Freedom Now
The declaration of “freedom now” is a declaration of independence from big oil companies and monopolistic investor-owned utility companies. Companies that not only hold us in bondage to whatever rate they want to charge, but even insist on using polluting fossil fuels to supply their energy. Those who truly believe that God created the heavens and the earth know that they have a Biblical mandate to preserve this creation for future generations. True believers act on the belief that the earth was created not for the exclusive use of mankind, for the Scriptures declare that “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” (Ps. 24:1)
The issue of freedom also extends to living in a world that is not adversely affected by global warming. Knowing that each person living in the U.S. contributes about 6 tons of carbon dioxide to the air by using energy from fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) annually and that carbon dioxide is responsible for 50% of the greenhouse effect or “global warming,” we want to do our part to be independent from these fossil fuels. This means calling, writing and emailing our utility company and demanding that they make power from renewable energy. It also involves engaging in energy conservation and driving vehicles that get maximum miles per gallon. Global warming is a result of the natural gases of hydrogen, carbon dioxide and oxygen wrapping around the earth in a thick atmospheric blanket. Like glass in a greenhouse, these gases let sunlight in and keep heat from escaping. When this greenhouse effect functions normally, it keeps our planet warm. But the massive use of fossil fuels puts dangerous gases like carbon dioxide in massive amounts into our lower atmosphere. This traps heat close to the earth’s surface and raises our planet’s temperature. Already we are seeing the effect of such global warming with the melting of glaciers, increased droughts in some areas, floods in others and stronger hurricanes.
Those who believe that these are all signs of the end of time should be driven to even greater action in being earth-keepers rather than earth-breakers because Revelation 11:18 says that when the seventh trumpet is blown, God will destroy those who destroy the earth! Besides, how can we say that we love our neighbor as we love ourselves when we do nothing with the knowledge that by 2050 it is estimated that, due to climate changes, there could be more than 150 million extra refugees.
Tragically, there are strong vested interests that have spent tens of millions of dollars on spreading false information and even denying scientific evidence that global warming is a fact. When they can no longer do that, then they deny the effects of global warming or try to get the public to develop a wait-and-see attitude as they perpetuate their economic interests in spite of the impact it will have on future generations. Caring individuals can no longer sit back and do nothing. Global emissions of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere from fossil fuels are currently adding about 25 billion tons per year and rising rapidly. The Scriptures declare that “anyone, then who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” (James 4:17)
Earth Day and Easter have much more in common than most people realize. Earth Day reminds us of our responsibility to preserve creation (the earth) while Easter provides us with the inspiration and power to fulfill this responsibility. Romans 8:19 declares, “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.” Then Romans 8:20-28 goes on to explain how the resurrection of Jesus Christ, celebrated at Easter, provides for this revelation. It is the message of absolute freedom from an addiction to greed that perpetuates a consumptive lifestyle, contributing to the ongoing destruction of creation. The one experiencing this freedom is referred to as a new creation. (II Corinthians 5:17)
Believers in the Resurrection are worshippers of a Living Christ who “is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:15-17) Knowing that Christ is the firstborn over all creation, that by Him all things were created and He holds all things together should put Christians on the frontlines when it comes to celebrating Earth Day.
Yet some, wanting to justify their consumptive lifestyles resulting in the destruction of creation, hide behind their theology of the Second Coming and the creation of a “new heaven and a new earth.” I am also a believer in such, but do not see it as an excuse to sinfully destroy the present world that God has given. Jesus Himself taught us the necessity of being good stewards of that which has been entrusted to us. He declared in Luke 12:48 “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” We have been entrusted with this present world and will be held accountable for how we treat it while we are in it. “They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto Me; the whole land is made desolate, because there is no one who cares.” (Jeremiah 12:11)
The celebration of Earth Day following Easter is a celebration by those who care. They are a people who have seen the effects of sin demonstrated through pollution and global warming. They have experienced the antidote and freedom provided through Jesus Christ. Now as a liberated people, these believers are willing to confront those principalities and powers that are determined to enslave society to an oil-driven economy and declare, “Let My people go.”
Jesus declares, “So if the Son (Jesus) sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36) Easter is the celebration of this freedom that Christ provides. It is freedom from alcohol addiction, drug addiction and oil addiction that says that we cannot exist unless we have it. The oil addiction drives us to buy more and more oil from countries that fund terrorists. It causes us to fight wars so that gasoline prices don’t skyrocket at the pumps. The freedom that Christ provides says that we don’t have to live a certain way because everybody else does it that way. This freedom causes us to seek God for ways in which we can be independent in every area of life and help others to be independent also.
Why should the poor and elderly be locked into cold, dark homes in the winter without heat when we can be seeking God for alternatives to natural gas? The time has come to start using solar hot water, photovoltaics, wind power, biodiesel and a host of other alternatives that are now available. It takes seventy years for a society to transfer from one type of resource driving an economy to using another resource. Oil is running out and no one knows for certain if even fifty years worth remains!
The question that needs to be raised by caring people is why is the U.S. government more determined to have all Americans move from analog television to digital by February of 2009—than from moving Americans from fossil fuels to renewable energy? The leadership for such a transition must come from people whose pro-life ethics declare that we want freedom now from the fossil fuels that are continuing to contribute to the ongoing destruction of creation as
know it
by Larry Rice