Global warming and hell

[Dee Dee Warren]

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Dire Warnings

By Melinda on Theology

I was just reading an article about global warming and the question occurred to me: Why is it legitimate to make apocalyptic warnings about global warming and not to make them about eternity and Hell?

Some Christians and non-Christians complain that Christians have used threats about Hell illegitimately to scare and manipulate people. Secularists commonly dismiss talk of Hell as fear tactics.

Yet the same circles appear to be a part of the global warming alarm. If the warnings are true, it sure sounds a lot like an apocalypse. These warnings are considered critical to deliver in the strongest terms possible. And there's a growing trend that doubters should be dismissed and ignored.

I wonder if in some people's minds the difference is that religious warnings are only about faith, i.e. wishful thinking, and global warming, being science, is reality. The two kinds of warning just seem to engender different kinds of reactions that I suspect betray presuppositions about religion and science, reality and faith.

The discussion should be on the truthfulness of the a warning, not its extreme nature. I think we'd all like to be warned of a cataclysm coming our way, if it is.

http://str.typepad.com/weblog/2007/0..._warnings.html

[Conductor42]

yeah, that

[Ryokan]

It depends on what you mean here. Warnings of hell only work if the warnees accept your premise, there is a diety who tosses people in hell. Same with Global warming. It doesn't scare you when scientists talk about it if you believe the scientists premist.
Hell is pretty much useless for converting unbelievers,. It is a decent tool for bringing the lapsed back in, but only as an opening hook.

[Solly]

So if an asteroid was coming, we shouldn't speak about the end of the world, just a drop in property prices in your area?? That there are self-publicists and fruitcakes involved is neither here nor there - and we don't seem to have them over here much. Nor does the personal behaviour of anyone of them void the general message. You might as well say Jerry Falwell voids the Christian message. After all, Christianity has its bowlful of fruitcakes.

As for the teaching on hell, I don't know any responsible preaching that majors on the fact, Repent or burn! Perhaps that's an American thing. The Gospel is not about obtaining a 'get out of hell free' card. The Gospel does require a more severe re-oreitnation of the human personality than climate change does though, and that change goes against the grain, whereas warnings about clmate change at least appeal to self-interest. But, humans being the sluggish creatures we are, it'll probably all go pear shaped anyway...

[Zandrax]

Call it a hunch, but I think no matter how bad Global Warming is, Hell is worse.

[Conductor42]

Yeah.

You don't have AC in hell

[rhutchin]

So if an asteroid was coming, we shouldn't speak about the end of the world, just a drop in property prices in your area?? That there are self-publicists and fruitcakes involved is neither here nor there - and we don't seem to have them over here much. Nor does the personal behaviour of anyone of them void the general message. You might as well say Jerry Falwell voids the Christian message. After all, Christianity has its bowlful of fruitcakes.

As for the teaching on hell, I don't know any responsible preaching that majors on the fact, Repent or burn! Perhaps that's an American thing. The Gospel is not about obtaining a 'get out of hell free' card. The Gospel does require a more severe re-oreitnation of the human personality than climate change does though, and that change goes against the grain, whereas warnings about clmate change at least appeal to self-interest. But, humans being the sluggish creatures we are, it'll probably all go pear shaped anyway...

The gospel is not about persuading anyone to do anything. The gospel is about telling people the truth and that includes telling them about hell. Edwards did a good job of this in his sermon on sinners in the hands of an angry God.

Only those whom God has saved will listen. The rest will be polite, smile, and say "You ALMOST persuaded me," and then go their merry way, eating and drinking and chuckling about hell as if anyone, least of all God (if He even really existed), would think that they deserved it.

Climate change is for people who like to think that they can do somethign about anything.

[Whipartist]

Yeah.

You don't have AC in hell

Does that mean I'm in hell? Atleast every time I get into my car.

[Sheepdog]

the thing is, as Koukl often points out, Christianity, if true, is not like ice cream, but like insulin. You can pick and choose your favorite flavor of ice cream, but if you are a diabetic and need insulin, your choices are limited to die or take insulin.

it's a perfect analogy. what's even better is that you can actually "do" something about your disposition to Hell. (in quotes since it's not something you do per se, but what God does.) somehow i don't think buying florescent light bulbs or buying "carbon offsets" is going to slow down global warming much.

(carbon offsets? does Gore notice the conflict of interest there?)

[Whipartist]

the thing is, as Koukl often points out, Christianity, if true, is not like ice cream, but like insulin. You can pick and choose your favorite flavor of ice cream, but if you are a diabetic and need insulin, your choices are limited to die or take insulin.

it's a perfect analogy. what's even better is that you can actually "do" something about your disposition to Hell. (in quotes since it's not something you do per se, but what God does.) somehow i don't think buying florescent light bulbs or buying "carbon offsets" is going to slow down global warming much.

(carbon offsets? does Gore notice the conflict of interest there?)

Yeah and with Gore as Vice President, Clinton raised the speed limit on highways in CA, perhaps everywhere, by 10mph. That means 30% more gas consumption and 80% more hell. He should have spent more time driving in California before doing so. People here have been driving his speed limit since way before he raised it. Now that it's raised up to what we were already driving, you can't even see the cars fly by while obeying it! Just tired of risking my life every day in my own little private hell. If I quit posting on Tweb, you may all safely assume I'm dead.

[Nang]

The Gospel is not about obtaining a 'get out of hell free' card.

Actually, I believe it is. Faith in the cross work of Jesus Christ is our "card."

The core of the gospel message, is that every single human being ever born is consigned to hell because of sin. And only by the grace of God, will anyone be spared this fate.

For Jesus Christ suffered the full wrath of God for the sins He bore in His body, on the cross. The suffering of infinite God was infinite in nature, and He bore the equivalent of eternity in hell on behalf of His people, so that they might stand justified and reconciled with God in His righteousness on Judgment Day.

Jesus Christ died the deaths of all those He represented in His body on the cross, so that their death sentence is FREELY removed:

". . 'Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?' The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." I Corinthians 15:54b-57

Nang

[Conductor42]

Yeah and with Gore as Vice President, Clinton raised the speed limit on highways in CA, perhaps everywhere, by 10mph. That means 30% more gas consumption and 80% more hell. He should have spent more time driving in California before doing so. People here have been driving his speed limit since way before he raised it. Now that it's raised up to what we were already driving, you can't even see the cars fly by while obeying it! Just tired of risking my life every day in my own little private hell. If I quit posting on Tweb, you may all safely assume I'm dead.

Oh get over it. Generally the faster drivers are the safest ones anyways.

[LostSheep]

Generally the faster drivers are the safest ones anyways.

I don't find this statement to be true at all. But then, I'm a slower driver.

[Conductor42]

I don't find this statement to be true at all. But then, I'm a slower driver.

I believe that faster drivers, on average, are better. But its bad when you mix a bunch of fast drivers with a bunch of slow drivers.

[Whipartist]

Oh get over it. Generally the faster drivers are the safest ones anyways.

Have some sensitivity. I drive by car wrecks all the time. Just the other night a half dozen people were all laid out on the dirt after a 4 car wreck I must have avoided by mere minutes. People should obey the speed limit. Most the slower drivers are driving over it where I'm at. They aren't the problem!!