GREEN FAITH?


The World, the Word & You! Broadcast
Commentary by Dennis L. Finnan

IS GLOBAL WARMING MELTING THE POLAR ICE CAPS? IS OVERPOPULATION BRING THE WORLD TO THE BRINK OF STARVATION? ARE RAIN FORESTS SOON TO DISAPPEAR?

I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the WWY Broadcast and in a moment we’ll talk about the Greening of the Faith….

… Here we are catapulted into the 21st century, and quite frankly everyone is thinking what will happen to us and the world we live in? Well secularists, , New Agers, evolutionists and other non-Christian faiths we know ¾ think deeply on these subjects, especially our environment, but recently it appears there's been a stirring movement among confessing Christians and their organizations, to join the frenzy of fear and faith that leads one to consider adopting an environmental worldview.

What I'm particularly concerned about is the recent move among evangelical Christians to join forces, in effect, with the anti-Christian world's "Green" movements in an attempt to biblically justify their actions. Sound a bit odd or funny? Well it isn't and as the popular fictional FBI agent, Fox Mulder, says -- "the truth is out there!" So, today we shall find it in the Word of God. But now let's pause one more time and listen to this…

… Is Global Warming melting down our polar ice caps, and starting the catastrophe of submerging the coastlines of the world? Does mankind face extinction by starvation, and war due to environmental abuse? Are our precious Rain Forests around the world disappearing to produce an environmental nightmare? Well, friends there are many voices out there crying these woes, and the most rabid are those secular and religious groups called the "Green" Environmentalists. Yes, voices are being heard today that man is destroying the globe, and all other creatures of life on earth, not to mention the trees and plant life. But recently, more and more professing Christians are getting on the "band wagon" in what is called the "GREEN FAITH" Movement. Those falling in line are networking to promote the environmentalist agenda on the basis of what they claim is our responsible biblical stewardship. No with all due respect, the Bible has some things to say about the Christian and the environment. However, what we are seeing today in the GREEN FAITH MOVEMENT, I believe warrants caution and question. So let's talk about it.

First of all, many evolutionary minds today see our world in a very real sense as their "god." By this I mean the globe and the universe, is what gave them birth by evolutionary means, therefore they believe they "owe" this mindless god, worship and respect. Much of this "evolutionary" philosophical thinking has naturally evolved into a religious basis today called the NEW AGE MOVEMENT. The New Age movement is not a single faith or denominational stand, but a conglomeration of false beliefs that have common ground. It is a worldly philosophy and belief system that believes in a pantheistic god, who is everything that exists. As such, they claim we also then a part of this god. Therefore, mankind can communicate with this god through mystical experiences such as higher consciousness, spirit being, transcended masters, channeling and worship. All blessings from this god, can be experienced by "preserving" the environment, which is in effect their god itself. For this reason, today we have militant groups of New Age evolutionists who believe that our environment is a "sacred" part of god and must be protected at all costs.

Today we know that environmental pollution is a real thing and an "enemy" of humanity as such. Therefore organizations of New Agers, evolutionists, and spiritualists have arisen and called themselves the "Green Movement," to preserve their goddess "mother earth." It's not surprising that when one rejects the true God who created them, they will believe anything including the nonsense of pantheism. The Bible tells us this exactly,

Rom 1:18-23 (NLT) "But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who push the truth away from themselves. 19 For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their hearts. 20 From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God. 21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people, or birds and animals and snakes."

God says the worship and adoration of the "creation" over and against the "Creator," is the mindset of those who reject their Creator God. But now, surprisingly and fearfully we see a growing number of Christians getting involved in this "Green Movement," to fight ecological pollution. These Christians and their organizations, like the EEN Evangelical Environment Network, have joined together in what is known as the "Christian Environmental Association," or (CEA) "Target Earth" is defined by them as "Serving the Earth, Serving the Poor." Indeed, this new "target earth," philosophy is a national movement of Christians who are committed to saving the environment, as fulfillment of their stewardship responsibilities to God!

Now all this sounds good and biblical, but is it? Is God calling us who trust Christ and await His kingdom to work towards a "global village?" Or, to work towards increasing awareness of global environmental issues and problems? Another group called FLORESTA USA, is working today in the third world for economic development and environmental restoration.

Well now, should we Christians support this "green" movement and join forces with the secularists and their agenda? The answer my friend is a fat NO!

These Green Movement groups, Christian or non-Christian, ultimately lean towards an unbiblical agenda. That agenda includes belief that all creatures are of equal value and status for life. This means mankind has no right to encroach on the living and environment of animal or sea life. Thus, cutting timber in the northwest is wrong and sinful, for it destroys the habitat of creatures who live there. Furthermore, carrying this to its logical extreme, the Green Christian Movement sheepishly advocates Christians stop eating meat, and "vegetarianism," is touted as much more healthy. Claims are made that in the Garden of Eden God's original plan was a vegetarian diet for humankind. Furthermore, the "Green Christian Movement" advocates the killing of animals for food and or clothing is terribly sinful. Why, even the wearing of furs has for them become another serious evil. Moreover, eating too well is sinful in light of the starving peoples of the world.

