Grace vs. Global Warming

Last night I sat down to watch 20/20 with my wife.  There were few stories which interested me, except one.  John Stossel, a reporter for 20/20, did a story on global warming called Give Me A Break.  Much to my surprise this story was unlike anything one usually hears from the media about global warming.  He even had four scientists on the show who were willing to publicly state that there is no evidence humans are responsible for global warming.  They went further to say they were not sure global warming was a bad thing. 

I was amazed this story aired the same week Al Gore was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his involvement in such agendas.  Al Gore often seems to be portrayed as the “Savior of the Environment.”  A title which I find fits well with, “Inventor of the Internet.”  How many people I wonder would go to Al Gore for technical troubleshooting, let alone scientific data on the environment?  Since his “documentary” entitled, “An Inconvenient Truth,” many have seen him as the spokesman for global warming.

Truthfully, I have always been highly skeptical of global warming.  This only seemed to increase with the amount of media attention given to it.  While I might be persuaded that the globe is warming (i.e. I trust a scientist can read a thermometer and keep an accurate record of the data), I am not as easily persuaded that it is due to the irresponsibility of mankind.  In fact this, is what the scientists on 20/20 said.  Global warming could be occurring much more by changes in the sun. 

While I do believe that as humans we have been given a responsibility to care for creation and subdue it, I also believe in God’s eternal sovereign plan for the course of all human history.  Scare tactics made by environmentalists do not compare to the sovereign judgment that will be delivered by God.  The rising of tides should be the least of our concerns as we face a holy and righteous God.  Read what Peter says about this judgment:

For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God,  [6] and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.  [7] But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

    [8] But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  [9] The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.  [10] But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

2 Peter 3:5-10

Each day given to us upon this earth is only by the grace of God.  In this way, God has extended grace even to the unbeliever that they might turn from their sins and put their trust in the Son of God.  It is only by Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection that we can be brought into a relationship with God and now, by faith, receive His righteousness.  Global warming, global cooling, or pandemic does not change the fact that there is an Almighty, Infinite, Sovereign Creator who has planned the beginning of human history to the end of human history.  If our trust is in Him, what is there to fear?      

Tearing Your Heart

What is your heart glued to?  In reading, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, Jeremiah Burroughs says there are only two options.  Either your heart is glued to the world and the creature comforts therein or it is glued to the glory of Jesus Christ.  To have a heart glued to the glory of God is to have a soul bound to eternal glory, joy, and ultimate satisfaction.  On the other hand, to have a heart glued to the world only brings discontent, despair, and ultimate sorrow.  Hear how Burroughs describes God’s calling our hearts from the world.

The disengagement of the heart from the creature is the calling of the soul from the world – ‘whom the Lord hath called he hath justified’ – what is the calling of the soul but this?  The soul which before was seeking for contentment in the world, and cleaving to the creature, is now called out of the world by the Lord, who says: ‘Oh Soul, your happiness is not here, your rest is not here, you happiness is elsewhere, and your heart must be loosened from all the things that are here below in the world.’

How do you know what your heart is adhered to?

Something which is glued to another cannot be taken off, but you must tear it; so it is a sign your heart is glued to the world, that when God would take you off, your heart tears.

Does your heart tear when God takes something from you which is of the world?  Or, is it easy to let go since your heart is not bound to such a thing?  In a materialistic age and culture, we are surrounded by people who find it easy to set their affections on things, but they come to ruin and despair when they lose those things.  How effortless it is to live by sight rather than by faith.  Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and a heart set on him will gladly let all the material things of this world go for the glory and greatness they see in Him.  One’s heart can be seen in how they deal with affliction.

If God, by an affliction, should come to take anything in the world from you, and you can part from it with ease, without tearing, it is a sign then that your heart is not glued to the world.

What is your heart glued to? 

Reading For Relationships

I snapped the above picture to demonstrate what books you might find stacked together at our house.  When I first saw this grouping of books it seemed funny.  Here are all these kid books with one big thick theology book in the middle.  As I thought about it more it became clear this stack of books has a profound message.  The message was that I read for relationships.  Another way I might say it is: I read to enhance my relationships. 

One of my favorite things to do with my son is read to him.  From the time he was only a few days old I we have read together.  While he doesn’t sit as still as he did in those early days, it is enjoyable.  You can see some of the books we enjoy in this picture.  There’s Scrambled Eggs Super, The Sneetches, and Yertle the Turtle all authored by Dr. Seuss.  He also likes My Little Word Book and My Creation Bible, each with colorful pictures and drawings.  Why do I spend time reading these books to my son?  I read to him in order to build our relationship.  It is something we do together in our rocking chair which is fun and relaxing.  Reading is also a time of instruction, not from the books, but from me.  This closeness of reading together is something I cherished from my childhood and hope someday my son will cherish as well.  Now, he is bringing the books to me so we can read.

It might not be hard to understand why I read to my son.  But, how does reading The Doctrine of God: A Theology of Lordship by John Frame enhance relationships?  I think it builds relationships in two ways.

First, this kind of book builds my relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is a book centered on Him and His Word.  It seeks to instruct me from the Bible so I have a better understanding of who God is.  My desire is to know God.  Any book which drives this understanding deeper and makes it more comprehensive builds my relationship with Christ.  As my knowledge of Him grows, my worship grows, my love for Him grows, and so my obedience is strengthened.  I am not just reading this book for Systematic Theology 1 with Dr. Wellum.  Although, I will be accountable to him for its reading, I will be more accountable to God for how I used my time on this earth.  Time spent  growing  my relationship with God through books teaching me the Word of God is time well spent.

Second, this kind of book builds relationships with other people.  The building of these relationships is not as direct as reading to my son, yet they are still important.  In training for the ministry, my thoughts are often drawn to those people who I will minister to.  A book like The Doctrine of God builds into my relationship with the Lord, but through me will (hopefully) build into other’s relationship with the Lord.  By giving me a greater understanding and love of the Savior, my prayer is that the Lord will use me as an example to others.  Being an example is more than just having people watch your life.  It is about pouring your life into other people.  It seems like the buzzword around the SBTS campus is “gospel-centered.”  Think of this then as a “Gospel-centered pouring” of your life.  Can all this happen from reading a theological book?  I think it can and it must.  Forgetting this can quickly lead to prideful knowledge, this is dangerous for any believer.

So read, read , read, and read for relationships.