Global warming, the ultimate moral-values issue?

[Ed Edwards]

Amen, Brother BobRyan -- Preach it! :thumbs:

Of course, all smart Christians with an Eschatology
include an understanding of these two verses.

Ed's understanding the Bible rule:
Use all the verses on the subject, not just
one or two.

 

[Andre]

A little something here for everyone


2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

Hello Bob:

Do you not think that we need to have our interpretation of verse 10 informed by what is said earlier, namely this material from earlier in the chapter:

But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men

Did the flood really destroy the earth? No it did not. I think it is therefore entirely reasonable to interpret verse 10 in a "less than fully destroyed" sense.

Besides, I think Romans 8:18 and following clearly teaches that the world will not be destroyed but will instead be redeemed and transformed.

Not to mention that the entire sweep of Scripture seems to be about "redemption" of God's creation (not just man, all of creation).

Bob, how do you read the stuff in Romans 8?

 

[Andre]

A further point. When God raises Jesus from the dead, what is happening? The futiure redemption of creation is brought forward into the present (by "present", I mean 2000 years ago). As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15, Jesus is the first-fruits of a redemption that will affect all creation. We live in an age of "inaugurated eschatology" - the future has broken into the present in the person of the risen Christ.

God is not going to destroy His creation which He declared to be very good. On Easter morning, when Mary sees Jesus in the garden, she initially thinks He is the gardener. And in a sense He is the gardener - Jesus has undone the sin of Adam that forced humanity out of the garden. God, in raising Christ is renewing the creation (read: garden of Eden) that was tainted at the fall.

And does Jesus, as resurrected and the firstfruits of the redeemed world to come, bear any imprint of the "old order"? Indeed He does - in his palms. The renewed creation contains imprints of the present world - and this cannot be the case if God utterly destroys the present world.

For these and other reasons, I think it is very hard to argue that God will "destroy" this present world in the sense that is normally understood. The creation is "very good" - God will rescue it - liberate it from its bondage to decay - not melt it away and replace it.

 

[BobRyan]

Hello Bob:

Do you not think that we need to have our interpretation of verse 10 informed by what is said earlier, namely this material from earlier in the chapter:

But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men

Did the flood really destroy the earth? No it did not. I think it is therefore entirely reasonable to interpret verse 10 in a "less than fully destroyed" sense.

Agreed.

All life ended.

Earth geologically transformed.

Probably the "New Earth" made on this same rock as the old earth.

So same "planetary rock" but new reformation of the Earth's crust and all life subject to the fire of the 2nd coming then to the lake of fire -- then the new earth - new life created on the other side. But same planet still.

Bob, how do you read the stuff in Romans 8?

Creation subject to futility until the redemption of the sons of God? I think it is looking forward to the New Earth of Rev 21 following the lake of fire cleansing of this world right down to the reformation of the earth's crust.

in Christ,

Bob

 

[BobRyan]

Point one - we are speculating when it comes to the exact details of what it means to create the New Earth and still have this earth remain in some way.

Point two - it would be really really "helpful" to have some of those details spelled out by special revelation -- but does not change "doctrine".

in Christ,

Bob

 

[TCGreek]

From the Associated Baptist Press News site... Why are Christians ignoring the ultimate moral-values issue?

Does your local church think that global warming is the ultimate moral-values issue? Why, or why not?

In my experience, most Baptists do not believe it. I wonder if the article is true?

CA

1. We've all contributing to global warming is some way. Global warming is the cost and byproduct of the Industrialize/Technologize Revolution.

2. Now, let's talk in theological terms: In contrast to the immutability of God, the earth is changing and like clothing, it is wearing out (Heb 1:10-12)

3. But one day, this earth will be set free (Rom 8:21).