Christians, is God responsible for natural disasters?

We live in a fallen creation where sinful people still have free will to either turn to God and love Him or continue in the rebellion that started in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. God doesn't act like some supernatural guardian who makes free will a parody by not actually allowing sinners to break His commands. Being sinners and rebellions against God by continuous sinning will bring judgement up on human kind. God had asked Adam to manage and subdue the earth, make the earth a nice place to live and multiply in everything. But, apparently human kind is greedy and exploited the earth and the earth is groaning in pain and will anytime erupt.

It's all about the choices we make, so we better use the freedom of choice to help us improve not to hurt us or to ruin us. The fault lies with the people in question, not God.... He's doing what He is supposed to do i.e give the baby spirit and soul. The responsibility of the rest of the part, that is, rearing the baby up lies with the parents.

Shalom,

JML

Natural disasters are the result of a fallen world, especially a post-flood fallen world. The flood of Noah caused such a meteorological upheaval that it brought about conditions that could spawn hurricanes, tornadoes, large rainfalls leading to floods, as well as the temperate extremes throughout the earth. Also the flood brought about a great re-shifting of the earth's structure which brought about the potential for earthquakes a tidal waves. All of these disasters operate on a cyclical basis and are most likely not the result of divine intervention, though God could intervene if He desired. Situations such as the storm Jonah was caught in were probably more a result of providential timing according to divine foreknowledge of the event to come.

Natural disasters are just that - natural. And are as much a part of the rhythmic cycle of things as the changing of the seasons.

God allows many things to happen that He never intended from the beginning. Sin brought problems into the world, including its consequences. Natural disasters can help people turn to God. He does not intend to drive people away from Him, but to bring people to trust in Him. Eternity is more important than things here on the earth, and if thousands can be brought to trust in Him through an earthquake (as in Haiti), He can use it. God will make a new world that will never have any problems (Rev. 21-22).

scripture states that sometimes God is in a natural disaster, and sometimes he is not

and we can never know which is which

Nah 1:3 The LORD [is] slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit [the wicked]: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds [are] the dust of his feet.

1Ki 19:11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; [but] the LORD [was] not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; [but] the LORD [was] not in the earthquake:

Jer 23:19 Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.

We are told that God created the world and all life in it. But God gave his people a free will to live life as man wanted. Sometimes 'natural' disasters are caused by the stupidity of man. Examples may be huge flooding such as occurred earlier this year when the mine tailings dam in Europe burst. It was caused by the ignorance of man. Huge areas of flooding in the UK have been caused by excessive building on flood plains. Earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions are indeed disasters, but the are natural happenings of the functioning of the Earth over the centuries. I personally do not believe that God causes natural disasters, nor indeed Cancer or viruses, because I personally believe in a God of justice and love. If we truly believe in God and seek His will in our lives, we will care for and protect the world in which we live. When disasters happen (Such as Boscastle) He gives us the strength and determination to get through it.

In the book of Job it was satan who caused the hurricane or tornado that killed Job's children. I think that gives us a better clue as to who is responsible. And of course he would be happy with God receiving the blame.

Edit - In Job 2:3 it doesn't attribute the windstorm to God at all. You need to look at those verses again. In chapter 1 of Job, verse 9,10, satan challenges God and accuses him of putting up a hedge of protection around Job. Verse 12 - God says to satan, "Everything he has is in your hand. Only against Job himself do not thrust out your hand. So satan went out away from the person of Jehovah." Then in the subsequent verses satan wreaks calamity upon Jobs livestock and sons and daughters. So clearly Jehovah allowed it but satan caused it.

We live in a fallen world, and disasters can be a warning from God of the coming judgment

God always effects (allows, enables) calamity, but people (sin) are not always the cause (Job).

If the word of God said it then that settles it. But Satan is on this earth and he is the cause of a lot of natural disasters also remember how he tried and took out Jobs family.

No , Satan is , if he had not turned against God & caused Adam to stumble we would be in paradise earth under Gods protection.