Today’s Scripture Reading (March 1, 2020): Isaiah 34
I struggle with the “why” of the climate deniers. I have also
noticed a trend. The political Right, of which I admit that I am a part, most
often denies climate change while the political Left usually works hard to get
the world to understand the reality of the danger. Christians, most of whom
seem to inhabit the Right, seem to have a particular corner in the area of the
climate deniers. Their videos are all over the internet, all sounding very
scientific, at least until you begin to think about the argument that they are
making. My struggle with them, and likely their struggle with me, is that
climate change as a direct result of human action seems to me to be so obvious.
The idea that the pollutants that we pour into the atmosphere could cause a
problem somewhere down the line is not a new one. We have been talking about the
dangers of pollution since I was born, and I am old. Climate Change is just an
extension of the same principles; it gives us a “what will happen” that extends
beyond breathing problems and an increase in certain kinds of cancer. Climate
Change argues that what we pour into the atmosphere is slowly changing the way
our environment works, or maybe doesn’t work. And to me, there is a certain
elegance, and a ring of truth, in the argument. And if we need an example, we
don’t have to look far. The hottest planet in our solar system is not the one
closest to the sun. It is Venus, because of the rampant greenhouse effect that
runs wild on our sister planet. And it should not be beyond anyone’s
imagination that we do might be the root cause for the same thing happening here
on our Blue Marble.
So, why do we deny? I think I have the options sorted out. First,
being conservatives, we don’t like change. And admitting that Climate Change is
real means that we have to change, so the simplest solution is to say that
Climate Change doesn’t exist, so I don’t have to change. Second, reacting to Climate
Change is hard work, and we are essentially too lazy and unimaginative to want
to put in that kind of work, so once again, we deny. But the most potent reason
might be the third reason. We believe that God is on our side and that,
ultimately, he won’t let Climate Change go too far. I have heard more than one
speaker argue that the oil and gas that contribute to our climate problem was
placed in the ground by God for us to use, so God will not penalize us for
doing what he intended us to do. (Admittedly, I haven’t found the Bible verse
to support that concept, but I am looking.)
But my fear, beyond the destruction that we are actively participating
in of our environment, is found in our assumption that “God is on our side.” I
am not sure that is true. The first job that God gave to the human race was to care
for the environment. He placed the animals under our rule and our provision. He
gave us the ability to either care for or destroy everything that he made. And
we seem to have favored destroying his creation over caring for it.
The people of Judah and Israel both believed that God was on their
side. They knew that God would not let anything terrible happen to them. But Isaiah
issues this warning. God is angry with all of the nations, and he will lead all
of the armies to slaughter. God is on the side of the one who does his will.
And that needs to be our focus. God, what is it that you need from us? And
caring for the world that he so lovingly created would seem logically to be
high on the list of the things that he needs us to do, regardless of how much
work that might cause us.
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Isaiah
35
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