Greta Thunberg gave her emotional speech to the United Nations with her own "How dare you?" and "We are watching you," but didn't explain what she wanted them to do. Oh, maybe something like "Cut global carbon emissions by more than 65% before 2025" or something like it. "But," I want to ask, "How???" She's not saying. She's just demanding. "No justice, no peace," they chanted not because the case had not been tried, but because it didn't get ruled the way they wanted it to be ruled. That is, "We define justice and you either go along or face war." Of course, since we can't really be sure what that definition is from moment to moment -- "Okay, so you want this guy released for doing what you want that guy executed for? I'm not following." -- so we can expect war at any moment. And you ... you dirty, rotten Christians. Standing on the Bible about "God created male and female" like that means something about humans and gender or "A man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh" like that defines marriage or something. What's wrong with you? You shouldn't be allowed to believe that stuff and we intend to bring legal action. Oh, sure, we buy into the First Amendment ... just not for you.
We can't win. You know that, don't you? You can present to Greta and her cronies all the science and data and facts and evidence and problems and alternate solutions and it just won't matter. "She's a 16-year-old girl for pity sake. You're going to insult her? Lots of kids feel like she does." True, but that just means that lots of kids are unclear on the concept. But you can't win that one because facts aren't the issue; feelings are.
We can't win. "What are you; a hater? Are you opposed to love? What makes you think you know what God thinks anyway? Leave it to us; we do." Facts, Scripture, reasoning, logic, all of that is pointless here. Hang onto that stuff and you will find yourself on the "wrong side of history" not because you're wrong, but because they aren't concerned with facts; they're concerned about feelings.
The perception is often "Liberals operate on feelings but conservatives operate on facts." Maybe. Probably not. Because the problem isn't "liberal" or "conservative." At least, not biblically. The problem is what Scripture calls "the futility of the mind" (Rom 1:21; Eph 4:17). Sin rots the brain. The more sin that is indulged produces more rot. Some parts are actually non-functional in the Natural Man (1 Cor 2:14). Offering good arguments, actual evidence, and coherent reasons are all well and good -- and we should -- but we're not dealing with actual intellectual problems. We're dealing with sin-sick minds, and appealing to the best of them won't get very far when the best of them are corrupted, deceived, blinded. When the world operates on insatiable sensuality (Eph 4:19) and we're trying to push rational thinking, don't count on that going well.
The good news is we don't have to. We aren't expecting to turn hearts and minds. That's God's job. We're expected to "give a reason for the hope that lies within us" (1 Peter 3:15), to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints" (Jude 1:3). The results are in God's hands. That's the job of the Holy Spirit. So, no, we can't win. But God can.
11 comments:
I am wondering what the Christian perspective is on a billion Africans and two billion Asians transitioning (this century, say) to a middle-class lifestyle complete with big houses and SUVs and passenger flights in commercial aircraft. If the carbon dioxide cost is the abandonment of Miami and New Orleans and other low-lying cities, is it still something you should pray will happen?
I'd love to give you a coherent answer, but I'm completely confused. I don't know what the question has to do with the post. I don't know why First World greed would be classified as a good thing. I don't even know how certain we are that giving Africans houses will cause the flooding of the world. (By the way, they aren't merely worried about the flooding of New York. They're also concerned about entire South Pacific islands occupied by native populations will be lost.) Is this a question of Christian perspective? And since my only source on matters of faith and practice -- the Bible -- is silent on the subject, I don't know why you would come to me with the question.
It seems strange to hear someone suggest that millions of Africans and Asians must be kept in poverty to keep Miami and New Orleans safe.
On the topic. It’s almost like you are saying that sun affects all aspects of our lives.
I wasn't clear on the question. It may have been "Should we keep them all in poverty to save Miami?" or "Isn't making billions of Asians and Africans wealthy worth the loss of a city or two?"
And, no, I wasn't saying that sin affects all aspects of our lives. I was saying that Scripture says it. :)
To flesh out my question some more, imagine praying
"Lord, lift billions in the third world out of poverty quickly, if You can do so without badly damaging the world's environment and resources."
Or instead praying,
"Lord, lift billions in the third world out of poverty quickly, even if this will heavily damage the world's environment and resources."
Are either of those worth praying? Would one be more likely to come to pass than the other?
Just something for you fellows to ponder.
(As for applicability, I thought of this dilemma when I saw you brought up Greta Thunberg.)
Thanks for the clarification (on both the applicability and the intent). No, I can't imagine a biblical reason to pray either one.
The premise that lifting people out of poverty must some how equal damage to the world's environment; is a classic false dilemma. the reason we cannot win is simply because the opposition no longer cares about rational thought. People don't want justice, they want satisfaction.
but the best part is that the unbelieving world will get what it is asking for. for a short time it will revel in its new identity, they will align themselves with one just like them. he will have power to overcome the saints. then they will rejoice just as they did when they mocked Christ on the cross. and for a season the truth will be thrown down.
it used to be that the world wanted a reason for our faith, now the world simply dose not care. so the question as to how to communicate with the world becomes mute. the world does not want to know.. so sad...
I'm not sure the world ever wanted a reason for our faith. I think the world asks because it serves as a good smokescreen. "Well, if you can't give me proof, then it must be false and I'm okay with not going your way." Except "can't give me proof" is actually "I don't accept any of your evidence or reasoning, so you don't provide any evidence or reasoning." They don't care about rational thought.
I actually wrote this, though, after being struck in the face by that phrase in Ephesians, "the futility of their minds." Ouch. Apparently this isn't new.
We might also not because we don't struggle against people, but the power of the prince of this world. For now, we are simply outclassed by him.
Hi Brother Stan, do you think that this blog is worth reading and commenting on for apologetic issues?:
https://bcooper.wordpress.com/
Hard to tell. Short content, much of it referencing other sources. Might be. I won't be commenting on it.
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