Climate Change

The following was posted on Social Media by a church leader:

“Church! This is serious, and WE are responsible for what happens next! :)What can we each be doing and collectively to be doing to deal with this and better steward creation?”

https://www.facebook.com/ntcglasgowcentre/videos/2275917522676071/UzpfSTEzNzkwMDI3NjpWSzo4NDk4OTU5NTIwMzE5MjQ/

And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Mark 8:36NLT

Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favourable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.. 2Timothy4:2NLT

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? Romans10:14NIV

There is little doubt in my mind that climate change is a problem which affects the whole world, and that as Christians we should take care of the stewardship of our planet, but I am still concerned by the words and tone of this church leader’s post. We must also bear in mind that some folks believe that climate change is nothing more than extreme weather which happens every millennia or so. Let me say up front that I do believe that we are at the risk of suffering badly from man made climate change, and if we are the ones who made things get this bad in the first place, we are also at least partly responsible for getting the planet out of the mess it’s in!

However, that’s not my greatest concern. I get the distinct feeling that we are letting the tail wag the dog. Climate change may be a problem, BUT it’s not the biggest problem facing mankind, or even the Christian. As Jesus followers, are we merely looking on while friends and family who are possibly unsaved, are heading for a lost eternity, but we are more concerned about the amount of plastic in our oceans? Or the packaging used to keep our fruit and veg fresh? Or the pollutants in our car exhaust? The church has been founded for a reason, but for what purpose? What is our primary focus? Is it saving the planet from its climate problems? Or is it pointing people to Jesus, thus saving their eternal souls?? I can hear some say that we must do both, but I ask again, where is our primary focus?

Which do you think is the more important in our life and thinking? What finds its way into our conversation, and onto our social media page? Is it saving the planet’s climate problem, or dealing with the God given mission to spread the gospel, leading to the saving of precious souls and setting them on the road to heaven? I think it’s a no-brainer, but what about you?