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When Environmentalism Sounds Religious

~ brandon ~ Leave a comment

So, in case you missed it, there’s been quite a kerfuffle about the veracity of climate change claims.  In the midst of this, Al Gore wrote an op-ed for the NY Times last weekend.  Overall it is unremarkable, in my humble opinion.  However, he does make the following statement:

From the standpoint of governance, what is at stake is our ability to use the rule of law as an instrument of human redemption. (Emphasis mine)

Maybe its just me, but that sound quasi-religious.  Suddenly environmentalism and saving the planet are about human redemption.  This would explain the fervency with which the environmental movement pursues its objectives.  Whether its chasing down whaling vessels, attacked SUV dealerships or lobbying for ‘human redemption,’ they pursue their goals with zeal.

This raises a significant question.  It seems part of modern orthodoxy is the need to be good stewards of creation.  Articles and books are written about what the Church can and should learn from the environmental movement, and how we can show Christ’s love by being more green.  Yet, if many environmentalists are ensnared by this quasi-religious nature of the movement, I wonder if we really want to act more like them.  Unintentionally we might be lending Christ’s name to their false religion.  Perhaps, at least for those who subscribe to Al Gore’s version of environmentalism, we need to offer them real redemption.  Perhaps the church needs to become more vocal about why the environment is not the most important issue in the life of anyone.

Why Assumptions Matter

~ brandon ~ Leave a comment

Column: Where have all the Protestants gone? – Opinion – USATODAY.com.

A friend referred me to this articles about Mainline Protestants and social issues.  The gist of the article seems to be this,

But not so fast. Just look at what these mainline Protestants have championed: racial justice, equality for women, food stamps, rights for the disabled, reproductive choice and so forth. American law and society have embraced nearly every one of their issues down the line. We have largely become the inclusive, pluralistic society that these more liberal Protestant Christians envisioned.

I don’t know where to begin.  So, let’s begin at the beginning. Continue reading →

Does Christianity teach that men are superior to women?

~ brandon ~ Leave a comment

No, it most definitely does not.  In fact, Genesis 1:27 affirms that God created both man and woman in His image—thus we share a common dignity and value.  The confusion comes in when we recognize there are obvious differences in our creation.  Those differences, physical, emotional and so forth, indicate God had distinct, complementary purpose in our creation.  In other words, we are equal but different.  Men aren’t women and women aren’t men.  Nor should we try to be.  Instead, we should affirm our distinctives.

Unfortunately our culture equates value with roles.  And so women are often made to feel less valuable because they are distinct.  This is where the drive to ‘make it in a man’s world’ often comes from.  The woman feels she cannot really be considered an equal unless she is climbing the corporate ladder, or earning a similar wage or what not.  Thus, we have the modern family where everyone is busy, everyone is stressed and no one is really happy.  Of course, history is full of men who, ignoring our inherent equality, abused the physical differences in order to dominate the fairer sex.

The solution is embracing our Creator’s design—equal but distinct roles.  Scripture teaches that men and women are of equal value and distinct roles.  You might say we were created like a team—we fulfill different roles, but we cannot succeed without both.

Ask the Pastor runs weekly in the Beecher Herald.  Got a question?  email us at comchurch@sbcglobal.net