SIGNS: Climate change and Christianity

God has always used weather phenomena to get the attention of his people. The Old Testament is replete with examples of these efforts. One example is found in 2nd Chronicles 7:13-14 where the Lord specifically stated that famine has been used to get the attention of his people. In addition, in Acts, Luke prophesies the time period just prior to the second coming there shall be wonders in the Heavens and signs on Earth (Acts 2:19-20). I would assert that many of the wonders and signs will be weather related-specifically precipitation patterns.

So that leads us to climate change and Christianity. If I were trying to mask a Heavenly sign that could not be hidden, I would want to remove the miraculous by naming and giving an explanation to the phenomenon-like the phrase “climate change.” Removing the miraculous would be as simple as causing people to focus on the cause of the Heavenly sign, rather than what the weather phenomenon is — a sign from Heaven. While a cause for any change in Earth’s climate is certainly worthy of study, Christians should not reject Heavenly signs because people debate possible explanations and give a label for the weather phenomenon. Rather than focusing on tangential explanations, focus on the Heavenly sign-and what that sign means. Because if the sign lets us know summer is coming, like leaves on a fig tree will do, then it is best to prepare for the summer — not debating what caused the leaves to shoot forth (Luke 21:29-31). 

KURT SCHWAB

Post Falls