14
Apr, 2022
The Crossroads of Christianity and Climate Change

The Crossroads of Christianity and Climate Change

Climate change is trending – not like the latest fashion fad, but as one of mankind’s most significant concerns. 

Decades before the World Meteorological Organization terms the long-term changes in weather conditions as “climatic change”, Joseph Fourier, a French physicist, identified the greenhouse effect. However, instead of agonizing over a warming planet, scientists from the late 1800s welcomed the idea of a changing climate. As goes by the Swedish chemist, Svante Arrhenius, “By the influence of the increasing percentage of carbonic acid in the atmosphere, I hope to enjoy ages with more equable and better climates, especially when it comes to the colder regions of the planet.”

If it wasn’t for scientists of the 80s, we would still have been in the dark; reports from U.S. National Academy of Sciences and Environmental Protection Agency sparked realizations over the possible catastrophic consequences of climate change.

After more than 35 years and hundreds of millions of dollars of research spent after these reports and climate change is still a point of threat to humanity.

Today, scientific evidence made it clear that human activity played a huge role in creating this environmental rift. And, if nothing substantial is done to stop it, there won’t be any “tomorrow.”

I heard about this “issue” when I was around 11 years old and I thought like, there were over 7 billion people living on earth, so if we all come together, we’ll make it work – you get the picture, right? But, it’s a pity that climate change became one of those flagship issues – like abortion, gun control and recreational use of marijuana. While some people would take it to the government and demand actions, others would deem the notion as a vacuous fad that will eventually, one day, fade into the background.

This isn’t an unusual comment for us to hear from a politician sometimes. But, imagine my surprise, when I learned that some Christians share the same view.

Who Are These Climate Change Skeptics?

Who Are These Climate Change Skeptics?I’m not a Christian environmentalist – even if I find their theories very interesting – but, I think when you are a believer and follower of Christ, you are called to understand God’s creation and be good stewards of nature. However, there are many individuals with a deep Christian faith who think that caring for the environment should not flow from spiritual beliefs.

Rev. Kyle Meyaard-Schaap, the Vice President of EEN(Evangelical Environmental Network) believes that this attitude is the result of the strong ties between religious beliefs and political tendencies.

Historically, U.S. politics have had significant impacts on several religious interest groups and have influenced their attention on things like reproductive rights, same-sex marriage and family values, which have now expanded to climate change.

When a research was in press at the journal Global Environmental Change, a survey was conducted with over 2000 North Americans, including most evangelical Christians. The main purpose of the survey was to understand the perspective of evangelicals about climate change and to weigh up their views to those of non-evangelical individuals. As per the data collected, there was variation in believers’ views, but most American evangelicals didn’t believe that climate change was indeed “happening” or that it was an issue to be worried about.

A further study from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication with Christians revealed that some refused to believe that climate change is real. They think it’s just one of the greatest hoaxes ever made by men.

As per a research conducted by the Pew Research Center, around a quarter of American evangelicals deny the science behind man-made climate change.

A believer even told an environmental group that climate change is a part of a sinister political plot to seek more power.

Many of these believers, a.ka. climate change skeptics start out their statements with “I’m not a climate scientist but…” 

Well, guess what? I’m not a climate scientist too, but that doesn’t mean I’m blind. As children of God, we cannot afford to close our eyes to the horrible things that are happening in the world.

What do you think?

 

28
Mar, 2022
From Another Christian Perspective: Why Should We Care For the Environment?

From Another Christian Perspective: Why Should We Care For the Environment?

“Sustainability” is the term that has become very, very popular in the media, in academic circles and among peers (even if most still can’t grasp the real meaning of “sustainability”).

A high-quality product is no longer enough to win a consumer’s favor. People want more than just quality; they are looking for products and brands that align with environmental values. Today, if a product is not labeled as “organic” or “sustainably-grow”, it will stay on the shelf in the grocery aisle. The same goes for suppliers. In the face of climate change and global warming, companies, including the fashion industry, which is the greatest culprit when it comes to pollution, are convinced that the more sustainable they become, the more they strive and erode competitiveness.

