For those who continually confuse political issues with theological issues, being theologically, morally and ethically conservative as an Evangelical Christian does not translate into giving covetous men and corporations like Exxon or BP the license to destroy our planet. The motive for pure profit (Exodus 20:3, 17) in laissez faire economics and capitalism is a violation of the ten commandments (Exodus 20:1-17). We are not to make an idol of money and we cannot serve both God and money (Luke 16:13). The Scriptures clearly say that we are to be good stewards of God's creation (Genesis 2:15).
I am calling for Evangelical and Reformed Christians to protest the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and for President Obama to give top priority to getting this massive oil spill stopped. There is absolutely no excuse for this spill to continue to spew millions of gallons of crude oil into the ocean daily and there is no excuse for this to have gone on for over a month now. This environmental catastrophe will affect the health of our planet for generations to come and it will affect the quality of life for our children and the quality of life for countless species of plants and animals in the marine environment.
While it is true that the primary concern of Scripture is the salvation of lost souls and those who are elect from the mass of fallen humanity, it is also true that God commands absolute obedience to His moral law. Antinomianism in matters of the environment is an indication of someone who has not been converted. Most people would not want to live in a dirty house so why do they believe it is acceptable to God or our neighbor to destroy the planet and the creatures God has uniquely created? This creation is the only one God has given to us and we ought to take care of it to the best of our ability.
It seems to me that the United States government needs to regulate and oversee the offshore oil industry to insure that safety procedures are not bypassed. More safety is needed, not less. Trusting sinful men (Romans 3:10-12; 23) without supervision is an open invitation to abuse and the pollution of God's creation.
Peace,
Charlie
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;
Answer. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.
Answer. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.
Posts
2 comments:
Charlie, petroleum is a natural substance, and doubtlessly covered in the creation mandate to "subdue the earth" (although we're probably on the same page in seeing this as stewardship rather than true dominion). The BP oil spill is unfortunate, and the BP company is probably guilty of some negligence. However, it began trying to clean up the spill while our Departments of the Interior and Energy were trying to pin blame on one or another governmental watchdog.
Yes, corporations and business people are often greedy and unscrupulous. But we should not forget that politicians and kings can be more so. While Judges warns us of the days when there was no king in Israel and every man did what was right in his own eyes, the books of Kings are full of the dreary refrain "He walked in the way of Jeroboam the Son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin".
Currently, we have a US administration headed by a man who supports late-term abortion, long suspported a flaming racist "pastor", and has appointed to the Supreme Court a woman who advocates controls on "hate speech" in contravention of the First Amendment (and, as a case in Alberta, Canada, has shown, "hate speech" can be no more than declaring homosexuality a sinful behavior).
I have my own problems with the Evangelical right. In a civilized time (like 17th century New England), Pat Robertson with his "the Lord told me"s, would've been flogged out of town at the cart's tail for blasphemy. There's also an undercurrent of scapegoating others when we Evangelicals were bad enough at failing to use wealth compassionately, racism, and letting women into the pulpit.
But, with the BP spill, all I can say is that this is one more case of how, in this Vale of Baca, when something can go wrong, it will.
Yes,and can you imagine what sort of hell the radical left would have given a Republican president if this environmental disaster had happened on his watch? Where are the liberals when it happens on their watch??? Aren't they supposed to be the ones protecting the environment.
I know this is not an issue for the church to address since the Gospel is the primary mission of the church, not political activism. However, individual Christians can and should speak up and challenge President Obama to do something about this.
The spill needs to be stopped before there is further damage.
Charlie
Post a Comment