Since the vast majority of world residents are poor and have very little, then the western world's opulence is sinful for owning too much and using too much technology. Along with this comes the idea that our world is being destroyed, and now the Christian Green Movement, especially groups like the EEN, the Evangelical Environment Network, actually blame Christians for the destruction of the environment! We in the Western world, they say are the cause of the deforestation of the planet, the thinning of the Ozone Layer, the Global Warming of our earth, the world fish kills, the increase of radioactivity, the Asbestos scare, the Acid Rain destruction and of course the extinction of some wildlife witnessed today ¾ Are these charges true? Are all these things happening to our world and is it on the brink of destruction by mankind, and Christians? The answer of course is preposterous and no!

Environmental problems indeed are here, but they are not due to any true believer's abuse of the "creation." No true Christian will ever knowing abuse anything God has created. The real cause of environmental abuse is the sinfulness of mankind, which is seen fully in those who reject the one true God and the faith called Christianity. Yes, as long as people reject Christ and the Scriptures, there is no real solution to the problem of pollution or corruption, that is until Jesus Christ returns as He's promised.

Moreover, the Bible predicts that as we draw to the end of things, the world will suffer more and more ecological problems and disasters ¾ and do you know, amazingly, God Himself will be the major destroyer of our present environment. Indeed, we read that in the last days before Christ returns to take control of the earth, He will pour out His judgments on the environment.

Rev 6:8 (NIV) "I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth."

Rev 8:7 (NIV) "The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up."

Rev 8:11 (NIV) "the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter."

The Book of Revelation tells us that God is going to be the initiator of destroying the environment, polluting the world, and bringing a real catastrophic destruction of our planet as we know it. Why? Because it is preliminary to His re-creating the world into a perfect environment that will at first last for 1000 years.

But now what about the growing teachings among Christians that the radial environmentalists promote? What about this issue of being a vegetarianism, stop wearing furs, stop using technology to the hilt? The answer is also found in Scripture. First of all, God planned for mankind after the global flood, to hunt wildlife, raise livestock and eat meat. Let no one tell you differently. We read in,

Gen 9:3 (NIV) "Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything."

In the environment, after the Flood, God's balance of ecology was for mankind not to be vegetarian in lifestyle. Why even the Lord Jesus himself ate the Passover Lamb, and in His glorified body after rising from the dead, he at a piece of broiled fish.

Luke 24:42 (NIV) "They gave him a piece of broiled fish,"

Mark 14:12 (NIV) "On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?""

Mark 14:17-18 (NIV) "When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.""

Friend, vegetarianism is not a Christian doctrine, nor a principle to uphold that honors God nor our environment. Such beliefs come from the idea that man and animal are equal. However, the Bible teaches the animal kingdom is not equal to man. The Scriptures teaches that mankind is the only creature created in the "image" of God.

Gen 1:26 (NIV) "Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.""

Psa 8:4-8 (NIV) "what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? 5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: 7 all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas."

So God created mankind to be "king" over all the earth, to rule over all other creatures and their very existence was for mankind's usefulness and need.

Another charge against Christians by the Green Christian Movement is that we are abusers of the resources of the earth while the vast majority of third world people have little to no access to it. Actually they are wrong. The greatest environmental abusers are Third World Countries. Their poverty is no absolution to their sin. What is advocated by the Green Movement theology is that wealth and the personal use of it is wrong. Well admittedly, Christians must be concerned that we do not hoard the wealth and resources God has given us, that is above our needs.

We are stewards of God's wealth in whatever form we have it. Be it money, goods, or natural resources. Therefore we should be involved in "sharing" such wealth with others. However, that abundance God has given to some, is for the express purpose of getting the Gospel of Jesus Christ out, not just meeting physical needs. Many of our world's populations are starving, destitute, and suffering. Why? Well look around and you'll see it's because of self-inflicted sinful living. Yes, look around the world at the religious systems that reject the one true God of Christianity and you'll see that the conditions they experience are often brought about by such heathen worship and government philosophies.

Just feeding or redistribution of the Christian's wealth is no answer to their problems, but funding of Christian MISSIONS is! Such missions of course must include meeting the necessities of life many in such mission field are without. But God deems the Christian's wealth is to be shared only with those who are open and in the end responsive to God's call for them to come out from the among the pagan and false religions of the world.

2 Th 3:10 (NLT) "Even while we were with you, we gave you this rule: "Whoever does not work should not eat.""

The Christian work and social family order and ethic is an important to the distribution of Christian funds. Failure of people to heed and care about it, is cause not to extend help and aid. Sounds quite severe, but God says so because we are not to make comfortable people who love their sins.

