A Little Closer To Heaven

Well, since Global Warming is the popular thing to talk about nowadays…I figure this would be a good time to give my thoughts.

First, let me say that I am all about protecting the environment. I love this Earth and I want to be able to enjoy it and let my kids and grandkids enjoy it also. However, I get so tired of “green” being nothing more than a fad. It’s now become the cool thing to do. Not because people care about the environment (though many do), but because you are not cool if you’re not green. It also really irritates me that Global warming is being pushed the hardest by hypocrites who aren’t willing to truly change their lifestyles. Their buying carbon credits? What? You mean that money can buy back what we’re doing to the environment? Gimme a break. With that being said…on to my thoughts on global warming.

Here ya go…I don’t know what I think. Now, I know that it’s a copout…but let me explain. I’m being really hesitant to jump on the global warming, doomsday bandwagon. First, if you really examine the issue, there are great scientific arguments on both sides of the fence. There’s a lot of evidence that can’t be discredited that we are either in a temperature phase that will eventually change or that the Earth is getting a lot warmer from things that have nothing to do with man. That being said, there’s also evidence that we are playing a major part in the Earth’s warming. So, I am going to have to wait it out until more data comes available. I know some people reading that are probably cringing because I might “wait too long.”

The problem is that so many people are acting like it’s true without the scientific data to prove it and without examining the evidence that people who believe the contrary are providing. It’s like they want it to be true. They want our planet to be in extreme danger just so they’ll be right. It seems like a bunch of environmental extremists are being so loud about it that the opposing views and more middle ground views get no say in the matter. That is just wrong. I think we need balance and to examine both sides of the issue, not just let the loudest ones win.

So, what would I encourage you to do? Step back and examine the evidence. If you still come to the conclusion that global warming is our fault. Great. If you come to the conclusion that it’s too late. Great. If you come to the conclusion that we have nothing to do with it or it’s all just a hype…Great. But make sure you study out both sides of the issue and be willing to change when more info comes available. As for me, I’m not convinced by either side quite yet. I’ll keep living “green” for two reasons. First, I love the environment. Second, it saves me a lot of money in the long run. Those are legitimate reasons to be green. I don’t want to live green because of peer pressure or because I’ll be labeled ignorant if I have an opposing view. That’s not how we should act.

Finally, as far as my faith goes…I’m not greatly concerned about global warming. I’m worried that this may be an uglier place to live with less animals. I’m not worried we’re going to burn up or eliminate mankind. I believe that God is still in control. We have a responsibility to take care of the Earth…but in the end..it’s God’s call and humans aren’t going to stand in the way. Yep…that just about sums it up.

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Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26

…for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground. Genesis 2:5b

Wow…these verses speak to me. They should speak to every follower of the way of Christ. Throughout the years…these verses have been used in a very negative manner. People have abused the Word of God throughout the years for thier own purposes. This is perhaps one of the most misunderstood places in God’s word. These verses have been used to justify the destroying of our environment, the destruction of endangered species, and many other evils.

Now, I would in no way consider myself liberal in my politics. If you want the truth, I’m very conservative, but I’m very passionate about the environment and the world I live in. I am also not a liberal in my Theology. I’m very conservative, and because I’m conservative with my understanding of scripture, I try my hardest to read the Bible for what it says by understanding the context, background, original languages, etc.

So, what do these verses say to me? First, God has given man dominion over all of creation. Sometimes, I think that we go too far with our environmentalism and we act like this world is a better place without human involvement. I would totally disagree with that. According to my beliefs, this world is here for my benefit and for we are here for it’s benefit. However…I don’t think that this verse gives us the right to do whatever we feel like with our planet. Instead of viewing our place on this Earth with a “Do what I feel like attitude,” we should take this verse as a grave responsibility. God gave us dominion over all of His creation. Wow…do you know what that is? It’s a call to be a Christian tree hugger. It’s a call to take care of this world that He’s entrusted us with. It’s a call to leave this place with it’s beauty and awe, and it’s resources that we desperately need for our future generations. It’s a call for us to be responsible and to be good stewards of the resources that God has given us.

