by The Rev. Mark Buetow
This whole “global warming” thing is starting to bother me. Not because the earth is getting warmer, which I suppose it is, but because “global warming” is being turned into a horrible deception which blames people for causing it and then preys on their fears about the future. Most of the accurate science is ignored or ridiculed. For example, did you know that the ice core samples taken from Antarctica show that when the temperature of the earth rises, then the carbon dioxide levels rise (not the other way around)? Or how about this? Periods of global warming and cooling have been shown to be directly related to more and less active periods of sunspot activity? In other words, it’s really the sun that causes “global warming.” (Just like on Mars where nobody lives…that we know of!) The fact is, sometimes the earth is warmer and sometimes it’s cooler. But it’s not mankind that’s doing it. It’s the way the sun works. Yet mankind is blamed for “global warming” and we’re all supposed to feel guilty about it. But I’m no scientist. I’m a pastor. So I’ll tell you why global warming doesn’t get me all hot and bothered.
In the book of Genesis, after the Flood, the Lord speaks these words to Noah: “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:22 NKJV). I’m sorry, but I have to take the Creator’s word over the word of politically-manipulated-scare-tactic-pseudo-scientist-politicians. The Lord sent a severe climate disaster that wiped things out on this earth–it’s called the Flood. After this, He promises never to send such a disaster again and then speaks the words above to Noah. What do those words mean? They mean that, try as we might, we can’t ruin what God has created. He is still, after all, the Creator.
Thinking that humans can so easily ruin this earth is the sort of arrogance that is typical of our fallen race. Once again we show that we are bigger and stronger than God because we can wreck his world by burning coal and driving cars! No, that is arrogance to be repented of. We can speak of this in terms of creation but even more so in redemption. Not only is the world created by the Lord, it is redeemed by Him when His Son takes on human flesh and gives His life for the world. Romans 8 says as much: “For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. And not only they, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8:22-23 NKJV). There will come a time when this present world is destroyed and a new heaven and earth are made. But it will not be our doing. It will be the Lord’s. He’s promised that too. And He’s promised it’ll all be ours in Jesus!
So let the hot air blow about “man made global warming.” As for me, I’m going to go enjoy the beautiful weather the Lord is sending us this week! Now, where did I put the keys to my fossil-fuel burning vehicle….?
The Rev. Mark Buetow is pastor of Bethel Lutheran Church in DuQuoin, IL, and interim Internet Services Executive for Higher Things. He also edits the Daily Reflections. He is the husband of Susan and father of three.
