As the tone of the climate change conversation becomes increasingly heated and antagonistic, many people are being left feeling confused and dismayed at the division this is causing within society. It seems Christians generally form their views regarding climate change from the same sources as the wider public whilst input from the church has remained minimal. As a result, Christians may not be bringing anything different to the conversation, and we must ask ourselves if this is okay.
Christians believe that the environment and climate are a part of God’s good creation and that we are stewards of His work. This suggests that a Christian response to climate change is necessary. This is not to say that all churches must become experts in climate science, but that they should be seeking ways to actively reflect God’s love for creation and express love and generosity to our neighbours. In the midst of the antagonistic climate change debate, the church has opportunity to demonstrate unity and concern that will help all Australians (including national leaders) make compassionate decisions around climate change.
As an organisation deeply connected and engaged with the world’s poorest communities, World Vision has also been learning how to respond to this need. This is why we are working with other Christian organisations to provide opportunities for churches to engage in conversations about climate change which are not divisive. Our hope is that Australian Christians can have a voice of unity and love in the midst of disagreement. We hope to ensure that the needs of poor communities; already suffering the consequences of environmental degradation and unequal access to natural resources - are not further neglected.
Two such opportunities are:
- Hope for Creation: Day of Prayer on Climate Change to be held on Sunday 6 November.
As Christians we believe prayer is vital in bringing about change in the world, Hope for Creation will be an opportunity to seek God’s guidance as we care for his creation and display unity in the face of confusion and disparity.
- Share the Earth is a new Micah Challenge campaign that emphasises everyone’s right to enjoy the fruits of God’s creation.
Living in a developed nation such as Australia it can be easy to take food and clean drinking water for granted; however many of the world’s poorest still struggle to provide these basic necessities for their families. Share the Earth reminds Australians about our commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); in particular MDG 7 to ensure environmental sustainability and access to clean water and sanitation.
We pray that these opportunities will assist Christians to engage the climate conversation in a way that brings glory to God and reflects his love for creation and our neighbours.