Doug Moo has been teaching the winterim class on the book of James at The Master’s Seminary this week. One of the points upon which he launched into application is the idea of “widows and orphans” in Scripture which represents the helpless and needy. To this, he discussed global warming, and how it is our Christian response to curb it now because it will impact the poor/needy most.
I’m going to simply use the issue as an opportunity to illustrate principles of interpretation and a discussion of conviction. To do this I’ll interact with a few statistics of environmentaldefense.org:
Rank of 2006 as hottest year on record in the continental United States.
We have not been keeping reliable temperature records except for the last one hundred years, and even these don’t match the UN IPCC model which expected a much higher change in temperature. What can we reasonably deduce from the fact that temperatures are higher now? Is this a cycle that will reverse, or is it a trend?
Rank of America as top global warming polluter in the world.
Is this as compelling as it seems? We can expect one of the largest economies, even if more efficient and with higher controls, to be the top polluters. The economy of the US is the largest in the world in terms of GDP. This isn’t to say that we can’t do better and should, but the statistic is not astounding nor unexpected.
Percent increase of America’s carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels since 1990.
There has been a 20% increase over 17 years, which seems to be growing slower than the economy. Let us assume that global warming is an issue and that carbon dioxide emissions do perfectly correlate. If the percentage increase in co2 has been declining over the recent years, and as new technologies of alternate and cleaner energy become more and more accepted, then there is a reasonable expectation that despite future economic growth, the co2 emissions will eventually be on the decline.
Percent increase of America’s carbon dioxide emissions forecasted by 2020 if we do not cap pollution.
So the previous statistic was 20% over 17 years, and this is 15% over 13. This is actually a smaller year-to-year increase. Not only that, but this is assumed with no cap whatsoever. So, apparently if we do nothing about emissions, the rate of increase is on the decline.
Percent decrease in U.S. global warming pollution required by 2050 to prevent the worst consequences of global warming.
Number of days by which the US fire season has increased over the past 20 years – tied closely to increased temperatures and earlier snowmelt.
Number of people around the world who could be displaced by more intense droughts, sea level rise and flooding by 2080.
Number of U.S. mayors (representing 55 million Americans) who have signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement pledging to meet or beat Kyoto goals in their communities.
Number of federal bills passed to cap America’s global warming pollution.
Number of times President Bush has mentioned “climate change” or “global warming” in his previous six State of the Union speeches.
To conclude, it has not been determined with certainty that global warming is an issue. It has also not been persuasively argued that global warming is out of control. There is a possibility, and a very good possibility at that, but at what percentage of certainty will we become convinced?
This is what I mean by interpretation. Even when approaching the Bible, which is clear, we must acknowledge a degree of uncertainty. Sometimes we forget that there is uncertainty, not in the reality of whether something exists or not, but whether we are right in concluding that on the basis of the data and evidence. There either is global warming or there isn’t. The world was either created in 6 literal days or it wasn’t. Everyone must weigh the evidence and people come to different conclusions.
However, and here the a major application, we must come to a conclusion. We must come up with convictions, especially without all of the data and certainty, for this is the nature of faith. We should spend our energies and our faculties in this endeavor. We will not be exonerated or let off by our naivete, but demonstrate by our searching the earnestness of our inquiry. We must do all things in faith, and when we decide, we must be fully convinced in our own mind (Rom 14:5).
Though the facts are not in for global warming, I don’t think it is an issue of importance, because I don’t believe it is an issue. Yet, I respect those that are campaigning for what they believe will protect and benefit those whose care has been entrusted us.
You should look at my blog, the last post i put in! There are amazing new numbers about the warming problem!
Good Post man
Liuscai
Well, even if you undermine the shock value of these statistics, they still are not favorable. The simple fact is that global warming is occurring and that there will be repercussions from it. Quibbling over when and how large these repercussions are devalues the actual issue and the necessity of slowing global warming to avoid these effects.
What we really need is a realistic plan for influencing climate change that can be implemented with as little impact to our daily lives as possible.
Just to clarify, China is now the #1 producer of carbon dioxide.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/china/story/0,,2106687,00.html
Good post.
yojoe
We have global warming for sure: We just started another solar cycle! Sun flares will make ALL the planets hotter.
The Global Warming scare is nothing more than the latest effort to convince countries to give up their sovereignty (and money) to a Global entity (UN or other). The War on Terror is losing it’s oomph, so this is next. If this doesn’t work they’re breaking out the extraterrestrials, I swear!
My money is on another cycle (24 Yr?). I’m old enough to remember the big “Ice Age Crisis” from my childhood. Yup, they were scamming us back then too.
Can we please take care of the environment anyway?
I agree with #4. All the other planets are experiencing global warming, including Pluto. And the statement “they’re hotter because they’re closer to the Sun” is just ignorant. That, or we need to convince the Martians to exchange their SUV’s for hybrids.
I’ve been looking into global warming too long to still thinks it’s real. Sure, the earth is warming, but what we humans do is not the direct cause.
I know, CO2=global warming, or so that’s what we believe. I find it best to dive deeper into the exact meaning of global warming and CO2 to learn that mother nature is like the Titanic, but bigger- and factories are not the grand iceberg that sinks her.
The argument shouldn’t be devolved into a “debate” of making points and attempting to counter others like some rhetoric game. Rather, an actual evaluation of the truth should be made based on reliable data, which is often very unreliable.
