Haitians Need to Repent or Perish?

Jesus' disciples came to him with some bad news. Some Galileans were murdered by Pilate during pagan worship. But Jesus didn't say, "Oh what a shame. If only these Galileans had repented of their evil ways!" which is probably what they expected him to say. Rather, Jesus turned it around and asked, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them — do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." (Luke 13:1-9)

As you probably know a great earthquake has shaken Haiti. Relief efforts are underway to help the people there, along with Pat Robertson's ministry. However he also said that the people of Haiti are suffering because they had made a pact with the devil a long time ago when the French had dominion over them.

Whether that statement is true or not is irrelevant at this point. The problem is that it isn't a wise statement. Now, I agree with Pat that people need to turn toward God in times of disaster or in general, and Pat should've left it at that. But this other stuff sounds like he's blaming the Haitians for the disaster. In fact, I have an uncle and aunt who do missionary work in Haiti. What about the Haitian Christians? What did they do? And what about Europe? Don't they need a great turning toward God too?

I am not saying God cannot cause a disaster. But neither are disasters always caused by God — especially without a clear prophesy to that effect. It is the state of a fallen world. The rain falls on the just and the unjust. Disaster falls on the just and the unjust. But like Jesus said, don't be fooled into thinking these people are worse sinners because something like this happened to them. For something worse will happen to everyone who doesn't repent.