The Christian Thing to Do

Some people think being a Christian is defined by doing certain things. Two weeks ago, my hometown newspaper published an article about a former USDA employee who’s also the lay leader of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Phyllis Johnson claimed that addressing climate change is the “Christian thing to do.” I feel a need to respond to that exhortation.

Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” That would include feeding the hungry and looking out for our neighbors as Johnson pointed out. I also agree we should be good stewards of this planet’s resources. However, the fear-mongering over climate change can be disputed both logically and biblically. 

Over 40 years ago there were news reports of a coming ice age. Then there were worries about global warming. Some environmentalists talk about rising sea levels. If the latter is happening, then why aren’t masses of people moving away from coastal cities like New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and Honolulu? God-fearing people who are sincerely concerned about this planet’s future should remind themselves of what Genesis 8:22 says, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.” Climate change has been happening for centuries but not because of human activity. 

This same article also quoted an ELCA bishop. Rev. Terry Brandt not only expressed concerns about climate change but also food and water shortages. God provided the earth with plenty of natural resources. Psalm 65:9 says, “You visit the earth and water it, You greatly enrich it; The river of God is full of water; You provide their grain, for so You have prepared it.” An increasing population doesn’t mean less food for everybody. More people would be available to plant seeds and grow crops to produce more food.

As an evangelist, I’m concerned if Phyllis Johnson and Terry Brandt really are Christians. During my childhood, I also attended an ELCA church. Unfortunately, the pastors there never taught me I must be born again (John 3:3, 7). One can go to church all their lives and do many good deeds but won’t make it into heaven unless they know the Lord. 

Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” The Christian thing to do is to get saved and then obey the Great Commission so that more people receive eternal life.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” - Matthew 28:19

Standing on the Wrong Rock

Despite living in Minnesota most of my life, I consider myself a North Dakota native having been born in Fargo. A recent oil boom has caused a marked increase of the Roughrider State’s population. It’s also resulted in a protest that has captured the world’s attention. The issue at hand is the proposed Dakota Access Pipeline that would run from the Bakken oil fields in western North Dakota to southern Illinois, crossing beneath the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, as well as part of Lake Oahe near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. 

Many people including a few celebrities are “standing with Standing Rock” by blocking construction of the pipeline. One reason is to protect the water from a possible oil spill (the phrase “water is life” is often used by protesters). What should be pointed out is another pipeline and other utilities have been previously built underneath the Missouri River. The chairman of the Standing Rock Tribal Council happens to own a gas station.

Another reason given for the protests is the pipeline supposedly affecting Native American sites. U. S. Army Corp officials offered to hold hearings that were largely ignored by the Standing Rock tribe. Still the pipeline is to be constructed miles away from their sacred grounds. 

Protesters misrepresenting other facts have added fuel to the fire. Despite claims of peaceful protests, law enforcement officials have been attacked with rocks, bottles and Molotov cocktails. One person taunted policemen by holding a dead pig’s head on a stick. On Black Friday about 100 Standing Rock protesters gathered at a shopping mall in North Dakota’s capital city of Bismarck. At least 33 of them were arrested for trespassing after disregarding repeated orders to disperse and stop blocking an entrance.

Nevertheless, some religious groups (and even a few of my Facebook friends) have sided with the protesters. The outreach director of one organization posted a YouTube video from Standing Rock in which he talked about “saving Mother Earth.” I must remind eco-protesters the earth isn’t our mother! It’s simply the planet we live on.

This conflict will hopefully end soon since an eviction notice has been issued to protesters camping illegally on private property. In the meantime, I advise all professing Christians “standing with Standing Rock” to refocus your priorities by standing with “the Rock of our salvation” (Psalm 95:1). Believers should be more concerned about saving the souls of men by telling them about Chief Cornerstone who’s part of the tribe of Judah. Protesting a pipeline doesn’t get people into heaven.

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock” - Matthew 7:24

Green Police

Last night I watched the second half of Super Bowl XLIV on TV. Originally I wasn’t interested in viewing it at all because the Minnesota Vikings (my favorite team) just missed advancing to the big game. But I changed my mind partially because I wanted to watch the Tim Tebow commercials that promoted a pro-life message. I didn’t see the commercials live because they aired during the pregame show and the first quarter. However, another memorable commercial came on near the end of the game. It was an Audi ad featured the “Green Police” (with background music by Cheap Trick which parodies their old song “Dream Police”).

This ad could be a sign of things to come. Laws are constantly being passed to appease environmentalists. Two months ago in Washington, DC, a new law went into effect requiring businesses to charge customers an extra 5 cents for giving out plastic bags. I found out about this just before I stopped into a Subway restaurant in the nation’s capital one day for lunch. I refused to buy a plastic bag for my sandwich and ate it inside.

As stated before in this blog, I agree that man should be a good steward of this planet and its resources. But I’m getting tired of the increasing amount of advertisements urging us to “go green.” Rather than focus on saving the planet, we should be more concerned with saving humans (both the unsaved and the unborn).

“O Israel, stay away from idols! I am the one who answers your prayers and cares for you. I am like a tree that is always green; all your fruit comes from Me.” – Hosea 14:8