What About Global Warming?

With all the current “hot air” (pardon the pun) regarding global warming, I thought it appropriate to write on the subject. The fears promoted by the global warming crowd express a lack of faith in God. Let me be more plain spoken. A Christian cannot accept the ultimate conclusions of global warming theories which are, if man doesn’t change his ways he will bring about the end of his own existence and perhaps even the end of the world as we know it.

Global Destruction Will Occur. God has reserved for Himself the ultimate destruction of the planet. “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10. Man will not destroy the earth. The Lord will at a time when He sees fit.

Human Destruction Will Occur. Man’s environmental actions today will not result in the destruction of human existence as some claim. God tells us that man will be around to witness the return of Jesus Christ at the end of time. The destruction of the earth occurs “…when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 1:7, 8. Mankind will witness this return right here from the earth. “For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17.

Lack of Faith. Christians who buy into the idea that mankind will somehow destroy the earth or his own existence have either forgotten the words of the Lord or they do not have faith in Him. Such thinking is similar to those scoffers in the New Testament days who said, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 2 Peter 3:4. Do we believe His words or not? If so, then we cannot accept the conclusions of the global warming crowd.

Teach Your Children. One of the groups targeted by global warming proponents is school children. Pictures of stranded polar bears have been shown in classes to play upon children’s sympathies for animals and create a belief in global warming and in the dreaded future if we do not act. Parents, we must teach our children about the promises of God. They must know and believe that Jehovah is in control of this world and that man cannot usurp, even through neglect, the authority that God has placed in Himself to destroy both mankind and this earth. While our schools may be promoting the fear of man, we need to teach our children a healthy dose of fear in the One of whom it is said, “in Him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:17 NASB.

Environmentally Unfriendly. If we reject the hysterical conclusions of the global warming crowd, does that mean we should not be concerned? I don’t believe so. This creation is the home the Lord gave us to live in. Just as we are to care for our bodies (Ephesians 5:29) and be humane to animals (several Old Testament passages come to mind), we need to be conscious of how we treat the earth, which is one of many gifts the Lord has given us to enjoy. However, we need not lose sight of our ultimate responsibility – to love and care for our eternal soul, and be concerned about the eternal soul of others. After all, Jesus came “to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10.