Tony Compolo has become an Open Theist, even if he doesn’t use the term. Here is part of his reaction to the reaction to Katrina:

But when the Bible tells us about the grace of God, it is giving us the good news that our loving God does not give us what we truly deserve. Certainly, God would not create suffering for innocent people, who were–for the most part–Katrina’s victims.

Perhaps we would do well to listen to the likes of Rabbi Harold Kushner, who contends that God is not really as powerful as we have claimed. Nowhere in the Hebrew Scriptures does it say that God is omnipotent. Kushner points out that omnipotence is a Greek philosophical concept, but it is not in his Bible. Instead, the Hebrew Bible contends that God is mighty. That means that God is a greater force in the universe than all the other forces combined.

Notice the irrationality of it. God is not omnipotent, but he is mighty and greater than all other forces combined. Then there is nothing that can thwart God’s purposes, since he is mightier than all other forces combined. That is the definition of omnipotence! Also, he said “God does not give us what we truly deserve” and in the next sentence says “God would not create suffering for innocent people.” Hey, if they’re innocent AND they suffered, then God truly did not give them what they deserve! They deserve blessings and peace but they got a hurricane.

God is omnipotent whether the word is used in the Old Testament or not. You cannot really read Job 38-41 and not recognize that God is claiming himself to be omnipotent.

Personally, I contend that the best thing for us to do in the aftermath of Katrina is to remain silent, and not try to explain this tragedy. Instead of asking “Why?” we should be asking, “What does God want us to do now?” The loving God calls all believers in the face of Katrina’s devastation to seek ways to express love in concrete ways towards those who have lost friends and family members; and to those who have lost homes along with most of their earthly belongings.

But this is not at odds with confessing with the Bible that God is omnipotent and brings all these things about! If we tell them that God is not powerful over storms how can we assure them? What hope are they given if God could not stop the next storm that comes along? How are they comforted if they feel that we are at the mercy of blind and uncaring nature instead of under the caring protection of God? Yes he judges. But as I’ve said elsewhere, the point of Katrina is not to judge, but to call all of us to repentance. America is no better than any other nation. This isn’t a chance to rail against cultural acceptance of homosexuality or abortion or smutty television, it is a chance to call individuals to repentance and faith.

Tony Campolo has just stuck his finger in the eye of any evangelical attempting to do that. He has sided with the God-belittelers and denied the God of the Bible which is in Hebrew and Greek. Tony Campolo has embraced heresy and has departed from the faith. I hope that those in the Emergent Church who have warmed to him will now reject him as well.

Tony, repent of your sin and confess your error. Recant this scandalous things that you have said against God. Repent or a storm far worse than Katrina will fall upon you at the end when Christ judges the hearts of all. Repent Tony, repent.

For a stark contrast to how to handle this, take a look at John Piper’s response to the same kind of nonsense.