There’s no denying it; sustainability has surpassed the trend of Keto diets, Denim jeans and TikTok videos.

However, while the whole world is pitched in this battle, what about Christians?

As a firm believer and follower of Christ, I’ve often wondered if I should get involved in this quest for sustainability. Should I start buying designer brands because of the message “Without sacrifice” that they tell to the world? Or, should I start making expensive sustainable products my personal priority?

When I think of Romans 12: 2 (Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind), James 4:4 (don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God?) or 1 John 2:15 (Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you), my answer to the above questions becomes a big no. But, the following arguments might prove the opposite.

We Were Tasked to Steward the Earth’s Resources

We Were Tasked to Steward the Earth’s Resources

“Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”

– From Genesis 1:26

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to till it and keep it.”

– From Genesis 2:15

When God created water, animals, plants and the land, He created them for us to use. Now, yes, we are to use these various resources, but we are also meant to use them in a way that will preserve and sustain these valuable resources.

The environment was not created by man, but by our Heavenly Father and as His children, we are not meant to work against but for His creation.

God’s Detailed Sustainable Plan in the Book of Numbers

God’s Detailed Sustainable Plan in the Book of NumbersI came across this fascinating perspective as I was reading a book.

If you go back and read Numbers 35, you’ll find all the details of the amount of pasture land each town back then was supposed to have.

This was God’s command to His people:

“You shall measure, outside the town, for the east side two thousand cubits, for the south side two thousand cubits, for the west side two thousand cubits, and for the north side two thousand cubits, with the town in the middle; this shall belong to them as pasture land for their towns.”

– From Numbers 35: 5

When modern experts like Milgrom analyzed this geographical layout, they found that the town planning model could establish a social-economic structure that could lead to rising productivity while creating conditions for sustainable economic growth.

But, let’s recall that this sophisticated idea was not from a man but from God. Now, it’s up to believers to draw their conclusion from this Biblical scripture.

 

 

 

21
Mar, 2022
From a Christian Perspective: Why Should We Care For the Environment?

From a Christian Perspective: Why Should We Care For the Environment?

During the 18th-19th century in Europe, people realized that it would take decades or even centuries for a forest to grow out to become workable timber. That’s when the principle of sustainability was first developed.

If there was growing concern that the COVID-19 pandemic would somehow cause people around the globe to lose interest and sight of the urgency of environmental problems like global warming and air pollution, that worry can be put to rest. Recent surveys have found that in the wake of the pandemic, sustainability is still the “green” buzzword and people are still, if not more, concerned about the environment.

The concern for environmental challenges and the constant need to change behaviors to promote sustainability stems from your innate human nature that says caring for the environment is the right thing to do.

I know that recycling or home gardening is not sinful, but as a firm believer, I was wondering about what the Bible has to say about the environment. Should we Christians care for the environment?

Well, based on what I’ve learned, Biblical scriptures do not explicitly say anything about caring for the environment – especially, if you consider the fact that they were written like some thousands of years ago. But, after thorough reading and with the Holy Spirit’s revelation, I’ve come to learn a few things.

Let me share them with you!

God’s Creation

God’s Creation

In Genesis 1: 26-28,

“God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

So God created mankind in his own image,in the image of God he created them;male and female, he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.””

From Job 12:7-10:

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will tell you; ask the plants of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of every human being.”

 

From Psalm 95:3-7:

“For the Lord is a great God,

and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the depths of the earth;

the heights of the mountains are his also.

The sea is his, for he made it,

and the dry land, which his hands have formed.

O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!

For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.”

 

From a Christian Perspective: Why Should We Care For the Environment?

As we have seen in these above Bible verses, God created us in His image and gave us the power and authority to “have dominion over the earth.”

It is important to understand that “dominion” here is not a license to abuse of God’s creation or the authority He gave us on earth. The word “dominion” does not give us the permission to run roughshod over the earth and its resources.

As we are creatures and mirrors of God, we have to protect and take care of God’s creation. He created the earth and the environment for us to live in. And, the water, plants and animals were all created by Him for us to use. So, logically, it means we are not meant to destroy but rather preserve the environment and its resources.