Now don't get the wrong idea. As Christians, I'm not advocating our abusive use of the environment through greed, selfish interest, or carelessness. We should be concerned about social and environmental issues, but we must not join forces with the godless environmentalists whose goal is to upset and deny the biblical basis of life under God's rulership and care. The Bible says we must not be "unequally" yoked together" with unbelievers even in efforts to do good and serve God. Nor should we place such emphases as a priority over the main work Christians are to be engaged in ¾ to spend their money and resources on getting the Gospel of Jesus Christ out to a lost world. What is the Gospel to be preached? Well friend here it is for you today to consider.

If you are not a Christian, it is eternally important that you make a decision in your mind, heart and will to accept Jesus Christ as your God and Savior before you die. Here's why,

THE BIBLE TEACHES AND WARNS…

  1. All humanity is born sinful and under A JUDGMENT penalty of God the Creator ¾ (Rom 3:23; Rom. 6:23) This means that regardless of whether you are a rich western world resident, or a poor Third World one, God hold us all accountable for our rejection of His right to rule our lives. From the moment of birth till death unless God intervenes with His saving message of Christ -- the world will perish in the judgment of Hell to come.
  2. GOD LOVES US SO MUCH, THAT HE PLANNED A WAY TO SAVE ALL THROUGH THE SUBSTITUTIONARY DEATH OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST - (John 3:16; Rom 5:17) -The Bible teaches from cover to cover that all humanity will pay for its sin by the death of each one of us. The problem is, since we are created in the image of God, our souls and spirits that inhabit our mortal bodies carry immortality. We cannot cease to exist! Once we die physically, God bring us the final judgment called eternal death, whereby our souls and spirits are cast into the outer darkness called an everlasting Hell. There, unrepentant sinners will exist in the abject absence of all God is. This will be the fires of Hell! But God being a just God, cannot just forgive sin, the debt of sin must be paid. So God designed that He himself would become a man and die for the sins of the world. Since God's coming in the flesh brought a unique man -- 100% God, but also 100% man -- Jesus Christ's life was infinite. When He died on the cross, His infinite life was the satisfactory payment for the lives of all humanity. Yes, Christ died for you friend… Have you received Him into your life by faith and acceptance of His gift of forgiveness? All who believe in Christ, that is, trust Him alone for forgiveness of their sins ¾ receive God's pardon and the free gift of life eternal in His presence upon death.

That friend is the essence of the "GOOD NEWS" GOSPEL the entire world must hear, and, all resources must be used for that express purpose. Of course, there is room for proper care and use of the environment, and frugality of living too. If we are honest, the real polluters, and environmental destruction, all is caused by governments, industry and global capitalism of godless people whose only interest is their own amassing of wealth.

As true believer's we must be concerned about how we impact our environment, but we are not to follow the dictates of radical environmentalists and their vain philosophies and principles or take up their cause with them. Christians need to get out of the GREEN CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT which now is the strange bedfellow of the New Age evolutionists worldview. You see, friend there is no true biblical environmentalist movement ever called for nor mandated in Scripture! Beware the Bible's warnings,

Gal 1:6-8 (NLT) "I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who in his love and mercy called you to share the eternal life he gives through Christ. You are already following a different way 7 that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who twist and change the truth concerning Christ..."

Col 2:8 (NLT) "Don’t let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the evil powers of this world, and not from Christ."

Col 2:20-23 (NLT) "You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the evil powers of this world. So why do you keep on following rules of the world, such as, 21 "Don’t handle, don’t eat, don’t touch." 22 Such rules are mere human teaching about things that are gone as soon as we use them. 23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, humility, and severe bodily discipline. But they have no effect when it comes to conquering a person’s evil thoughts and desires."

Let us own up to our responsibilities to be godly followers of Jesus Christ. Yes concerned about the environment and doing what we can not to abuse it personally or collectively, but our main concern is to leave the environment to God's management, for He has told us it isn't in His plan for the earth to be destroyed by environmental abuse. In fact, we are told in the Bible that all going to get worse as we await His glorious return. We cannot save the earth! It is written in the Scriptures it is doomed to destruction, and God is the One who will finish it off! So today friend, be warned and forearmed by being sure you have taken Jesus Christ to be your Savior and Lord. Without him all the Green Faith movements of the world will not save you or this world. Only Jesus saves, and saves completely…

…For the present, we Christians should be careful about the push and movement to save our planet. Search out the truth in God's Word and you will find there is no such calling, but there is to evangelize the world. Herein we must work and invest as never before -- for Jesus is coming again, sooner than all of might think. Will you be ready?

The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures. A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request. These weekly radio commentaries are not exhaustive studies of any particular subject due to the time limit of broadcasting. Actual broadcasts can be heard in selected areas around the nation, as funding provides. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for over 18 years, and serves as General Director.

These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are actual radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of recent messages is available upon request also.

For further information, reprints, or a listing of all topics, please write to our speaker, Dennis L. Finnan(dennis@wwy.org),or visit our webpage at http://www.wwy.org/