Global Warming - Christian Responses

The question of whether or not global warming is occurring, the potential causes and possible solutions are all matters of debate and discussion in the Christian community.

As Christians, we need to look at what God tells us about the earth and how we are to care for it. We then need to carefully discern the issues and avoid the hype that is prevalent in the media.

Some principles to remember:
Firstly, God created the earth and gave us dominion over it. Genesis 1 and 2.
Secondly, we have a responsibility to maintain good stewardship of the earth. Genesis 2:15 says "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." We should be careful of the earth's resources and take proper care of the environment.
Thirdly, we need to trust in God's faithfulness. After the flood, God promised Noah that he would not flood the earth again. Genesis 8:22 says "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease."

We can be confident that God will maintain the earth for us but we must also fulfil our responsibility and be good stewards. We are free to use ALL the resources He has given us - but use them wisely. We are to care for the earth but also develop it.

There is no particular 'Christian' view on the topic of 'global warming' or 'climate change'. However some Christians have supported the notion that global warming is an imminent threat and, following the lead of Al Gore, called it a 'moral issue'.

Carl Weiland recently wrote an article highlighting the fact that Christians have differing views on this issue, even within one organisation (Creation Ministries International).

Global warming: what is 'the creationist view'?

http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/4817/

USA Evangelicals
In the USA in February 2006, 86 'leaders' signed a statement called the Evangelical Climate Initiative: Climate Change: An Evangelical Call to Action to fight global warming They ran advertisements in newspapers and TV.

When a number of other evangelical leaders - including Charles Colson and Dr James Dobson - heard about this proposal they wrote to the group and asked them not to proceed because the "Global warming is not a consensus issue, and our love for the Creator and respect for His creation does not require us to take a position."
They were ignored and the Initiative was signed; this group then formed the Interfaith Stewardship Alliance "committed to bringing a proper and balanced Biblical view of stewardship to the critical issues of environment and development."
Media Transparency wrote an interesting overview of this dispute - from a non-Christian perspective!)

Australia
In Australia a multi-faith climate document was published in December 2006 by the Climate Institute. Called Common Belief, it was supported by various Christian groups - Anglicans, Catholic Earthcare, Baptists, Uniting Church, the Australian Christian Lobby and the Evangelical Alliance. Other faiths included Jewish, Hindu, Baha'i and Muslim.
Each group had two pages to express their concerns.
Click here for full pdf document. (40 pages)

Links and References:

Evangelical Climate Initiative
Statement: Climate Change: An Evangelical Call to Action
This statement was organised by the Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN).

The Evangelical Climate Initiative: A small crack in the conservative movement
Media Transparency, Bill Berkowitz, February 22, 2006.
Thorough analysis of the different positions taken on this issue and the opposition to the 'Evangelical Climate Initiative' by many conservatives.

Interfaith Stewardship Alliance
The group formed by those leaders who opposed the 'Evangelical Climate Initiative.

"Common Belief: Australia's faith communities on climate change"
Statement organised by the Climate Institute.
Website: Climate Institute
Media Release: 'Common Belief: Australia's Religions United on Climate'
Tuesday 5th December 2006
Each group has two pages in the booklet.

The Evangelical Alliance published a separate paper on the subject. Click here.
The Australian Christian Lobby put out a media release to coincide with 'Common Belief'.

Articles
Global Warming as Religion and not Science
John Brignall, June 2007.
Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction. Blaise Pascal
"It was Michael Crichton who first prominently identified environmentalism as a religion. That was in a speech in 2003, but the world has moved on apace since then and adherents of the creed now have a firm grip on the world at large.
Global Warming has become the core belief in a new eco-theology. The term is used as shorthand for anthropogenic (or man made) global warming. It is closely related to other modern belief systems, such as political correctness, chemophobia and various other forms of scaremongering, but it represents the vanguard in the assault on scientific man.
The activists now prefer to call it "climate change". This gives them two advantages....."

Global Warming - a new religion?
Terry Somerville, Total Change Newsletter.
Terry highlights some of the religious elements of the global warming movement - faith, sin (consuming carbon), forgiveness (carbon credits), evangelism, prophets, persecution, salvation, power.

Other statements by Christians

June 2008 - UK Anglican Bishop
Bishop says climate-change deniers are as bad as sex dungeon father Josef Fritzl
Daily Mail - UK - 2nd June 2008
"A Church of England bishop has been criticised after he compared climate change sceptics to the Austrian child abuser Josef Fritzl. The Bishop of Stafford, the Right Reverend Gordon Mursell, said it was hard to imagine a more disgusting crime than Fritzl's, who sealed his daughter in a cellar for 24 years.
But Dr Mursell added: 'You could argue that, by our refusal to face the truth about climate change, we are as guilty as he is. 'We are in effect locking our children and grandchildren into a world with no future and throwing away the key.'
His comments, which were made in a pastoral letter addressed to churchgoers, have been widely attacked...."

June 2008 - Archbishop Philip Freier - Melbourne
The future of the planet is in our hands
The Age, Philip Freier - June 3, 2008
"It is ironic that as we are prepare to mark World Environment Day on Thursday the world is in a panic about the rising cost of petrol, food and other essentials. If anything is guaranteed to sheet home to us our utter dependence on the scarce resources of planet earth, it is the effect on our hip pockets. The rising cost of living is causing real pain for many Australians, and creating angst for our national leaders. And yet, as some thoughtful commentators have argued, sky-rocketing fuel costs may be exactly what we need to force us to find ways of living that are not so dependent on carbon-emitting fossil fuels....
We must also repent of our self-centred abuse of creation. ...
Increasingly, we are coming to realise that this abuse is damaging not just the earth, but also ourselves as spiritual beings ... "

6 September 2007 - Christian leaders call on APEC for poverty justice
Statement from Micah Challenge - posted on the UCA NSW website.
"Fifty Christian leaders, including the President of the Uniting Church , the Rev. Gregor Henderson, have issued a statement to the 21 APEC leaders calling for just and concrete decisions to deal with poverty in the region."

Their Statement declares that 'warming' is happening and Kyoto is good...
Statement from Micah Challenge Australia Panel of Reference
"To the leaders of APEC, Greetings and welcome to Australia. . .
"We ask you to be mindful of the commitments world leaders have already made to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. . .
"At your meetings, you will also consider climate change - a global human, economic, environmental and moral challenge. Our warming world can no longer afford to pay the price of our carbon-intensive industries, economies and lifestyles. We ask you to focus your discussions on the need to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance international cooperation through the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol.
"Developed countries must take swift and significant action to reduce emissions. They must also share technology and resources to assist developing countries pursue clean development paths and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Developing countries must make every effort to pursue clean development and environmental sustainability. All must work to address the needs and rights of the poorest and most vulnerable as they are affected by climate change...."
The Micah Challenge Reference Panel endorsed the statement - click the link and scroll to bottom for list of names!

Christianity Today: Published articles
Click here for collated list of articles.