You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to look up.
Globel Warming is big issue! Us as Americans, should try to prevent it. I suspect that by 2099, we, the people will be dead. Im not for sure but, the way we are cranken up thoes factories and cars, and starting those fiers we just might.
To quote part of post #4..
“Can we please take care of the environment anyway?”
Really folks why does this have to become political and ugly?
As citizens of any community it is our responsibility to be involved, take action and do our part. Whether it is the local or the global community. Taking care of our “home” is just the right thing to do!
For pete’s sake… can’t we focus on envirnomental issues that we can really control. Like: water quality, air quality, and solid waste disposal. We have wasted more research debating something that is about as difinitive as the existance of martians.
I still have yet to hear any rebuttle against the fact that A. Temperature rise has preceded CO2 level rises in every warming period… including the latest. B. Average temperatures have been on a downward trend since 1998. (don’t give me the hottest year was 2006 because you used the averages argument to dispute “State of Fear”) C. the fact that man made CO2 constitutes little more than 3% of all CO2 output… Of which CO2 is only 3% of all GHG’s.
From a sciecntist… Global warming isnt science.. it’s politics… plain and simple
let me ask you something. Do you trust your weather man or anyone for that mattter to tell you with any accuracy what the weather will be in one month from now? The answer is no. So why does anyone believe that the weather will change so dramatically in 20, 50 or even 100 years from now? The weather or climate (another word for weather) is unpredictable, period. So to assume that we have any real idea what the climate will be like in even 10 years is unreasonable. And may I remind everyone that Global Warming is a theory. Yes a theory, which means it is not fact and is little more than an educated guess, which i could argue isnt even that. I’m not saying pollution isnt bad or doesnt harm the inviroment, but thats not what Global Warming is supposed to be argueing either. Why dont we focus on something we know for a fact is a problem and that has real tangible solutions instead of chasing a ghost.
I like what Mr. Brian said in his comment, “Global warming isn’t science… it’s politics.” Well said Brian, well said.
Okay, i realize there is a big debate about global warming-does it exist? Does it not?, and i, for one, do not wish to get involved in the political quagmire. But here’s the truth, people, plain and simple: we are hurting the environment. Do we really need the omnipresent promise of a “heat age” to spur ourselves on? Because that just proves how stubborn we are- if the whole world is destroyed before our eyes and pigeons are on the endangered species list, if cape cod has become the vacation spot of fish- our data will still be inconclusive. But let’s open our eyes! The environment is suffering, and we’re going to do nothing?
Shouldn’t we just attempt to save the planet first?
What if global warming actually is occuring because of us?
Wouldn’t it be better to pray and find out there is a God than to sin and burn?
To the argument that global warming isn’t science it’s politics, who’s benefiting if we act on it? Is it so bad to act on reducing carbons so that people on earth have the assurance that the land God had given us to take care of is taken care of? Wow, of all people I would think fighting to care for our land would be as worthy a cause as taking care of the sick and needy. As for the sick and needy, are they not the ones who will suffer most when the weather goes out of order and create on-going catastrophes world-wide without time for communities to recover before another one hits and it is way beyond expected. Have we not seen enough global weather catastrophes in these past few years that have killed many of the poor communities and recently causing floods in areas not expected to flood – causing more crop damage that adds onto the devastations of the poor?
You argue over facts; then let’s talk about facts. Is it not a fact that carbon dioxide is being produced by human made machines? Is it not a fact that too much CO2 will create a hole in our ozone layer, which I should now say expand the already broken layer we now have. If this is true, regardless if our addition to the problem is 1%, 20% or 100% are we not contributors to the damage; for what, just so we can continue with our convenient lives and ignore our part in the earth’s destruction. Sure, prophecies predicted that the end will come no matter what we do, but does that mean that I should not act when I know the facts. Just as sin is understood as a nature of “man” would we still not strive to act more like Jesus? Even if our efforts could not turn back time, I would rather stand before God saying that I tried my best in responding to the truth you have made clear to me. I sure don’t want to stand before God and say “oh, I didn’t think it was a problem.”
As for facts on how much a problem is our human made CO2 contributing to the equation? Yes, stats are not perfect predictors but when evidence is showing up in every form of information leading to the conclusion that the earth is warming up big time and not just it’s usual fluctuation, I think it’s time to act. As for whether U.S. is the biggest polluters or not, like that matters. In fact just because this is a global issue, we can’t predict what our neighbors are doing, but does that mean we should do less because we are no longer consider the worst contributors? Again, what would you say to God, “oh I may have some part of this destruction, but I’m not as bad as the other guy,” is that it?
Just as the article above heed that we should be careful of the interpretations we hear, is the author of this article not also making his own interpretation? For example, take a look at the false argument made by this author, “So the previous statistic was 20% over 17 years, and this is 15% over 13. This is actually a smaller year-to-year increase.” No one claims that the increase can be seen at a continuous “year-to-year increase”, it goes up and down, the increase is seen from a larger picture comparing to 400 years back. I would say go see the government site, but hesitate as I wonder is you care to believe in their data. As Jesus talked not everyone can or will hear the truth, as written in the Bible, I can only say, “let those who hear, know the truth and live by the truth.”
By the way, for those who is interested in knowing facts: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/pastcc.html