Blog Action Day 2009 | Climate Change

I’m proud to participate in Blog Action Day, an annual event where bloggers from around the world focus the power of their medium to address a global issue in the hopes of inspiring change. I got involved in Blog Action Day last year when the topic was something I’m passionate about: poverty. You can read my post from last year here.

The topic for this year (climate change) is not something I’m passionate about – BUT – that does not mean it is not an important issue. In fact, environmentalism is part of our Christian calling and every Kingdom strategist needs to consider how their work as part of redeeming creation, impacts creation.

Environmentalism is part of our Christian calling

Like everything else, this fact can been taken to an extreme which loses sight of God’s intention for us. Environmentalism, or put another way, Stewardship of Creation is part of our calling. Most Evangelicals ignore this by focusing solely on the Great Commission. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus commands his disciples, “¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

In Genesis, when God created man He said “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26). Man’s first commission from God was to have dominion over the earth, what is known as the Cultural Mandate. Christ’s coming did not negate this call, thus caring for the earth is part of our service to God.

Environmentalism is glorifying to God

What? I know, right? But consider this: inherent in all creation is a reflection of God’s glory. It is especially evident in the beauty found in nature. Man’s reaction to the beauty of nature (and art, music, etc), (regardless of that man’s cognitive acknowledgment of the existence of God) is a sub-conscious reaction to nature glorifying God. Tim Keller describes this this way:

“Why does nature move everybody?” Why may even the most hardened atheist find that a forest dawn prompts tears, laughter, or joy? Keller dismisses explanations offered by evolutionary psychology and suggests that we are moved as we sense creation’s song of praise to its Creator, a glorious fulfillment of its God-given nature. We are moved, Keller says, because we wish to join that chorus and cannot. He points to the Cross as the way by which we can regain that song.” — “How Tim Keller Found Manhattan”, Christianity Today

Thus, if our ultimate aim is to bring glory to God, then (whether intentionally or not) it is sinful not to protect the environment. Dismissing environmentalism or climate change is equivalent to dismissing the derivative glory of God int he natural world.

Environmentalism honors and serves other human beings

Sure global warming may seem like a fad. But I challenge you to look at the quality of life of people around the world who live in areas with rampant pollution. Pay extra attention to the fact that it is often the poor and marginalized who are living in these areas, lacking nutrition, exposed to dangers and health hazards, breathing dirty air, drinking unclean water. As a Christian, if you are called to love, serve, care for, and protect the causes of the poor, the sick, the needy and the marginalized, how then can you ignore the environmental issues that have such a tremendous impact on their lives?

Dismissing climate change is sinful

With respect to climate change in particular, maybe there isn’t enough evidence to convince you that climate change is a threat. Or to draw the conclusion that the industrial practices of the developed nations are having significant impact on the global climate. Say you find it hard to believe that driving to work is going to cause the oceans to rise. Let’s assume that you’re unable to say that climate change is anything more than a hypothesis. … that is okay. I’m in the same boat as you.

Even so, if we start at the end, focusing on the potential outcomes of climate change and the effects it may have on the people of this world (which is what it means to love others as your self – to PUT THEIR NEEDS FIRST). There is a relationship between climate and the availability of food and water in all regions of the world. Currently, many people around the world do not have access to food or clean water. This is a world problem that we do not have a handle on. And it is not likely that changes to the global climate will improve the situation.

So as a Christian, called by your God to love and serve others, to be Jesus in this world, we can not be passive when it comes to any threat to God’s creation. And I believe that treating the issue with disdain, as many of us do, is arrogant and disrespectful to God.

Kingdom Strategists need to take the lead on Environmentalism

In spite of all of these points, the world is corrupted by sin and to some extent environmental destruction and climate change are inevitable. As Kingdom Strategists our duty is not to throw our hands up and say “Oh well.” But rather to show the world that there is hope and that hope is rooted in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.

Our approach to environmental issues should demonstrate Kingdom Excellence, presenting the world (Christian or not) with the first-fruits of Christ’s redemption. Our goal with respect to environmental issues needs to be: How can we give people a taste of Heaven here and now? We need to open people’s eyes to the truth that God cares about this world because it is His creation. We have been place in dominion over the whole earth and all the creatures that inhabit it.

If you truly desire to love God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, then environmentalism and climate change must be something you care about.

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