This question surfaced in the wake of television broadcaster Pat Robertson's remark in January that the earthquake in Haiti indicated the Haitian people were under a curse for having made a pact with the devil. Mr. Robertson's comment was irresponsible and unsupportable. Yet it allows us to ponder whether people are cursed by God, and if we can ever be sure about it.

WE AFFIRM THE UNIVERSAL CURSE

Let's not forget or minimize the fact that all mankind bears a curse brought by sin. Guilt and corruption inherited from Adam plus guilt and rebellion in our lifestyles place us under God's curse. Romans 3:9-20 tells this sad truth. Because of mankind's sin, creation is cursed as well (see Genesis 3:17 and Romans 8:20-22). We assert this.

But we also affirm this: "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, by becoming a curse for us" (Galatians 3:13). In heaven, "no longer will there be any curse" (Revelation 22:3). 

WE ALLOW FOR PARTICULAR CURSES

God speaks of particular curses on certain people or countries. Mostly this kind of language refers to those who despise the unconditional gospel of his grace in Christ and prefer instead a self-chosen way of getting right with God. Jeremiah 17:5 and Galatians 3:10 are good examples. Those who do not love Christ remain under a curse (1 Corinthians 16:22) and will be declared cursed on the Last Day (Matthew 25:41). And sometimes God can issue curses on nations or peoples, as he did with the Canaanites (Genesis 9:25) and his disobedient covenant people Israel (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). Impenitence always invites divine curses. Bad behavior born of unbelief is routinely linked with curses (Proverbs 3:33, 28:27; Isaiah 24:5,6).

Acknowledging that God curses specific individuals or peoples, however, is different from claiming we know for sure that someone is cursed in a specific way or for a specific sin. Bible history repeatedly shows how God governed nations and people in ways that contemporary observers were unable to fathom. Time spent reading and pondering Job, Habakkuk, or Psalm 73 will ground us more firmly in that truth. Only divine revelation provided through his prophets and apostles supplied reliable explanations. In observing current events, we need to remember this and never think we have God figured out in detail. Only he knows his specific intentions in each situation.

WE ANNOUNCE THE REMEDY FOR ALL CURSES