Comments on: Should Christians Care about Protecting the Environment?

By: Lindalp

Lindalp — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:41:23 +0000

So, in agreeing with ‘Bob’ and in saying “The latter is something completely different and new coming into existence. The former is a â€œrefreshingâ€ of what is old. Kinda like the â€œoldâ€ man being made â€œnewâ€ in the writings of Paul. We donâ€™t become a different entity. The old entity is made alive and restored.

So the Bible is saying exactly what it means. The world as we know it will be refreshed, revitalized, restored. That is the meaning of â€œnewâ€ in Rev 21.” it comes across that you are saying it’s ok to just allow the modren times trend toward just doing whatever to the Earth, because later on it will all be made ‘new’. That seem irresponsible and not being a good steward toward the Earth that God wants us to be. Not being a good steward is what got Adam and Eve kicked out of Eden.

By: Duane Ediger

Duane Ediger — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:08:59 +0000

You who are so adept it finding appropriate scriptures, what will you do with John and his revelation (11:18):

And the twenty-four elders, who were seated
on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17saying:
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
and have begun to reign. The nations were angry; and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,
and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your saints and those who reverence your name,
both small and greatâ€”
and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”

By: Dale Fincher

Dale Fincher — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:38:36 +0000

I appreciate the article. I think we can also add many pragmatic reason for preserving the earth. We forget that the earth provides us with life and food. Hurting the earth, on a big picture, is like blowing up all our grocery stores.

Wendell Berry has some of the best writing on understanding our place in nature (since we are part of nature) and our need to care of it. The dilemma of creature care has only emerged in the last 150 years because that is when we started to destroy the earth.

By: Dale Fincher

Dale Fincher — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:33:41 +0000

Bob, you are RIGHT that when the Bible talks about a NEW Heavens and a NEW earth, it means just that! In fact, the word for “new” is “kainos” as opposed to “neos.” The latter is something completely different and new coming into existence. The former is a “refreshing” of what is old. Kinda like the “old” man being made “new” in the writings of Paul. We don’t become a different entity. The old entity is made alive and restored.

So the Bible is saying exactly what it means. The world as we know it will be refreshed, revitalized, restored. That is the meaning of “new” in Rev 21. Theologically speaking, the earth will experience the “heat” Peter is talking about. But the heat will not annihilate the earth else nothing will exist to “renew.”

Be careful how your shooting at your fellow brothers and sisters. Just because a topic is popular in public discourse doesn’t mean we shouldn’t talk about it either. After all it was a “Christian” nations that allowed the industrial revolution to get out of hand in the first place. So if anyone should be talking about this, it should be us.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:19:55 +0000

@Bob Can you explain this statement? “Siding with the ideologies behind the environmental extremists global warming/climate change movement? Dangerous.” The RBC article seems to argue primarily from the Bible, but perhaps I missed something?

By: Bob Smith

Bob Smith — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:02:59 +0000

I will not continue to read an article where a Christian or anyone for that matter denies the Word of God. Peter meant what he said about the elements burning, and when the Bible talks about a NEW heavens and a NEW earth, it means just that.

Sorry RBC. Don’t try to rationalize the eco movement by denying eschatalogical certainties. You should know that the Bible is authoritative, and while end time predictions are not always chronological, the word of God still means what it says, and there is no reasoning it out.

Environmentally responsible? Absolutely. Siding with the ideologies behind the environmental extremists global warming/climate change movement? Dangerous. Rationalizing away any part of scripture? …