Monday, January 24, 2005
Christian Environmental Viewpoint
I find myself drawn to two posts today, one at Radioblogger and the other at Brothers Judd. Both relate to environmental issues. Duane at Radioblogger is rightfully upset about both political correctness gone mad and another excuse for taxation -- but it is based on an environmental issue. The Brothers discuss some new global warming studies.
I am in the environmental business (a compliance and engineering consultant to industry) and could write on the technical stuff involved here at great length. But thst is not what I wish to address in this blog. I had an aborted weekly posting thing I did for a couple of years a while back. I wrote something for it concerning enivronmental issues, that I want to expand upon here.
The bottom line question is this: When it comes to environmental issues, just who do we think we are? The conceit contained in most environmental discussions truely terrifies me. The assumptions about our power and capabilities are frightening.
I am reminded of a very old joke. Some scientists one day decide to show God what they can do. At the meeting, they lay it out for God. "Look God, we'd really like to thank you for all that you have done. It's an amazing universe you put together here. But you know what, we can handle things from here. We've figured out how to make life and change the planet. Why don't you retire?"
God responds by saying, "So you can make life can you? Well, let's have a contest, first one back here with a new lifeform wins."
"You're on!" respond the scientists.
As they walk out of the meeting the scientists bend over and pick up some dirt to use in their effort. God walks over and taps them on the shoulder. "I sorry," says God, "Maybe I did not make myself clear -- Get your own dirt."
We are God's creatures and He has given us dominion over the planet. Gen 1:26-28 (NAS) 26Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28And God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
The dominion God has given us over the planet does enable us to do some pretty amazing things -- including making some big changes to the planet itself. But we are still part of that created order -- our actions, though tainted with our sinfullness, are also a part of that created order.
It is worthy of note that change is something very different than creation or destruction. We can change God's creation, but we cannot do the actual creating, nor do I believe we can destroy it. The next time you find yourself worried about some environmental disaster, remember your place in the created order.
With it's Colorado camping properties, Young Life maintains a small chalet above tree line on Mt. Princeton. Whe kids are taken up there, many of whom have never seen anything like the Rocky Mountains, the view is spectacular. There is a cross, and on that cross is a scripture.
Ps 46:10 (KJV) Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Try to take time today and know who God is. It has an amazing way of adjusting your perspective. I know it has for me today.
UPDATE at 3:10 same date: Best of the Web has a hilarious link to another Global Warming Story. The story is really about a new study that shows that global warming may have played an important role in the Great Dying of about 250 million years ago. This hypothesis is not news to those of us on the technical side of things. I saw some stoichiametric calculations some years ago saying that CO2 trapped in the polar ice cap is sufficient to account for the rise in CO2 levels that have accompanied the noted mean temperature increase. It is; however, great news to see some more aqccessible studies released to the public.
I am in the environmental business (a compliance and engineering consultant to industry) and could write on the technical stuff involved here at great length. But thst is not what I wish to address in this blog. I had an aborted weekly posting thing I did for a couple of years a while back. I wrote something for it concerning enivronmental issues, that I want to expand upon here.
The bottom line question is this: When it comes to environmental issues, just who do we think we are? The conceit contained in most environmental discussions truely terrifies me. The assumptions about our power and capabilities are frightening.
I am reminded of a very old joke. Some scientists one day decide to show God what they can do. At the meeting, they lay it out for God. "Look God, we'd really like to thank you for all that you have done. It's an amazing universe you put together here. But you know what, we can handle things from here. We've figured out how to make life and change the planet. Why don't you retire?"
God responds by saying, "So you can make life can you? Well, let's have a contest, first one back here with a new lifeform wins."
"You're on!" respond the scientists.
As they walk out of the meeting the scientists bend over and pick up some dirt to use in their effort. God walks over and taps them on the shoulder. "I sorry," says God, "Maybe I did not make myself clear -- Get your own dirt."
We are God's creatures and He has given us dominion over the planet. Gen 1:26-28 (NAS) 26Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28And God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
The dominion God has given us over the planet does enable us to do some pretty amazing things -- including making some big changes to the planet itself. But we are still part of that created order -- our actions, though tainted with our sinfullness, are also a part of that created order.
It is worthy of note that change is something very different than creation or destruction. We can change God's creation, but we cannot do the actual creating, nor do I believe we can destroy it. The next time you find yourself worried about some environmental disaster, remember your place in the created order.
With it's Colorado camping properties, Young Life maintains a small chalet above tree line on Mt. Princeton. Whe kids are taken up there, many of whom have never seen anything like the Rocky Mountains, the view is spectacular. There is a cross, and on that cross is a scripture.
Ps 46:10 (KJV) Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Try to take time today and know who God is. It has an amazing way of adjusting your perspective. I know it has for me today.
UPDATE at 3:10 same date: Best of the Web has a hilarious link to another Global Warming Story. The story is really about a new study that shows that global warming may have played an important role in the Great Dying of about 250 million years ago. This hypothesis is not news to those of us on the technical side of things. I saw some stoichiametric calculations some years ago saying that CO2 trapped in the polar ice cap is sufficient to account for the rise in CO2 levels that have accompanied the noted mean temperature increase. It is; however, great news to see some more aqccessible studies released to the public.
