Is This Judgment?

"God is judging Japan" said the woman in a brief interview on the evening news.  She was a Japanese national of Shinto faith.  My first feeling was relief that it was not an American speaking or representing some expression of Christianity.  But just as quickly it struck me: Hers is the only conclusion that performance-based world views - whether Shinto, Muslim or "Churchianity" - can come to when trying to come to grips with the unfolding national crisis in Japan.  The Gospel is very, very different.