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The Evangelical Climate Initiative Several evangelical heavyweights have joined together in something called the Evangelical Climate Initiative (ECI). The Initiative, anchored by over 250 “senior evangelical leaders,” including Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, Gordon MacDonald, Jack Hayford, and a gaggle of Christian college presidents. I, too, received an invitation to join ECI. I have declined to do so even though I believe that we should care for the place we live and work to keep pollution to a minimum. I personally do “give a hoot and don’t pollute.” The brochure of the organization is “Climate Change: An Evangelical Call to Action” and lists four claims made by ECI: Well, as far as being a detriment to global well-being, that is up for debate. There are thousands of scientists who believe that “global warming” is a bogus issue. Climate change is one thing — human-induced global warming is another. According to one source, the volcanic eruption of Mt. Saint Helen’s spewed more contaminants into the atmosphere than the entire range of human technological endeavors since the Industrial Revolution. Claim 2 – “The consequences of climate change will be significant and will hit the poor the hardest.” What consequences, other than theoretical? As far as the poor being impacted, the sad truth is that the poor are always the most adversely impacted. There is no doubt that the poor are hit hardest by war in Iraq and Gaza. Where is the “Evangelical War Initiative?” In this current recession, the poor are impacted terribly. Where is the “Evangelical Recession Initiative?” Claim 3 – “Christian moral convictions demand our response to the climate change problem.” And just where is that in scripture? Did Jesus say, “Go into all the world and proclaim the need for action in the face of alleged global human-induced climate change?” Did he say, “You shall receive power to proclaim the ‘carbon footprint’ agenda first in Jerusalem, then in Judea, and then to the uttermost parts of the earth?” I didn’t think so. Where, anywhere in the ministry and teaching of the apostles, do we find justification for such a thing? Claim 4 – “The need to act now is urgent ...” Really? What follows in the ECI brochure is a list of talking points that can be found in any liberal environmentalists’ agenda. ECI claims that “deadly impacts are being experienced now.” We must, ECI says, “pass national legislation requiring sufficient reductions in carbon dioxide emissions through cost-effective, market-based mechanisms.” Does anyone remember “Y2K”? Supposedly, at the turn of the century, the world was going to be thrown into techno-catastrophe by a glitch in the global computer/technological network, and people were running around all over the civilized world shouting that the sky was falling. In the 1700s, 10 Russian Orthodox priests and monks journeyed to the unexplored territory of Alaska to proclaim the Gospel of Christ, to baptize, and to teach the new converts. In an eight-month period of time, over 7,750 native Alaskans embraced Christianity and their lives and communities were changed. With the exception of one priest, all died in the endeavor which, over 200 years later, still influences Alaska. If one wishes to change a culture, there must be a spiritual change in the human heart. That is the “Evangelical Initiative.” That is the mission of the Church — not to squander its credibility and influence on the latest issue of the moment, whatever that issue may be. [David Epps is the founding pastor of Christ the King Church, 4881 Hwy. 34 E., Sharpsburg, GA 30277, between Peachtree City and Newnan. Services are held Sundays at 8:30 and 10 a.m. He serves as a bishop to the Diocese of the Mid-South and is also the mission pastor of Christ the King Church in Champaign, IL. He may be contacted at frepps@ctkcec.org.] login to post comments | Father David Epps's blog
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