans off their addiction to fossil fuels. Some have even gone so far as to suggest God is punishing America for gorging on shellfish.
At this point, all arguments must be considered. Because while the nation is being implored to reach out to God for help, God – who thousands of years ago couldn’t shut up – has been silent. There has been no strategic oil spill clean-up plan coming from God and no plans on helping fisherman. There has been nothing but silence.
The time for leadership is now. If God is unwilling or unable to help America out in its great time of need, perhaps he’s just not the God we thought he was. Perhaps now is the time to look to Allah, or Satan, or some other supernatural being with engineering know how.
The clock is ticking. Oil is still spewing. And God is showcasing an incredible lack of leadership, if not outright incompetence in helping the situation. This is America and results matter, and if God can’t take control of this situation, then maybe it’s time we stopped looking to the heavens for a miracle.
–WKW
WKW: “Perhaps now is the time to look to Allah, or Satan, or some other supernatural being with engineering know how.”
But if we look to Satan, God will send earthquakes to kill us all:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/laplaza/2010/01/us-televangelist-pat-robertson-links-haiti-earthquake-to-pact-with-devil.html
It seems like a Catch-22. If we let God fix the leak, it may go on leaking for 30 years (until it allegedly runs out altogether). If we turn to Satan, God will kill us with earthquakes, or hurricanes, or floods, or fires, or any number of other natural disasters that God likes to use when people allegedly don’t turn to him.
Personally, I think we should develop a taste for oil-drenched seafood. That way, the fishermen can just scoop the dead fish off the top of the gulf, and life can go on like normal. How do we do that evolving thing? If we could do that evolving thing, we might be able to develop the ability to process the oil through our system, and then pee in a gas tank and drive for hundreds of miles. Someone find a geneticist!