United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) leader, Nigel Farage, has revealed that his party has suspended one of its members over recent remarks he made in relation to the legalization of homosexual 'marriage'. In a letter to the Henley Standard newspaper, Councillor David Silvester claimed that the latest flooding to hit Britain was a direct consequence of the government's decision to press ahead with the legalization of homosexual 'marriage' last year. Over the past month the UK has been battered by strong winds and torrential rains that have caused much devastation across the country. Coastal roads have been swept away, hundreds of homes remain flooded, and unfortunately some people have even lost their lives in the worst storms to hit Britain in 20 years...

Quote: “"The scriptures make it abundantly clear that a Christian nation that abandons its faith and acts contrary to the Gospel (and in naked breach of a coronation oath) will be beset by natural disasters such as storms, disease, pestilence and war." He added: "I wrote to David Cameron in April 2012 to warn him that disasters would accompany the passage of his same-sex marriage bill. But he went ahead despite a 600,000-signature petition by concerned Christians and more than half of his own parliamentary party saying that he should not do so. It is his fault that large swathes of the nation have been afflicted by storms and floods."

It is remarkable that exactly seven years ago, following the introduction of the Sexual Orientation Regulations by the then Labour government, Britain was reeling from a series of devastating storms that had brought widespread destruction and loss of life. Church of England bishops at that time warned that the nation was now “reaping the consequences of its moral degradation”. Bishop of Carlisle, the Right Reverend Graham Dow, stated that “the sexual orientation regulations are part of a general scene of permissiveness. We are in a situation where we are liable for God's judgement, which is intended to call us to repentance”. But it seems that the nation has not heeded that call. Seven years later, the British and Scottish governments are still pressing ahead in an effort to overturn God's natural order of creation, despite an overwhelming number opposed to the idea.

Personally I believe we can never say for sure whether these storms were a direct result of the government's decision to legalize homosexual 'marriage'. But when we read the Scriptures such as Exodus, Isaiah, Daniel and other books, and we see how God has dealt with nations in the past, it would be naïve to think that God has no involvement or interest in what happens in the world today. As it says in Daniel 4:17, "the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will”. That does not mean to say that God purposely sends great calamities to bring about mass destruction and loss of life. But He can withdraw His hand of protection when a nation purposely walks contrary to Him. We see this often in the Scriptures, and especially in relation to the nation of Israel (Leviticus 26). It would also be naïve to think that God would overlook the sin of a nation if He has promised to judge the sin of the individual.

When unbelievers think about God judging the nations, and I presume this is what Nigel Farage and others believe and why David Silvester is labelled by them as an 'extremist', they imagine a vengeful God who has lost control of His creation through sin, and so must bring about great and terrifying judgements in order to scare people into submission. But that's not the way it is at all. God has not lost control of His creation, nor is He vengeful. The Bible says that God has no pleasure at all in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11), and that He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2nd Peter 3:9). God is merciful. He would have spared the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah for the sake of just ten righteous people (Genesis 18). And He spared the entire city of Nineveh when they turned to Him for forgiveness (Jonah 4:11).

Our sin did not take God by surprise. Nor is He troubled by mankind's disobedience. But He will judge sin because He is a holy and righteous God. To overlook sin would bring God's own character into disrepute. But thank God He is also loving and merciful, and has provided a way whereby our sins can be forgiven. He sent His only Son Jesus Christ into the world to bear the punishment for sin in our stead. And He has promised eternal life to all who will accept His offer of salvation. Have your sins been forgiven? Have you trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31).

Source BBC, Guardian

Photo credit: freefotouk / Foter / CC BY-NC