What does the Bible say about Climate Change

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Periwinkle27

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I admit ignorance and am open to sensible ideas. Lately (it seems to come in waves, starting with Al Gore) we have heard so much about climate change and how mankind is destroying the earth. However, we did have an ice age at one time, when none of us were around (perhaps dinosaurs had too much of a gas problem?). There are several passages in the Bible about how we treat the earth and its consequences. Is there a specific passage that mentions climate change directly?
At this moment, I believe to live normally, not being wasteful, being helpful, take all problems into consideration, doing the best we can do to benefit ALL of mankind and even to make compromises is perhaps the best way to go. Change is inevitable. How do we know that only bad things can happen through climate change? God does work in mysterious ways and He did tell us not worry about the food we eat or the clothes we wear. We should be respectful of it but not worry about it.
I truly believe at this point that most people who are worried about climate change do not believe in the power and wisdom of God.
 
Periwinkle27 said:
I truly believe at this point that most people who are worried about climate change do not believe in the power and wisdom of God.
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Perhaps they believe in the power and wisdom God has given us to properly care for creation.
 
Well…

In Genesis 1, God tells Adam and Eve to subdue the Earth… In other words, use the earth, it is subordinate to you. Do not worship the Earth.

In Genesis 2, God tells Adam to cultivate and care for the Garden of Eden, which seems to mean use the resources prudently.

In order to prove that he was God/Messiah, Jesus calmed the storm. Implying that God can control the weather, and we can not.

These are just off the top of my head…
 
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Nothing, as the Bible is not and was never intended to be a Science text-book.

We are told to be good stewards of this earth.
 
Climate change, as a topic will not be explicitly mentioned in Scripture. What you will find within the Old Testament is mention of the seven year sabbath for the land. How do I interpret that in terms of modern day understanding of modern agriculture? Farmers know the importance of leaving part of their land fallow, generally a seventh part. They know the importance of rotating crops, and how to plant crops to minimize erosion.
The Bible may not explicitly mention climate change, but it does point to the importance of placing God first in all things. Even in Genesis, it is known that putting the stronger animals together will breed stronger animals, and that some will be spotted and striped.
The Bible is not meant to be a science book, but that does not mean that intellect and faith are separate from one another.
I have actually been thinking lately about how past generations, living closer to the land understood nature much better than those of us who do not live so closely to the land. Why do we not use chalk boards in school any more? Instead we use whiteboards and petroleum based markers that add to land fill and are not recycled.
It is the knowledge from past generations that is being currently rediscovered, as trees are planted in Ethiopia and countering some of the damage done to the rainforests of the Amazon.
Sometimes people fall for untruths like “Follow the plow and the rains will follow.” This fallacy led to the devastation of the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression. Man does have dominion over the earth. That dominion lies responsible stewardship. When the land is allowed to rest, is not given its sabbaths, it no longer produces as it should.
No, the Bible does not say anything explicitly about Climate change. it does however say how we are to treat the land. It does say “Where your treasure lies so lies your heart.” Our heart should first and foremost lie with God. When our heart lies with God, He takes care of our needs.
 
the bible says the earth will be here and populated until Jesus returns, the statements that there are only so many years left before the planet dies is therefore incorrect and a scare tactic to push an agenda.

what else are they pushing that is incorrect?
 
God is in charge of climate and frequently used and uses bad climate e.g. famine to discipline the nations particularly Israel. Very bad people mean very bad weather, e.g. idolatry 3.5 years and then 7 years of famine Under Elijah then Elisha. Satan knows that God used/uses weather to disciple the nations for bad behavior. So since his goal is to get the nations to act bad he knows God will send bad weather. Because many who don’t believe in God will recognize the bad weather and think that their CO2 caused the bad weather, rather than their godlessness prompted God to send bad weather. So Satan’s goal is to get more control over the people of world when God sends bad weather. Go climate change is a Satanic scheme to control mankind.
Grace and Peace, Bruce
 
“…Next the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun and it was given power to scorch the people with fire. And the people were scorched by intense heat and they cursed the name of God who had authority over these plagues yet they did not repent and give Him glory.…”
 
Periwinkle27 said:
Is there a specific passage that mentions climate change directly?
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Keeping in mind that Climate Always Changes (think Ice Ages, Today)

And does any deny that? I’ve never heard even one person do so.

We do have direct references concerning Climate via Implication…

Note what I’ve bolded . for they connect with Changes in Climate

LUKE 21

Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6“As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”

“Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen?
And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”

He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.9When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

Then he said to them:
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences
in various places,
 
Periwinkle27 said:
Is there a specific passage that mentions climate change directly?
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Not as such. Also: no direct reference to nuclear waste, or plastic in the oceans, or depressions in the ozone layer.

