By Roy Kloet. (From: Het Zoeklicht)
Recently, the University of Helsinki decided to give Greta Thunberg an honorary doctorate. This is the highest university award. With the help of her famous mother (1), she drew worldwide attention to climate change. From the age of 15, she ‘went on strike’ weekly at the Swedish parliament for the climate. Greta was highly appreciated for her climate activism. In 2019, Time Magazine named her “Person of the Year” and she won the Children’s Peace Award. She was even nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
“By choosing Greta as an honorary doctor, we express our desire to be as courageous and impactful as she is,” says professor Nissinen.
A school drop-out without any scientific achievements is thus bestowed with academic greatness. It perhaps says more about the state of science. But no matter how we feel about it, Greta is successful in her earthly struggle. Concerned people see her as a figurehead; a voice in the desert to keep the earth habitable.
A striking detail: Greta receives her honorary doctorate in Theology (2). Historian Bouwman frowns: “Guilt, penance, the end of time, denunciation of unbelievers and now also a theological honorary doctorate for the ‘holy virgin’. For those who still doubted whether green is a religion.” The former leaders of the German Evangelical Church and the Anglican Church of England compared Greta to Jeremiah. The Catholic Bishop Koch called her a modern prophet.
THE RISE OF THE CLIMATE RELIGION
Just because Greta isn’t a Christian theologian doesn’t mean she is not religious. This climate apostle is a follower of a radical religion that fits precisely with the spirit of the time. Many have left God and are seeking a surrogate faith to fill the void. The climate religion gives people the feeling of living for something bigger than their own little ego island. Standing up for the planet, for mother earth. Well, OK, you may also call it “creation”.
Thus, “green” really became an alternative belief of some sort for some. This is not only evidenced by Greta’s appointment as a top theologian. Worldwide we see religious traits everywhere around climate and greenery. Many who left the church are now becoming fanatical supporters of climate science. They willingly sacrifice to the green idol, Mother Earth. And everyone has to participate! The pagans now worship their nature gods again, their golden calf is now green. We must repent because enemies threaten the planet.
A minuscule amount of Nitrogen Oxide precipitates, more details here:
https://breadonthewater.co.za/2023/04/17/bullying-of-the-farmers/
or a little bit more of the Carbon Dioxide (CO2) flies around our ears, details here:
Henry’s Climate | Bread on the water
Climate science is given an unassailable, almost sacred status. The “inconvenient truth” is that we are all climate sinners. The mainstream media blows the trumpet almost daily and has put it high on the agenda. Time and again there is a stage for the prophets and followers of the Extinction Rebellion and like-minded people. Ecology is the in-thing. More and more people who fight for climate justice, are willing to sacrifice and step out of their comfort zone and block the highways. Some glue themselves on the asphalt. A few glue themselves to a Vermeer canvas. Or rant against a Van Gogh with tomato soup. The media love it. From children’s TV programs to the weather reports, the message is repeated over and over again that we have to change. Everything that is wrong in the world is now due to the climate crisis. When we get to +1.5 degrees, it’s too late. We may still be able to save the planet, if we all repent and minimize our emissions. Some go so far in their crusade for a smaller carbon footprint that they no longer want to give birth: the birth strikers. Every child that is born less, saves 58.6 tons of CO2 emissions per year. For such a saving, you have to stop 24 cars for a year. Or 73 people should become vegetarians.
Those who do not participate are ignored or denounced. Unwelcome messages simply disappear from the internet, as do climate prophecies that never came true (3). A former director of the Dutch media organization cannot express his opinions because the editor-in-chief (NOS) does not like it. All ‘climate deniers’ are now being silenced. This also happens when you doubt not so much anything about climate change, but perhaps just the amount of human contribution to it, or the draconian measures to minimize emissions. There is apparently no separation of state here. United, even beyond their primary remit, governments, banks, regulators and multinationals preach the climate message. Anyone who sees a threat in this unity can now be classified as a threat by the secret service because of ‘anti-institutional extremism’.
THE CLIMATE CHURCH
Mother Earth is a wrathful type of goddess, and fear and despair reign among many climate believers. That even leads to climate depressions. A humanistic alliance has already set up discussion groups for people with climate burnout or climate depression.
You would think that this would offer Christians a great opportunity to bring the hopeful gospel of Christ. For He is the Savior of sinful man and of a Creation that sighs (Romans ch. 8). But surprise, surprise: many churches no longer expect Him, and they certainly no longer expect anything from Him.
