Dark Night of the Planet - Climate Crisis, the Bible, and Confession

[LM77 (Liam Maguire)]

@Benjamin87

Cute that you think you’re as tough.

I’m sorry I don’t follow.

@Benjamin87

You and I are not responsible for deforestation. And we cannot stop it from happening…

You and I are not responsible for any climate crisis. You and I can do nothing to solve any climate crisis.

We most certainly are. Sure, some are more guilty than others, but we all share a portion of the guilt at least for the way our own lifestyles and life choices have contributed towards the problems.

I’m reminded of this quote from John Stott’s The Cross of Christ:

Herod and Pilate, Gentiles and Jews … had together “conspired” against Jesus (Acts 4:27). More important still, we ourselves are also guilty. If we were in their place, we would have done what they did. Indeed we have done it. For whenever we turn away from Christ, we “are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace” (Heb 6:6). We too sacrifice Jesus to our greed like Judas, to our envy like the priests, to our ambition like Pilate. “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” the old negro spiritual asks. And we must answer, “Yes, we were there.” Not as spectators only, but as participants, guilty participants, plotting, scheming, betraying, bargaining and handing him over to be crucified. We may try to wash our hands of responsibility like Pilate. But our attempt will be as futile as his. For there is blood on our hands. ~ Stott, The Cross of Christ, p.63**

If this is our natural inclination towards God’s Son, how much more do we sacrifice God’s world to our greed, envy, and ambition and then try to excuse ourselves? Steven Chase puts it even more bluntly “We are Pilates to the Planet’s Jesus” (Nature as Spiritual Practice, p154). I believe the first step towards change is recognising our part (mine included) in the mess we are currently in. Confession precedes repentance.

@Benjamin87

Are those responsible going to make a change? It’s getting to the point where I really do wonder what those responsible, those who can create real change, expect or want to happen… Something has got to give. And I fear they would rather you and I simply… Went away. Or maybe they are going to take away all our comforts and rights? If 8 Billion plebs stop driving cars and using air conditioners, the few rich and powerful can continue to do so without a care in the world. Or do you truly believe they will change with you?

Funny, these arguments sound so similar to those used to justify slavery in the 18th Century. The UK committed economic suicide when its parliament voted to end the slave trade, but due to the work of Wilberforce and others, the ‘few rich’ at the top of the trade changed their ways - they had no choice. Don’t underestimate the power of the ‘plebs’.

@Benjamin87

None of this is a Biblical issue. We are dealing with a small population of rich and powerful companies and government, causing MASSIVE problems due to their behaviour, their greed. And passing the buck onto you and I.

The rich oppressing the poor, the people abusing the land, behaviour, greed, and people refusing to take responsibility for their sins. They all sound like Biblical Issues to me. Gospel issues, no less.