Climate Change

Most Americans say the Earth is getting warmer. According to the Pew research center 53% of Americans say global warming is mostly because of human activity, such as burning fossil fuels. Most also view global climate change as serious problem. When it comes to what Americans most often pray for, the environment ranks lower than other topics. Those who pray regularly are more likely to pray for the healing of someone who is sick, for peace on Earth, for the poor or their family’s well-being, than they are to pray for the environment. However one of God's first commands to Adam and Eve was to take care of their environment.

Genesis 1:28 ESV And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 

Another instance of God directing us to care for our environment can be found in Genesis chapter 41. Joseph interpreted a dream God gave the Pharaoh which predicted devastating changes coming to Egypt. He foresaw seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. Joseph did not ignore the signs of this coming catastrophe, and Pharaoh was wise enough to heed his warning. He placed Joseph in a position of leadership enabling him to address the situation, and to save many lives in the process. In Leviticus 25, God gives instructions regarding Israel’s agricultural practices to ensure the land would never be permanently ruined.

Leviticus 25: 2-5 ESV Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you, the land shall keep a Sabbath to the Lord. For six years you shall sow your field, and for six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its fruits, but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the Lord. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard. You shall not reap what grows of itself in your harvest, or gather the grapes of your undressed vine. It shall be a year of solemn rest for the land. 

However the greatest climate change that has taken place and is still drastically changing is the climate of morality. What is morality? Who defines right and wrong? This may seem like a question with an obvious answer, but what should be our Christian stance be on abortion? The Canadian Government, recently stated that pro-life groups are not in-line with Canadian Society. They are saying that Canadian society is the standard and that pro-life groups should conform to that standard. The problem with developing a moral code that ignores God is that whatever a group accepts becomes what is right. In the Canadian government’s example, the government says that killing children in the mother’s womb is right. But did Canadian society always agree to this? Prior to 1969 all abortion was illegal in Canada! What changed? The morality of Canadian Society changed. Did it change for the better? Some will argue yes because the mother is free to choose. But is it morally right for a woman to be free to choose to kill? Does the child have a say in this, can we give him or her a choice to live? The problem with this shift in morality is that there are no fixed principles. Biblically, this reminds us of the time of Judges in the Old Testament when the Israelites were not seeking God.

Judges 21:25 ESV In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. 

Our social and political climate today is inundated with angry voices that are convinced of their own righteousness and their opponent’s depravity. We are quick to highlight the sins of others and call for t