We can’t help but escape the headlines about global warming

GLOBAL WARMING

March 2007 article by Nathan Sanders

We can’t help but escape the news about global warming and climate change. This month particularly, global warming has been hitting the headlines and although word about this subject has been around for a long time, it is finally coming to a head in the public arena. With publication of the Stern Report and other governmental funded reports being published recently, we are unable to escape the topic. Global warming is a rise in the earth’s temperature because gases that trap heat are being added to the atmosphere by human activity. The only way to slow global warming is to stop adding more heat-trapping gases to the atmosphere.

Emphasis is now on what we can do to stop this process, the blame for the damage to our earth being placed on all of us alike. Recycling is rapidly becoming almost compulsory with all supermarket chains accentuating the need for this process. We are all being made more aware and feeling the pressure to reverse the process of global warming.

But what does the Bible say? Is there really a way of stopping this process or has man gone too far? Does the Bible predict the effects of global warming and climate change and what does it say will be the result of it? Let us consider this. First and foremost, God created all the earth and all things in it.

“All things were made by Him, and without him was not anything made that was made” John 1:3

God controls everything in the earth and has ultimate control as to what happens to it as he told Job:

“Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine? Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge? How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind? Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?” Job 37:14-18.

God is all powerful, and so many passages in the Bible show God’s power. It is often shown in relation to the natural elements, in wind, fire and other meteorological forces. The sun and the moon are under God’s control and these, too, are used to demonstrate the power God has.

“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” Romans 1:20.

We cannot underestimate God’s power - anything is possible. There is some controversy as to whether the Bible actually refers to global warming. There are however passages that relate to temperature of the earth and burning of the earth. These can be found in Revelation:

“And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.” Revelation 16:8-9

It is interesting that two of the plagues found in the Book of Revelation have to do with heat and effects of the sun. The first one is the plague of severe heat that will torment the people of earth. The second plague talks of boils and skin lesions on people who accept the mark of the beast. One author remarks that if this passage is to be taken literally, those lesions and sores could be cancer and burns from the sun's rays in the time when our climate has changed by several degrees! 2 Peter also talks of heat and fire, in relation to the day of judgement:

"But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” 2 Peter 3:7-13.

As already mentioned, there is some controversy as to whether we can directly interpret the above passages to relate to global warming and climate change. We need to know how to deal with the current situation and for this advice we can look to the Bible. We are asked to be stewards of the earth. God’s teaching in the Bible gives us responsibility of the earth while we live in it and to care for all things in it. It is God’s creation and should be precious to us. It clearly states that we have to care for and respect the earth, something which man as a whole has not been doing. God gave us responsibility:

“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.” Genesis 1:28-30.

We know from the Bible and God’s teaching that if we stray from God’s word, things do not run smoothly. We know that if we do things that are not in line with God, we will see the effects.

We now are led to believe that global warming is affecting the earth and subsequently leading to climate change, with so much in the news it is hard to keep up with the information. There is even some confusion among scientists as to whether global warming and climate change is actually in existence! This is why we cannot look to man for answers, science is limited and it is not always reliable source. We are told to look to the Bible for our advice and to trust in the Lord, if we rely on man we can expect the consequences. We are told:

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” Proverbs 3:5-6.