Environmentalism
Introduction
The articles within the 'New World Order' part of our Resource Hub have been written to make readers aware of the global trends which have shaped, and are shaping, our world. All have their part to play in the formation of the one world government and religion which will emerge at the end of the age.
Our starting point for an understanding of environmental issues from a biblical perspective has to be the mandate given to man by God in Genesis 1. God made man’s mission clear, when he told him to:
Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth (Genesis 1:28)
So we are not to abuse it, but rule it as God does, enhancing its fruitfulness, safety and beauty, to the glory of God and the benefit of our neighbours, thus fulfilling the two great commandments, i.e. to love God and to love our neighbour.
Biblical environmental stewardship
There is a stark contrast between the biblical mandate, where God, people and nature are in proper relationship, and environmentalism. The ‘green movement’, which has increased rapidly in popularity in recent years, has created a worldview diametrically opposite to the biblical one.
It has developed its own doctrines of God, creation, humanity, sin and salvation. It says man is to serve the earth and the outworking of this is a revival of ancient pagan nature worship, where creation is worshipped and the ‘divine spark’ is believed to be in everything. Thus secular environmentalism is a reflection of Romans 1:25, where man exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshipped and served the creature, rather than the Creator.
The green movement has a well-organised agenda to indoctrinate adults and children alike with ideas which are anti-Christian and anti-human. Sadly, much of the Church has been susceptible to their tactics. Bron Taylor, a world-renowned scholar on nature-based religions at the University of Florida observes that those Christians, like ourselves, who are concerned about the effect the environmental agenda is having on life and faith, have good reason. He wrote in the Huffington Post recently:
There is a religious dimension to much environmentalism . . . (and those who are concerned) understand accurately, that those engaged in nature-based spiritualities, both overtly and in subtle ways, are converting many to an evolutionary worldview and an environmentalist spirituality and ethics
We will briefly outline some of our major concerns:
Secular environmentalism is a false religion
Whereas the Bible promotes care for creation in the light of right relationships between God, people and land, at the core of secular environmentalism is worship and service of creation. However cleverly couched, the one-ist (monist) worldview it promulgates has three main components.
Firstly, it degrades man. It views people primarily as polluters and consumers rather than stewards and producers made in the image of God. Man is therefore the abuser of the earth, creation is the victim.
Secondly, it deifies nature. It sees nature in its untouched state as the ideal, so any notion of human stewardship of nature being good is rejected.
Thirdly, it disregards the poor. Environmental enterprises may be well-intentioned, but if they have been developed without Godly wisdom and they’re not based on biblical theology, the best science and economics man can muster will have their most devastating impact on the people who can afford it least, i.e. the poor.
The pro-death agenda behind environmentalism
Behind environmentalism there is an anti-human ‘pro-death’ agenda. The most ardent environmentalists oppose modern methods of energy production, agriculture and disease prevention, along with policies which strangle economic growth. Consequently, millions of impoverished people die around the world.
In some environmental circles people are believed to be the ultimate pollution of our planet and severely reducing their numbers is a justifiable goal, regardless of the method, which may include abortion, euthanasia, disease or poverty.
To understand the extent to which the environmental issue has been imbibed and endorsed in society at large, consider these comments by well-known people in the media:
In the event that I were reincarnated I would like to return as a deadly virus, in order to contribute something to solve overpopulation (Prince Philip, patron of the World Wildlife Fund)
World population must be stabilised and to do that we must eliminate 350,000 people per day (Jacques Cousteau, famous oceanographer)
Humans are a plague on the earth and behind every threat (to wildlife) is the frightening explosion in human numbers (Sir David Attenborough, atheist and biologist)
These attitudes exemplify those of the dominant environmentalists of our day, and go some way to explain why environmental organisations have become notorious for trampling on people’s rights to life, liberty and property.
Environmentalism as a means to world peace
The popularity of environmentalism has come about because it’s a unifying factor. As an illustration of its popularity, today’s young people rank environment and poverty among their most important issues of concern. No-one in his/her right mind wants to destroy the planet for themselves or their offspring. But behind it is the deception of unbiblical ideas about God, people and nature, which is popular among young and old alike.
Environmentalism demands to be served
The environmentalist agenda is very expensive. It’s behind the steep incline in energy prices, for example. By making energy less affordable and accessible, greenhouse gas and other environmental regulations drive up the costs of basic necessities such as food, fuel and electricity. They stifle economic growth and cost people their jobs. Poor and single-income families get hit particularly hard.
God’s design for the environment
Environmentalists feed us the lie that we have to choose between taking care of people or caring for nature. In God’s wise design, both can flourish together. Contrary to the lies we are being fed, mankind, the Bible says, is the image bearer of God (Gen 1:26); nature needs active human stewardship to thrive (Gen 1:28, 2:15); and it is our job as God’s servants to help the poor out of their poverty so they can fulfil their role as producers and stewards (1 John 3:17).
The eschatological dimension
God’s salvation plan is being played out on the physical earth, and we know that Jesus is coming back to the earth, where he will rule and reign. Only then will the earth be totally fruitful and productive in the way God originally intended.
The Bible is clear that the environment on the earth is very important (hence the stewardship mandate in Genesis 1) and that whilst it has been subjected to decay because of sin in the world, it will one day be liberated (see Romans 8:21). The prophetic scriptures frequently reference the glory of the redeemed earth, take for example new wine dripping from the mountains, the trees of the field clapping their hands, lion and lamb living in harmony together, trees for the healing of the nations fruiting continuously, etc.
Before heaven comes to the earth, however, John’s Revelation mentions a third of the earth being burned up, grass being burned, a third of the living creatures in the sea dying, water turning bitter, etc (Revelation 8-9). Whatever the goal of environmentalists, the earth will suffer before the great and glorious day of the Lord. Man’s wisdom is not enough to save it – only the intervention of the Creator himself.
There is a stark contrast between the biblical mandate, where God, people and nature are in proper relationship, and environmentalism. The ‘green movement’, which has increased rapidly in popularity in recent years, has created a worldview diametrically opposite to the biblical one . . .