Why Are Christians So Afraid to Talk About Climate Change?

Christians are not known for stewarding the earth.  Instead, the majority of Christians appear to care very little about the planet and are often more concerned about discrediting any view that human activity is a factor in the changing climate. What is behind the refusal of so many Christians to work toward the scriptural mandate to care for the earth?  Do political views end up having more of an influence on our action or inaction than our God-given vocation to steward the planet?  In this episode, we meet Dr. Steven Fitch, who has led several Christian organizations that have planted more than a billion trees in an effort to reforest impoverished countries through employment resulting in poverty relief and sustainable economic development. Through his example and the observations made on this episode, our goal is to show how Christians should be leading the way in tackling these issues as those God has entrusted to manage His creation.  

Discussion Questions:

Do you believe that the earth is getting warmer?  If so, do you attribute this – at least in part – to human activity?  What specific human activities do you believe are contributing to a warming planet?

Does the claim that the is earth getting warmer concern you?  How would your concern rank in relation to other concerns that are facing our world and the life of those around you?

If you are someone who is concerned about the changing climate, what steps have you taken to work to alleviate some of the root causes?  Do you believe that there is anything that we can do to slow down the impact of human activity on the climate?

Does it surprise you that the leading effort to reforest have come from organizations led by Christians that were working toward poverty relief as part of sustainable development efforts?  Do you agree with Dr. Fitch that his work was very much a ministry and not something different than his role as a pastor, missions leader or church planter?

Evangelical Christians are the least likely of any religious segment to believe that the earth is getting warmer as a result of human activity.  What do you believe underlies these statistics?  Why would Christians be the most likely to believe that if the planet is actually warming, that it is doing so as part of a natural cycle rather than as a result of human activity?  

Have you been part of a church community that has taught on a regular basis about the scriptural mandate to steward the earth and care for the planet?  Have you previously noticed the verse shared by Dr. Fitch from Revelation 11:18 about God judging those who destroy the earth?

Monique reminded us that all believers will make account to the Lord for what they did in this life and how we managed all of the gifts that God has entrusted to each of us.  Can you imagine what it will be like to make an account to the Lord, demonstrating the return that you made for the Lord with the investment He entrusted you to manage?  Among many other verses on the topic, consider reading Matthew 25:14-30 and 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 to learn more about how we are to steward and produce a return for the Lord’s priorities.