In Reply to: global warming and Christian faith posted by katie on June 11, 2007 at 23:50:31:
For one thing I would consider myself a Bible believing Christian & on a Swiss Christian website I saw "echoed" a bit the ideas & sentiments you outlayed and asked about, so to an extent I understand you, but I like to share some of my sentiments & positions about the issue:
First I like to stress, that I was an environment ("green")activist...long before it became popular.I protetested in a letter to a mayor of some town against the chopping down of trees alongside an allee, as cardrivers continually got injured when they got off the road in their crazy driving-style or whatever.I collected aluminium tinfoil long before there was any recycling-method set-up...in the end...I threw the stuff away, cause there were no depostis set up at that time,
35 years back.So the German greens would have been my party at that time...I don't think they existed yet.Much has changed since then...but not enough to turn things around...the havoc caused by us greedy creatures.I always reasoned in my mind: what if all the Indians or Chinese would want a car like we take it for granted, the access to it?
(although volcano-eruptions blast a multitude of
particles into the air, from what I know, much more than what is done by industry or so)
Anyway, if you had my mindset of that time, then I think it can only lead into two directions: either you get relaxed "supernaturally" about the upcoming environment-catastrophies or you turn more radical like: green"peace" or the opponents of globalisation etc.
When in TF I finally started in my life to read the Bible, it did come us a tremendous relief, that God would create the earth anew...and better (I like to think)...It was a comfort to feel/know, that the issue is safe in God's hands.
On the other side, it's so called Christians (people with that label) or very insensitive believers, who seem to live as they please...although we are all a bit prone to selfishness.There are quite a few, who adhere to this strange gospel of abundance & affluence, that you should be tremendously be blessed (as Abraham e.g.), if you're on the right track...materially speaking(blessed)...that is quite a "far shot" away/apart from the meekness of Christ (riding on a donkey/ass) & not in a hummer
There are plenty of admonitions about temperance & to be happy with fewer things...I don't think I fully adhere to it...although the opposite "tactic", leading to a totally ascetic lifestyle isn't the full truth either IMHO.
In regards to the link/article:
"Let it be known that I am not overly concerned by global warming. I consider the scare as an effort to promote extreme political views. Some would fall under the label socialist, others Marxist, all desiring power vested in the hands of an elite few. The Creator designed the earth well, with built-in feedback mechanisms to handle any crises. There is coming a time, however, when excessive heat will be a problem (see Revelation 16:8-9), and these fluctuations may be a foreshadowing, but that too is in God's hands."
The people in power remain there or get more power independant of the global warming issue.I think that is a rather funny notion, I think it just happens to irritate him in his probably "good lifestyle" ; )
Why not trying to live on a little less, especilly Christians, global warming caused by men or not, this has nothing really to do with it.Especially the connection to Marxism I cannot really see & reminds me of the usual scare-tactic in the US, but something a bit old...how much Marxism is in todays China I might ask the author?...well, we shouldn't get into politics here...just a thought.
The mentioned scripture I always took very serious & it reminded me any time, when there was a "rattling" of scientists about an imminent ice-age, that according to the Bible, that wouldn't be the earth's destination in the near coming future.Rather the dieing of trees & creatures in the sea etc reminds me of the forecasts in revelations.
Happy surviving in Christ to any readers!!