IN the NEWS - Hurricane Harvey & Copelands

For I know this,

that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you,

not sparing the flock.

Acts 20:29

"Category 4 hurricane made landfall 30 miles north of Corpus Christi, Texas.  The storm, given the name “Hurricane Harvey”,  brought with it winds of 130 mph.  It was the strongest storm to hit the state of Texas since 1961…and Kenneth and Gloria Copeland did nothing to stop it.  As the storm, now weakening continues to drench Texas in torrential rain, the threat of catastrophic flooding looms.  Federal and state governments are measuring how best they can access and respond to the widespread damage.  The Copeland’s, who claim to be able to control the weather, are watching it all happen.

Kenneth and Gloria Copeland are popular Texas preachers who claim to know how to “talk to tornadoes” in order to rebuke them.  They claim to be able rebuke

the weather, to be able stop storms.  Yet, the worst storm to hit their home state in five decades continues to soak Texas as the Copelands stand idly by.  Hurricane Harvey made landfall roughly 400 miles from the Copeland’s home in Forth Worth.  It would have been quite convenient for the Copelands, who have a private jet and millions of dollars of resources at their disposal, to make a short trip to Corpus Christi , rebuke the storm, and save their neighbors from calamity.

Yet they didn’t do anything of the sort.  This should lead observers to one of the following conclusions:

1. The Copelands wanted to stop the storm but couldn’t. Thus, they are liars who claim to possess miracle powers that they don’t really have.  Their “ministry” is therefore not worthy of support.
2. The Copelands could have stopped the storm but didn’t love their neighbors and home state enough to be bothered to save them from the storm. While the Copelands stopped a storm that threatened to spoil their Hawaiian vacation, the one threatening the lives and property of their neighbors didn’t warrant a rebuke.  Since the Copelands don’t follow Christ’s command to love their neighbors, their “ministry” isn’t worthy of support.
3. The Copelands could have stopped the storm but decided it wasn’t best to do so. Certainly God Himself could have stopped the storm but didn’t. God, being omniscient, knows what is best for the universe and thus chooses to stop or not stop disasters as He sees fit.  Perhaps the Copelands possess the same kind of perfect divine knowledge that God does.  They, therefore, know it was best for a waterspout not to upset their Hawaiian vacation but not best for a Category 4 hurricane not to wreck Texas.

The patrons and “partners” of the Copelands’ “ministry”, especially those who are residents of Texas, would do well to consider each of these three conclusions and respond accordingly." Pulpit&Pen