The second verse…there was no man to to work the ground. Do you know what that is saying? The Earth needs us. It can’t take care of itself the way it should. Before man…the earth was crying out for someone to subdue it. To take care of it. To treat it the way it was created to be treated. To help balance things out the way they should and need to be balanced. The Earth needs man…but you know what else? Man needs the Earth. This world provides us with the resources that we need to survive. From it we get food, shelter, and security. Earth needs man and man needs Earth.

We have a responsibility to take care of this Earth. To treat it as it should be treated. I am tired of hearing Christians badmouthed by others because we don’t care about the environment. I’m tired of Christians using God’s word to justify their abuse of God’s resources. Both parties are wrong and have a misunderstanding of Christianity. It’s time that we take a stand for what’s right. It’s time that Christ followers take back their responsibilities and fulfill them to the glory of God.

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You know…I was sitting in my office today and started thinking about how it’s like pulling teeth to get kids to go outside anymore. When I was growing up, that’s all my friends and I wanted to do. We played sports, rode bikes, built forts…you name it…we probably tried it. Don’t get me wrong…I had video games growing up and I loved them. But what has happened to kids? I talk to kids in my office about going outside and they look at me like I’m crazy! “Go Outside?” “It’s too hot.” “It’s too cold.” I’ve got boys telling me that bugs are outside so they don’t want to go out. Whining and griping like you wouldn’t believe. Two examples:

Every now and then, I take some of the kids in my school to do something on a weekend. We’ll go on a dayhike or explore a cave. I took some kids recently to Lost Valley, a simple but beautiful 2 mile hike. These were older kids ranging from 6th grade to 10th grade. There was a cave at the end with a waterfall inside. A really awesome place if you’re looking for somewhere to go. Anyways…these kids griped about everything under the sun. They griped every time they had to go up a hill. They griped every time they touched a spider web. It seemed like it was going to be a complete nightmare. They were outside, surrounded by canyons, waterfalls, and caves…and all they wanted to do was gripe and talk about how far they’ve made it on the latest video game.

Second example. In March, I went on a trip with the youth group in my church to the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina. We spent a week rafting, caving, and hiking. It was simply amazing. I got on the AT with a friend or my wife every time I got the chance. These kids loved it. One day, we were supposed to spend half a day hiking on the AT, and the other half in a cave. We could not hardly force the kids to go on a hike. They did not want to walk anywhere. And when they did walk…once again…they complained. However, it was a little easier to block them out with the beautiful views in every direction.

These trips had two things in common. The kids may have griped the entire time…but they loved the trip when it was over. They all wanted to go back next year and do the same thing. The kids I took to Lost Valley are constantly telling me that they want to go back.

In the end, I think it was worth it to get these kids outside. They may still gripe every time they’re outside…but it’s well worth it to let them see how amazing this world really is.

How can we fix this epidemic of kids that won’t go outside? Well, I think it’s probably here to stay. Should we do away with video games? Heck no, what would I do on rainy days? I think we should, as parents (well, hopefully before too long), should expose our kids to the outdoors as much as possible. Make them, force them, physically pull them away from the television if you have to and bring them outdoors. Part of the problem is that parents today use the tv and video games as a babysitter instead of getting out and spending quality time with their kids. The kids I see don’t all come from the best homes. Some of them are prime examples of what I’m talking about. But you know what I saw that a lot of people don’t see? Hope. Not hope on the child’s part…but hope on mine. When these kids, who never step foot outside except when they’re with me, got to spend a little quality time outside, they enjoyed it. They wanted to do it again. They may have griped and complained…but for mere seconds…I saw an appreciation for what they were doing. I know that there is hope, that there is a chance that our kids will love the outdoors as much as we do. Let’s do our part to help them fall in love.

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