The other day I went to the movie ‘Dunkirk’ with my son-in-law. Although we planned on arriving late, hoping to miss all the commercials that theaters are now showing, we soon realized we could easily have arrived later because we were barraged with close to twenty-five minutes of previews of movies that I had no interest in ever seeing. One preview in particular was of Al Gore’s newest movie ‘An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power,’ Gore’s long awaited sequel to his favorite movie, an ‘Inconvenient Truth.’
It was ten years ago that Al Gore first came out with the movie, ‘Inconvenient Truth’. In it he warned the global community of the impending doom our planet was soon to undergo if decisive steps were not taken. As I sat there in the movie theater I wondered why Al Gore had not contacted Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone or any of the other aging, sagging muscle, over the hill generic-action heroes and given them the job of saving our planet. Note: future job opening for Tom Cruise.
In the first movie, Al Gore paints a bleak picture of our planets future. Out of control weather patterns bringing about dramatic changes in our global temperatures, causing the sea levels to rise, leading to major storms, shrinking ice fields and flooded coastal cities, all caused by humanities selfish addiction to carbon fuel.
I am not saying that Al Gore is totally wrong; it does appear that our weather patterns are going crazy. Hurricane Harvey is without a doubt a good example of an over the top event. My problem is that he is missing the point. In both movies he mistakenly blames carbon emissions as the primary culprit for all of earth’s climate woes. I do believe carbon emissions is an issue just not the main issue. I believe what the earth is reacting to can be directly tied to man’s rebellion against God, causing the earth to react in this fashion.
When Truth Becomes ‘Inconvenient’?
I believe that the condition of fallen man has caused the earth to react in ways that are hostile to humanity. We all know the saying that when you point your finger at what you perceive is the problem you end up having three fingers pointing back at yourself. In my opinion Al Gore’s basic understanding of the problem is flawed as he would have us believe that science can not only identify the problem but give us solutions to the problem. The problem that the scientific community fails to understand is how man has neglected his role as spiritual protector of the planet and the subsequent impact that has on creation.
Instead of looking at the perceived problem, earth’s reaction to the influences of man’s bad choices (carbon emissions) from a scientific perspective let’s look at man’s bad choices from God’s perspective (sin problem). First God told man in Gen. 1:28-30, “…fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground…I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it…and to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.”
In Genesis 1:28-30 God gave man dominion over creation, our role as sons and daughters of God, was and still is, to subdue creation. The definition of the word ‘subdue’ is to conquer, defeat and overthrow by force or strategy so that we can gain mastery. In other words Christians are to subdue anything that is inconsistent with or in opposition to God’s values and goals. They do this by leading holy lives but also by being men and women of prayer.
For instance, Al Gore and his scientists did not take into consideration the influences that spiritual forces have over an individual. Whenever an individual makes the decision to either follow God or satan their choice has an effect on their family, the community in which they live and ultimately in shaping their country. Is it such a stretch to see how man’s actions either for good or bad can effect the environment they live in. We choose to either be influenced by God for good or satan for evil, it is one or the other. When we as Christians compromise the word of God we are in reality doing a sinful act which provides an entry point through which satan can deploy his forces against us. That is why it is so important that we understand the truths that are written in the word of God and the power of prayer 2 Chronicles 7:14, says, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
There is an impurity, a deformity, and an infirmity which has had an effect on creation by the actions caused by the sin of fallen man. There is hatred within man one to another resulting in each desiring to use and abuse the other making them their instruments of sin. The miseries of mankind; human trafficking, pornography, greed, divorce, drugs, alcohol, governments bickering within and without along with degrading social media content to name a few, causes the earth to react to that defilement. Creation desires that the sons of God would realize the truth that they are made in the image of God and the power they hold over the forces of nature when they pray.
The Truth Of The Matter
The Convenient Truth is this, when mankind comes into a right relationship with God and receives the Spirit of God our desires will be just, our hope will be full of encouragement, and our expectations will rise for those things that are good, true and honorable. (Phil 4:8) Mankind needs to realize that it is not so much the effects of carbon emissions but rather it is sin and our present state of spiritual cosmic warfare that is the cause of all the suffering that exists in God’s creation. Sin along with spiritual warfare is what has brought about the storms of adversity that is overtaking our world and kindled the flames of hell about us.
Since Adam and Eve fell into sin there has been shed not one tear or has one groan escaped us or a pain that has not been felt in either mind or body that has not been the result of sin. Sin gives mankind a deceptive satisfaction, in being able to fix the problems that abound around us, but without God’s help or intervention sin gives man a false hope which is no hope at all.
Our prayer is that we may be used as vessels of God to bring those whose hope rest only in scientific reasoning into knowing and experiencing the redemption and restoration that comes only through faith in Jesus Christ. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil.4:6-7
Kingdom Life Ministry 