The concept that our actions affect the world around us seems pretty cut and dry and its an often repeated message in the wisdom books.
 
EndTimes said:
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences
in various places,
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These things have been happening throughout history and long before Jesus walked the earth. Nothing new here.
 
So is it right to say that it logically follows that those nations that experienced the worst possible weather phenomena are the worst in God’s eyes? Does it also mean that the affliction experienced in such nations, especially after climate-related disastrous events is a sign of their immorality?

I just extended your idea and tried to unfold it.
 
No. See Matthew 5:45

… your heavenly Father […] makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
 
Yes and no.Some bad weather mean build on a solid foundation
Matthew 7:24-27 “Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; 25 and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; 27 and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it.”

Some bad weather is to keep us from presuming on God’s goodness and to store up for future bad times.
Luke 15:14 And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want.

Before Ben Franklin invented the lightning rod if lightning struck a house they would let it burn but put out the fire so it did not spread to neighboring houses. Sometimes it is the opportunity for invention.

Some bad weather is to give others the opportunity to be generous
Acts 11:28-30 And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world; and this took place in the days of Claudius. 29 And the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brethren who lived in Judea; 30 and they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
If God says the bad weather is a discipline, certainly you are bad. But God disciplines those He loves so the worse bad weather might not indicate the worst of nations but the nation most likely to repent and return to Him. I am sure much more could be said on this subject.
Grace and peace, Bruce
 
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Thank you for the reply.

I hope you are aware of the existence of Typhoon Haiyan and the record destruction it brought. I’m from the Philippines, and although I’m not among the victims (though my relatives are), I deeply empathize with those who were the worst-struck by this incredible storm. Whole families died, and some towns and cities did reek of rotting flesh for some days because even the authorities were overwhelmed.

Now, I ask you: are you able to dare say with a straight face to those people, some of whom might still have PTSD until now, despite the 6 years that had passed, that they are the worst in God’s eyes? Or, let’s extend this: tell them, “Filipinos are the worst so the storm was sent to your place to be a warning to the whole country.” Could you imagine how they’ll react?

Let’s extend it further. Try doing this to those who were severely affected by record storms. I’m sure there’s a lot, for the Philippines lies perfectly in the typhoon belt, and we receive the worst of whatever comes from the intemperate Pacific. Almost there is no year without at least one cyclone that fills the national headlines for days. If this is a call for repentance, someone will ask, “Isn’t it too much?” “Why we, Lord?” Filipinos might smile at you and show (or feign) grit most of the time, but the facade may crumble when you poke deeper.

This is how I understood your argument and attempted to unravel it to see its ramifications. Please: take no offense.

I do hope that the moderators would take down neither of our posts.

Pax tibi.
 
I am not going to give direct referenceto Biblical passages, and in some cases I am only paraphasing. Yes, we are responsible for our actions to a certain extent. A lit match can cause a forest fire. I was taught as a young girl that every tree cut down needed to be replaced by a new one. By the time I reached high school, the ratio had already increased to 5 trees for every tree cut down.
The Lord says in Scripture, “I will allow the waters to come so far and no further.” I have lived through typhoons myself when I was a young girl. I don’t remember the tsumani when I was a toddler. From my understanding, houses three away from us were evacuated. It was my father’s job to be at work 24 hours before and 24 hours after storms and strikes. I have seen the devastation left after earthquakes. As members of Christ’s Body, we have the hands to help those who need us. No, it is not our call regarding those who may be caught in the midst of a storm. There is a saying, based on Scripture, that sometimes God stills the storm and other times He gives us the strength to go through it.
What scripture does say is God will send the rains in due season when we turn to Him. He is constantly calling His people to repentence.

The news media focuses on the destruction of the Amazon. We see see the destruction.
What we hear less about are the successful efforts to bring life to desolate areas of Ethiopia and New Mexico using natural and time honored methods. Sometimes it has taken relearning old ways of doing things, like what crops to plant together.
Humanly speaking, we may be able to explain trees growing from seeds, and finding aquaducts under old granite ridges. What is a little more difficult to explain is fish repopulating streams of water and land animals returning to old abandoned habitats.
 
thistle said:
These things have been happening throughout history and long before Jesus walked the earth. Nothing new here.
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Nothing new here? … means about nothing…

Current Wars and Nuclear Threats are on the increase… which smell of a Biblical-like War, eh?

Loss of Faith, AntiChrist, Jesus’ Return, Judgement… Shall occur.

MeanWhile, It’s our Lord Jesus’ Forewarning … which therefore shall be recognized by some…
 
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