Sunio: Retribution?

“THE Marawi Siege was a form of punishment by God to the residents of Marawi” – Really now?

Scrolling through the Internet and some social media websites about updates on the rehabilitation of Marawi City, there were posts that state that the “Marawi Siege will happen again if the people continue to sin.”

A year before, many posts also justified the coming of the Siege because the people of Marawi had become ‘evil’.

Well, it’s not that I don’t believe in biblical texts, but then, are we to brand those afflicted by the war as ‘sinners’ who get what they deserve?

So what happened then to those who had obtained dirty money who are still living carefree lives in some other house in Marawi or in another city even after one of their houses was ridden with bullets in the city’s most affected area?

Why are some of those who continue to work hard to survive still putting up with living in tents, cramped up evacuation centers, or transitory shelters with no more home to call their own?

What happened to those who were already poor and were earning small but honest money even before the Siege?

Were they subjected to the ‘wrath’ too?

These self-righteous statements harm those who are trying hard to survive after the war; those who would prefer to stay in tents than rob a house for quick relief or fast cash.

Furthermore, messages like these may hamper the sympathy needed by the IDPs and possible support that may come to them. Nothing good will come out of these condemning statements.

You do not encourage people to seek God’s help, you tell them to be afraid.

I do not believe in a god who believes that making people suffer is a way for the mortals to repent and turn to him. Rather, I believe in a God who is merciful, who does everything for a reason for the betterment of His people.

I believe in a God who is close to those who are broken, wounded, and are suffering.

I only believe in a God who will make all things new and beautiful in His time.

If anything else, the Siege may have happened because of the lacking on man’s conscience. It was because some parties were fed up, while some were not taught how to be good and how to act appropriately.

In the end, it may all have happened because of the works of another man, not God’s.