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?

Extremism

We hear a lot about extremism in the news media, and it always refers to a form of hard Islam. It is called extremism for good reason, and rightly so. That kind of religious mindset has resulted in the loss of many innocent lives, and their only ‘sin’ was to hold differing views from the man holding the sword, who is all too ready to use it to end life. In fact life itself is not seen as precious and is used as a bargaining chip as they pursue their own ends. This is their faith, and no one will move them from it being right. In fact, theirs is the ONLY right way to interpret and use their so called holy book, they say.

Can I be controversial? If not, stop reading now and go no further. I notice that there are some within the Christian Church who see themselves as the keepers of the true gospel, and who will discuss, debate and argue with anyone who might see things differently. Oh deaths do not happen, at least not physically. However, what do you call it when a young tender life is deterred from ever thinking about taking Christianity seriously? That could be considered as a worse death, because it is eternal.

We know about those who promote ‘aggressive atheism’ and we don’t like them or their attitude. In a similar way, the ‘aggressive christian’ would never see themselves as doing the wrong thing, and would not hold themselves responsible for souls being lost. But they are misguided, and souls are being lost. There may be a way to counter this kind of approach, and that is to stand between them and the souls they put at risk. The thing is, the true message is as simple as it is effective. Show love. Real love. Unconditional love. After all, wasn’t it love that took Jesus all the way to Golgotha to die for us on the cross? We may not have to die to prove our faith, but we can show love. We ALL must, and should show love.

All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other. John 13:35

Christian?

“Right wing, Christian fundamentalist, extremist terrorist” is the way the media is reporting the perpetrator of the biggest single massacre and loss of life in Norway for over 50 years. He succeeded in bombing a large part of the Oslo city centre which houses government buildings, and then, dressed as a policeman, made his way to a Labour Party youth camp on the small island of Utoeya where escape would be almost impossible. He had a captive victim group to empty his guns on.

We are well used to seeing reports of Islamic extremism, and the terrorism they embark on around the world. We may even be getting used to it. But how can those words at the beginning of this piece be used in one phrase to describe a Christian? Not only has this 32 year old Norwegian man changed the face of a very peaceful nation, he has been successful in giving the media a description of a 'mad Christian'. Almost immediately, there have been tweets and facebook comments coming out against the Christian faith and religion in general. Who can blame them?

Anyone who does not know Christianity, or only knows about it from a distance, can be excused for thinking Christians are no better or different from Muslims when it comes to terrorism. How does this square with these words of Jesus from the sermon on the mount?...

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Ye are the salt of the earth: Matt 5:9-13 (KJV)

Like you, I am still coming to terms with the horror of this event in Norway, carried out by a strange and possibly deranged young man, but please let's not get confused in our minds about what Christianity is, and who a real Christian tries to be like. Jesus is not a terrorist, or extreme, or a right wing fundamentalist. He is the “Prince of Peace” (Isa 9v6), so cannot be blamed for the atrocities. Unfortunately, I can easily see the media latching on to an easy target, and tarring us all with the same broad brush. Suddenly, we have earned the same description as extreme Islamists, and one which will last for a long time. This man has made more than two horrific attacks, and will be judged for them all. Some on this earth, but all in his final judgement, unless of course he repents!