Christians and climate change

[TheMemSaab]

Hi there, I am a Christian and haven't posted on here for ages. I am interested to know what other Christians think about climate change and what our response should be. I have been reading about the recent IPCC report and how we have about 11 years within which to react and reduce our greenhouse gases. And if we don't manage it then the effects on the planet will be fairly catastrophic and irreversible. I find that pretty scary and can't believe that God wouldn't have something to say to us about that. I don't understand why Christians aren't at the forefront of leading change. If we are the hope of the world and are meant to be reaching out with God's love for humanity, how on Earth can we ignore this??

God will intervene surely?

We have made too many people. Maybe he will intervene by killing 2/3 of the world's population in a global flu outbreak?

I don't think God just steps time and time again in to save us from our own mistakes without us doing a while lot of work ourselves and the majority of us (Christian and otherwiae) don't seem to bother.

They'll be lots of stories like that. It still doesn't excuse the stored wealth of the church.

Have you ever looked into the property the Catholic church owns. The companies it has investments in.

Thanks for all your posts, they are really interesting to read! I have heard of A Rocha thanks NotMeNoNO - I think they are great! And thanks IdaBWells, that is encouraging to hear that the Pope has spoken about these issues. I do think it is important for people that represent the Christian faith to speak out and encourage others. I can't see how Christians would think of climate change as part of God's plan when it's cause is mankind going against everything God has said!!

Great Bible verse Jellyslice - I had to go and look that one up. I think we conveniently forget the link that the Bible shows between us being obedient and receiving God's blessing in terms of the land being fruitful and healthy. And conversely when we turn away from God it results in the land being harmed and damaged.

Interesting thread. I'm a Christian and very concerned about climate change, just as many people of all faiths and none are. I think that humanity as a whole have been selfish and incredibly consumerist, and remain so, as long as it doesn't effect us personally. I worry about my children and further generations.

Our church preaches on the environment and stewarding the earth, as picklemepopcorn describes. I know that what I can do personally is a drop in the ocean but if there's enough drops - well, you know.

I don't go at all with the 'well, the earth will be destroyed anyway then heaven' narrative. I believe we were given responsibility to care for the planet. I also think we have responsibility to make life as good as possible for those who are struggling, so should be looking to the practical things we can do to this aim.

I think A Rocha and other environmental Christian groups are doing an amazing job. I also think I don't do enough. I constantly try to re evaluate where I am and how I react to environmental issues. Ethical shopping, recycling, cutting down plastics etc but we also as a family think carefully about travel etc. But it's never enough .

God will not intervene. This mess is made by humans. A good parent doesn't clear up the mess made by their kids (except if they are too baby-small) - they expect the child to so it. That's the only way to foster maturity. We have to clear it up, or if we don't then we get to suffer the consequences.

tenorladybeaker

But god has intervened many times to clear up human mess.

The great flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, there are many examples of god tweaking things.

Why should he not intervene now?

He's too busy sorting out Strictly

The great flood, Sodom and Gomorrah

Seriously? If those events even happened, the best we can know is that the biblical account is the guess that the writers of scriptures made at the time to explain some ancient natural disasters. Possibly (just possibly) this may have been the result of divine inspiration, but maybe a bright leader just had a good idea about how they could put a moral into the story to help people remember to lead better lives. None of which were caused by humanity deliberately and knowingly destroying the environment - that's only been happening in the last few decades.

Maybe god wants global warming to melt the ice caps and flood the world? Why else would he be doing it?

I think Speakout was not being completely serious

Really? Phew.

I have been reading Amos and some of Isaiah and what is written there really strikes a chord in me with what is happening today. In those books the prophets are warning that the greed of people will bring about disaster. When I read their words it seems like God is speaking in to the present situation.

Our church often has sermons on climate change. The church heating has been turned down and we are encouraged to turn ours down at home too, to recycle, avoid car journeys where possible (a thriving not fir profit bike scheme has been set up for the wider community). We are encouraged to shop Fair Trade and often hold Fair Trade events.

@MemSaab

In those books the prophets are warning that the greed of people will bring about disaster

In my world it is called Karma.

I'm interested as to why you have to wait to see what other Christians are doing?

I myself, recycle, use less meat, dairy, and so forth. Walk more. Try and live a zero waste as possible.

Be the change you want to see, regardless of religion.

This 'reap what you sow' philosophy has been around for millennia.

Buddha and Lao Tzu are amongst the philosophers I've read that spring to mind and they where around 700/800 years BC.

People in all walks of life, didn't listen then and they seem not to be listening now.

'Live simply so people may simply live' is another one that springs to mind.

ClaryFray I am already doing things as you say. Trying to be less wasteful in what I buy. I cycle and walk as much as possible. Try to buy second hand or ethical stuff. I get frustrated when I look around me and see people struggling to park as near as possible to the school gates in their 4x4 and getting just as excited as ever over some bargain piece of tat that will be useless in a few months. And I'm not sure that Christians are much better than anyone else in general. Bit disappointed in that. I want to run around telling everyone to wake up to what they are doing!! Surely if scripture says we shouldn't hoard/be greedy with possessions etc then Christians should be the first to sacrifice their lifestyles for the sake of maintaining a planet we can all live on.

Yes noego - reap what you sow. Although it concerns me that the people who will be reaping what we are sowing today are the next generations. And vulnerable communities who are already on the brink of poverty. Do we really have to wait until it's hurting us before we change??

I think this is an important issue and the connection it has to faith is probably through the ideas of stewardship and looking after what we've been entrusted with.

I've long since learned, though, that each person is gifted with a particular passion and they run with it and gather others up.in their wake. We don't all have the same passion, and that's ok, that's one of the ways I think God makes sure all the bases are covered. I think that's probably what the passages in the bible about diversity of gifts are about - we all focus on different things and working together, we make a better world.

So, for example, but best friend is hugely passionate about working alongside the poorest members of society, and often in Children's work. I get very exercised about women's rights and practical assistance to people. Someone else is highly motivated about the environment.

All these issues are important, and we should all engage with them to a degree, but we can't all have every single one as a priority. So I just encourage people to do their bit, follow their calling and always try to leave somewhere or someone better than when you arrived.