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?
That doesn’t mean that we should ignore environmental issues. God gave humans the mandate to care for his creation. Christians should be at the forefront of environmental concerns, but instead we quote 2 Peter 3, say “It’s all gonna burn anyway, so let just focus on evangelism.” Personally, I think that’s the wrong approach. God created this earth for us, and we should care for it, nurture it, protect it. Anything less is sin. And how great could our witness be if we were to show our concern for creation for right biblical reasons as opposed to the reasons that non-believers use to care for the earth.