Believing in green is hip. Christians feel called to prevent global warming themselves. “As good stewards, we should shepherd the planet and build God’s Kingdom,” some argue. It is indeed important to have an eye for God’s original plan for man and all of His creation. To take care of it and enjoy it. But when we simply ignore the Creator and think we can restore this creation ourselves, pride and self-justification lurk around the corner. No matter how well-intentioned, we cannot be the savior. Where this is taught, churches are changed and Christianity is redefined. Then one proclaims another gospel. That’s the “Kingdom Now,” eco-gospel. (4)
Various Christian organizations work with churches on sustainability and greening (5). These can be good initiatives. Few people will reject the correct sustainable handling of resources. If the world went down tomorrow, Luther would plant an apple tree today. But you are on slippery ice when, for example, the planting of that tree becomes the core of the preaching. And what do we see: ‘Green churches’ together with the (Dutch) media organize ‘a real sermon competition for theologians and non-theologians on a theme around climate and sustainability‘. A worship service for creation? Are we not going to “worship and serve the creation above the Creator”? (Rom. 1:25, Matt. 4:10). Things really become problematic when not Christ, but only the green faith is proclaimed:
- There are already: ‘a green pastor, green patriarch, green pope and green liturgies for lamentation, sorrow and mourning’
- They advocate for real climate conversion. In the confession of climate sins one finds healing, liberation and tranquility.
- There is already a ‘vigil for creation’
- Green theology advocates a “reinvention of Christianity.”
- Breaking the laws for climate protests are encouraged.
EXTREME GREEN
Prominent Christians are committed to Extinction Rebellion (XR) or its Christian counterpart Christian Climate Action (CCA). Sometimes Christian activists go to a demonstration or blockade in preachers’ toga. To ‘rebel for life’ by blocking the roads. XR and CCA don’t accept half-work or “cheap grace”. Climate justice now! Many people feel ‘a lot of camaraderie in the climate movement’. I like to believe that. But if you experience more comradeship (6) with XR than with fellow Christians in the church, aren’t you in danger of standing in the path of the sinners? Or to sit there, in a circle of people that curse God or use foul language?
Knowingly breaking the law and then ending up in jail makes you frown? I quote a lady pastor who works for various organizations: “From my ministry, I feel that I cannot remain silent. Arrest is also sometimes the goal. Then it’s a shame if you don’t get arrested because that’s what makes the media. For me, blocking the road is a form of love to ‘God’. In no other place do I feel so close to God as after an arrest.” To add, “Paul ended up in prison, didn’t he?”
Yes. Yes. But not with a message on climate and blocking the roads! In Acts (25:8), he even advocates the opposite. Although Paul lived in a Roman world full of slavery and injustice, the core of his preaching was Christ (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Paul ended up in jail because he was talking about Jesus! Proclaiming a half-biblical truth for a biased climate purpose is a fallacy. Paul is extraordinarily sharp in his rejection of errant doctrine.
“If we take the Bible seriously, we would be at the front of the queue to force climate action!” says climate scientist Hayhoe. (7)
No. No. And again, no. If people are dying today, they need the Gospel now. The Gospel is free. God himself has paid ALL the debt for us. And He has promised a new creation. If you happen to have a green heart, and you can reach people who are desperate about the climate, then above all, proclaim to them the liberating Gospel of Christ!
CONCLUSION
The church of Jesus Christ is not on earth to promote sustainability. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that we must or can save the world (8). He is the Lord and He is also Lord of the Weather! (Matt. 8:23-27). Many exploit the earth to serve mammon (money). Do not serve mammon, nor creation. God is in us, part of us, and nothing escapes Him. Fight the good fight. Help those who are struggling (Matt. 25:31-46) and worship the Creator above the creature. That is the Law and the Prophets. Proclaim hope and do not despair. He is with us, in the same boat.
The Lord is coming back!
References:
- Malena Emman represented Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest (2009) and was environmental hero of the Swedish World Wildlife Fund (2017).
- The study of God, faith, rituals and religious scriptures.
- For example, there would be no permanent ice at the North Pole in 2022.
- In 2022, interfaith leaders presented the “Ten Commandments for Climate Justice.”
- e.g, Micha Nederland, A Rocha, GroeneKerken, Laudata Si’alliantie, Missie Nederland and Tearfund.
- A striking (communistic) type of word choice!
- See website CCA. Or: ‘No flood after us’. (That’s right. The end of the world is different…)
- We must proclaim the coming Kingdom of God, but we do not have to build it. (Note Jesus’ summary of the Law and the Prophets, Matt. 22:37-40)
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