Feeling the Heat

“The Earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” -- Psalm 24:1


Today was Earth Day and I have felt the need to write the following for almost a year now…

Let’s agree that no one knows the whole truth and that a lot of what we’re talking about when discussing “global warming” is, ultimately, educated supposition. Let us also agree that many environmentalists have presented their case with more than a little overblown alarmism. That said, let us finally agree that the overwhelming majority of scientists now believe the earth is warming and human beings are at fault.

The reports come so quick and fast these days that one can hardly keep track. Nearly all agree there is a massive problem looming. While there are dissenters, the vast majority of climatologists who have devoted their lives and reputations to their data believe the time for argument is long past.

Why then do so many on the Right and especially those within Christendom refuse to acknowledge that there is a problem? Why are so many in environmental denial? Many Christians are openly skeptical of the reality of the environmental crisis, viewing environmentalism as either a liberal issue or New Age propaganda. Worse, many Christians don’t see the point in saving something that the Bible says will eventually be destroyed anyway. Evangelicalism’s forefathers rejected science (and in many ways, still do) and Christians’ reluctance may well be a residual ripple effect of that divide. Or it could just be a further indication of how deeply in bed evangelical Christianity is with the Republican Party.

Thankfully, these mindsets are beginning to give way, and the voices of Christian environmentalists, muffled for so many decades, are now starting to be heard.

The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), which oversees 45,000 congregations and represents 30 million church members nationwide has spearheaded much of Evangelicalism’s current green spirituality. While environmentalists lost an ally in disgraced pastor and former NAE president, Ted Haggard, vice president Richard Cizik has been shown to be the real powerhouse behind the NAE’s initiatives. The NAE has announced that evangelical leaders are committed to spreading the word that protecting the environment is a profound religious responsibility and that environmental issues, including global warming and climate change, will be at the forefront of the organization’s agenda.

The NAE isn’t the only one. From smaller evangelical organizations to the Holy See, Christians are finally taking a stand. Evangelical organizations have been writing position papers declaring this a consensus issue, and hundreds of pastors and Christian university presidents have pledged action against global warming.

But not everyone is getting on board. Last year, when Al Gore’s film “An Inconvenient Truth” debuted, the Southern Baptist Convention publicly condemned it. In response to Cizik’s initiatives, James Dobson, Jerry Falwell and Pat Robinson called for his ousting and silencing. Their reason? Christians’ energies would be diverted from the truly important things—abortion and gay marriage.

In my opinion, Dobson, Falwell, Robinson and their ilk are the voice of a Christianity so deeply compromised that it needs to be treated as a threat to the cause of Christ, not simply a nuisance. That aside, it seems odd to me that anyone should condemn people concerned about the environment. Does anyone really believe Dobson, Falwell and Robinson are infallible? If these preachers feel the need to devote all their energies toward a single-issue theology, then, as much as I think they’re misguided, more power to them. But why on earth, would they feel the need to chastise others for their callings?

What these giants of Christianity (and yes, I write that with my tongue so firmly planted in my cheek I may sprain something) don’t realizes is that this is not a false choice—preaching the gospel or being socially compassionate—each are exquisitely intertwined. This is not a “one of the other” sort of argument. While the pattern used to be that mainline churches preached a primarily social gospel and evangelical churches preached a saving gospel, evangelicals seem to be waking up to social justice, realizing it is a fundamental, essential even, ingredient in saving souls. (Now if only the mainline churches can recognize this necessary duality).

The truth is, a “theology of ecology” is finally taking hold. Evangelical Christianity's environmental apathy seems to be disappearing. And why shouldn’t it? As I see it, we have a Biblical imperative to be environmentalists. After all, the Bible contains numerous examples of the care with which we are expected to treat the environment:

Leviticus 25:1-12 speaks of the care Israel was to have for the land. Deuteronomy 25:4 and 22:6 indicates the proper care for and respect of wildlife. Isaiah 5:8-10 records the Lord judging those who have misused the land. Job 38:25-28 and Psalm 104 speak of God's nurture and care for His creation and every living thing in it. Romans 8:17 calls us to rescue and restore creation from its fallen condition. Even Jesus spoke on several occasions (Matthew 6:26, 10:29) about how much the Father cared for even the smallest creature.

Genesis says that, “God saw all that He had made and behold, it was very good.” If it was good in God’s eyes, would He really look kindly on us destroying it? When Adam and Eve were placed in the garden, God gave them dominion over the earth. This did not mean they could rape the planet indiscriminatingly. In fact, God set them up not as rulers, but as stewards with a responsibility to care for the garden. God is the owner of every inch of the planet, not us. We do not exercise dominion over nature as though we are entitled to exploit it, but as caretakers of a special treasure placed in our trust.

To use the earth for our own interests alone is blasphemy. How much destruction has to take place for people to wake up and admit something is wrong? We want to save the earth, not because we feel creation is holy, but because the Creator IS and we should treat His magnificent handiwork with the utmost respect. By failing to fulfill our responsibilities to the earth, we are losing a great evangelistic opportunity, to say nothing of being disobedient to our Lord. Christians should and must be at the vanguard of the environmental movement. Saving the planet is no less than an act of worship.

Which side would you rather be on—those who say we should be mindful of our impact on the planet and clean up the earth or those who say that we bear little responsibility and all we are currently experiencing is some sort of natural cycle? Which has the greatest to lose and which has the greatest to gain? Frankly, I’d rather side with the doomsayers than the naysayers. That it is an oft ignored but no less legitimate Biblical command makes the decision all the easier.

Wake up Church. This isn’t about Mother Nature. It’s about the Father’s nature.