Moral Majority founder Jerry Falwell, who has worked for decades to involve conservative Christians in politics, said Sunday the debate over global warming is a tool of Satan being used to distract churches from their primary focus of preaching the gospel.
"If I decide here as the pastor and our deacons decide that we're going to get caught up in the global warming thing, we're not going to be able to reach the masses of souls for Christ, because our attention will be elsewhere, " Falwell said in Sunday's sermon at Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Va. "That's pretty wise for Satan to concoct."
If you can take more...you can find it here
Yah, what would Jesus do... I think the picture says it all.
It's so scary that global warming is being painted as a tool of Satan. Why can't we as humans just own up to our mistakes and try to work towards positive change? Instead we are all going to waste time debating what it is and by the time we figure it out we will have missed the boat completely! I mean I thought we as Christians were supposed to act as stewards, caring for the gift we were given?
Posted by: Megan | March 03, 2007 at 12:19 AM
Dr. Falwell is merely stating that we as Christians need to keep our focus on spreading the gospel and sharing the love of Christ with those who do not know him. If we get caught up the whole global warming debate, we are taking our focus of the Great Commission. Secondly, God has promised us that we will not perish by another great flood as the global warming supporters might suggest. As he said on Sunday, "We need to keep the main thing, the main thing" and focus on what the Lord has called us to do. Dr. Falwell also said that we should be good stewards of what the Lord has blessed us with and take care of our environment. It is somewhat discouraging when people take two or three lines out of a 30 minute sermon and tear someone apart that has good intentions. I guess that should come as no surprise as it is common place for people to take one verse out of the Bible and twist it into something something evil or hateful. The amazing thing about Jesus Christ is that he loves Jerry Falwell, Osama Bin Laden, and you exactly the same, enough that He would lay down his life for all.
Posted by: Todd | March 03, 2007 at 10:08 AM
Hi Todd, thanks for your comment. I very much dislike the "christianity" Mr. Falwell preaches, if anyone is guilty of taking fragments of scripture and twisting and contorting them into his own slant on christian doctrine...it's him. And it is certainly not my intent to rip apart Jerry Falwell. My concern is that we have so reduced redemption into an exit strategy and boarding pass to heaven. I believe redemption is about " ALL " creation...it's not just about "people". And for Mr. Falwell to call, Global Warming a myth, while most of the Faith community and Science community on this planet say different...should be a wake up call for him.
Anyways, Todd thanks for engaging the conversation...it's good to have different views and perspectives. I just write from my view...which on occasions has not always been correct, or with the majority.
Peace...Ron+
Posted by: ron cole | March 03, 2007 at 10:34 AM
oh, my gosh! Yeah, right. All that pollution we're spewing out doesn't do anything to the environment! ;)
Posted by: Annie | March 05, 2007 at 05:59 AM
Thanks for this post! I disagree with Dr. Falwell's dismissive views on global warming. However, more importantly I take issue with the way he uses his position, as many Christian leaders in the US do, to paint Scripture in light of his personal political stance. This happens more often in the US than I've seen it happen elsewhere, where Christians are associated with a political party, in this case the US Republicans - which is probably what accounts for such strong reactions against the American Christian-Republican agenda from other Christians around the world.
What I see happening here is the Gospel being used to support Dr. Falwell's political party of choice. He's clearly reacting against the American Democrats' assertion that global warming is a problem that needs our attention, so regardless of what Scripture might actually say on this issue, he will use Scripture to pummel the 'enemy and his evil scheme'.
Personally, I am not American, nor do I support either the Republicans or Democrats, and it's frustrating to see so many Christians come to see their religion/personal faith as being synonymous with the US Republican party. Hot button issues, such as global warming, always seem to bring out the ugly side of the American Christian machine.
Posted by: widsith | March 07, 2007 at 09:43 AM
Thanks for this post! I disagree with Dr. Falwell's dismissive views on global warming. However, more importantly I take issue with the way he uses his position, as many Christian leaders in the US do, to paint Scripture in light of his personal political stance. This happens more often in the US than I've seen it happen elsewhere, where Christians are associated with a political party, in this case the US Republicans - which is probably what accounts for such strong reactions against the American Christian-Republican agenda from other Christians around the world.
What I see happening here is the Gospel being used to support Dr. Falwell's political party of choice. He's clearly reacting against the American Democrats' assertion that global warming is a problem that needs our attention, so regardless of what Scripture might actually say on this issue, he will use Scripture to pummel the 'enemy and his evil scheme'.
Personally, I am not American, nor do I support either the Republicans or Democrats, and it's frustrating to see so many Christians come to see their religion/personal faith as being synonymous with the US Republican party. Hot button issues, such as global warming, always seem to bring out the ugly side of the American Christian machine.
Posted by: widsith | March 07, 2007 at 09:48 AM