Reaction is not leadership

Timing is everything in news and comedy. Sometimes we are lucky enough that the news is the laugh line. I gained a nice chuckle in learning May 15 that The Institute on Religion and Democracy launched its We Get It! campaign that shows it doesn't -- get it, that is.

In an obvious reaction to the Southern Baptist Declaration on the Environment and Climate Change the institute wants a part of the attention that declaration garnered. At the same time they want to slow the train of acceptance that finds more Christians stepping up to accept responsibility for actions that contribute to a degrading environment. The IRD is looking for a million signatures on a brief statement that says in part "our environmental stewardship must not be based on mere emotions, or media hype but on firm Biblical principles, and solid scientific and economic facts."

A press release announcing the campaign said, "Knee-jerk reactions with good intentions can harm more than help." The people behind this effort, which includes those at the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, seem to be saying that earth stewardship and concern for the poor are mutually exclusive. And, that previous calls for Christian stewardship of natural resources were knee jerk, alarmist and not based on facts. Doubters have been saying there is insufficient evidence for global warming or environmental degradation to be concerned about it. Just like everyone has their proof texts for biblical positions, everyone in the environmental debate has their proof texting scientists.

Now that even the recalcitrant President Bush has said the earth is warming, I guess it is alright to admit it -- not that they are, exactly.

The IRD statement is not without value. I'm for any effort that calls people to stewardship and lifts their awareness.

Even oil billionaire T. Boone Pickens in the current issue of business magazine Fast Company said about climate change: "It could be that it is happening naturally and we've pushed it over the edge. Regardless, I'm going to take action. Opponents say it's going to cost so much money to address and I say go ahead and spend it. I'd rather take a chance that I'm right than I'm wrong. I don't want to wait around until the house burns down before I decide whether it's a serious fire or not."

What made me smile about the IRD campaign is remembering the reaction to Jonathan Merritt's climate declaration from the people that the IRD is certainly expecting to support their effort. They excoriated him. They fired up their rhetorical blast furnaces and talked about this whole environmental/climate change issue being a distraction and a tree hugger, left wing, Al Gore delusion. Now, lo and behold, they are one!

Credit their example though about the very dangerous worldwide crush in food prices, due in large part to the lunacy of the ethanol fascination. Using corn as a fuel source is a crime against humanity that Christians ought to resist. It has tripled the price of corn to $6 a bushel in a matter of months. With corn the basis for so many food products you can see how the increase in price causes crisis for those on the economic edge already.

James Tonkowich, IRD president, said humans are not "consumers and polluters" but instead, are "stewards and creators, co-creators with God himself." He believes "Human creativity and human industry sustain and enrich the Earth while allowing us to obey Jesus' command that we love God and neighbor."

Wow. I have a friend who operates earth moving equipment. When someone asks him what he does, he says, "I improve on God's handiwork." But he's joking. I've never heard someone seriously say as Tonkowich is, that human industry enriches the earth.

It is the earth that supports human life and when we are profligate with the earth resource, we endanger ourselves. As Al Gore, the favorite whipping boy of those who resist admitting any human responsibility for global warming says, the earth will be fine. No matter what we do do it, it will recover. What may not recover in time is its ability to sustain human life.

Now that, I get.

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