Climate Change and the Christian Community

Questions
In each of our weekly forums we will be using the “three R approach.” 
Ideally, your post should be about three paragraphs long and be completed by Wednesday evening.  
1. Resonate: What did you agree with? What spoke to you? 
2. Resist: What did you disagree with? What did you struggle with? 
3. Relevant: What did you take away from you this week? How can this material be applied to your life and others?
Video on Stephen Matthew.  
This is all about our climate change with the Christian community and the world.

Answer
1. Resonate
Stories of the impacts of climate change tend to not resonate with the above populations as they do with smaller population centers and subsistence farmers in poor regions. Where it does begin to have an impact, questions about whether it was caused by anthropogenic or natural factors may lead to varied answers. Nevertheless, they agree that if it is an issue that is impacting the poor and will continue to do so in the future, that this is unacceptable.
According to reports from the Pew Center on Religion and Public Life, U.S. religious groups that feel climate change is a serious problem are in the minority. The most concerned tend to be Mainline Protestants and Catholics, and it appears that Evangelicals and Black Protestants tend to be the least concerned. At the same time, all of these groups tend to think that they personally are less concerned than their compatriots. This data could suggest that many simply do not know about climate change and what sort of impact it could have; but it could also suggest that no matter how much is known, it isn’t seen as an urgent problem.
Importance of preserving God’s creation. There are clearly some Christians who believe that climate change is just not an important issue – if it is even an issue at all. There are others who care deeply about the issue, and yet when surveying the public at large, climate change never quite makes it to a position of priority.
1.1. Agreeing with the importance of addressing climate change
Climate change has become a very significant issue in recent years. It has become a reason for concern in all areas of society, even in the Christian community. To some, it may seem odd that an issue which is often politically charged should gain real attention within Christianity. However, when one carefully examines the issue in terms of Christian ethics and morality, it becomes quite clear that climate change is an issue which should be of great importance to all Christians. The world’s climate is a key part of all God’s creation. When this climate is disrupted in ways which harm the poor and powerless, damage other species and ecosystems, and threaten the well-being of the earth itself, it is a clear violation of commands to love our neighbors, to care for the poor, and to be stewards of creation. Most of the impact of climate change now and in the future represents a quite unfair burden on those in the poorer countries, who are the least equipped to deal with rapid change, and who have often done the least to cause the problem. This is a matter of injustice, and God is a God of justice. These issues are very complex and are not productively addressed in the polarized political environment in which climate change is often placed. However, it is clear that this is a moral issue, and it is the duty of Christians to consider the moral implications of climate change, and to advocate on behalf of the world’s poor and of future generations.
1.2. Finding common ground between climate change and Christian values
Creation care is a value shared by most Christians regardless of their theological persuasion. Despite the debate over how one interprets Genesis and the issue of dominion over creation, most agree that humans are called to be stewards of the earth. Discussions about the earth being a precious gift from God and it being loaned to present and future generations are common. The impact of climate change and damage to the environment upon future generations is a clear indication that there is a moral issue surrounding the way we are treating the earth. People are now accustomed to hearing about climate change in political and economic terms, but there are few who recognize it as a spiritual and moral issue. It is an opportunity for the church to remind people of the importance of living a life that is consistent with their values and beliefs. By addressing the issue of climate change in such a way, it will engage Christians from all traditions and provide an opportunity to make a difference in the world.
To proffer solutions, it is important to understand the problem. Although many Christians may disagree with issues surrounding global warming and environmental degradation, it is hard to ignore the implications upon humankind and the earth. Many of the fundamental issues of climate change are intertwined with Christian values such as justice for the poor and preservation of creation. The effects of climate change will no doubt impact the world’s poor more than anyone else, and it is these people who have contributed least to the problem. Recent natural disasters such as the tsunami in Southeast Asia or Hurricane Katrina have shown how poor communities are the most vulnerable to such calamities. Although these events may not be a direct result of climate change, it is an example of what we can expect in the future to a greater extent. Scriptures such as “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute…” (Proverbs 31:8) resonate with the issues surrounding climate change and its effects on the poor.
2. Resist
2.1. Disagreeing with the prioritization of other issues over climate change
2.2. Struggling with the integration of scientific evidence and religious beliefs
3. Relevant
3.1. Taking away the urgency of climate action from the discussions
3.2. Applying climate change knowledge to personal lifestyle choices
3.3. Considering the impact of climate change on future generations
4. Stephen Matthew’s Video
4.1. Overview of Stephen Matthew’s perspective on climate change and Christianity
4.2. Analyzing the key arguments presented in the video
4.3. Reflecting on the potential influence of Stephen Matthew’s message
5. Climate Change and the Christian Community
5.1. Understanding the role of the Christian community in addressing climate change
5.2. Exploring the intersection of faith and environmental stewardship
5.3. Examining the challenges and opportunities for collaboration between Christians and environmental activists
6. Conclusion
6.1. Summarizing the key takeaways from the discussions
6.2. Emphasizing the importance of collective action in tackling climate change