WashPost Gives Platform to Lib Theologian: Global Warming Is God's 'Judgment' of Our 'Sin Against the Planet'
When conservative televangelist Pat Robertson sees God's wrath against sexual sins as the cause for devastating natural disasters, it's roundly mocked by the liberal secular media. How dare Robertson presume to speak for God, many huff. But the Left's double standard is no more evident than yesterday when the Washington Post's website published an Earth Day "On Faith" column by a liberal theologian who chalks up "climate change" to God's anger for our "sin against the planet."
Make no mistake, "She [sic] is very, very angry about" our carbon emissions, thundered Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite from her electronic pulpit as she charged Christians to be equally righteously indignant in her post "A new Earth Day theology":
On the 42nd Earth Day, April 22, 2012, it’s time for a change. No more flowers and beach balls that look like the earth. In Christian theological terms, it is time for righteous anger and judgment on the way in which the continued willful destruction of the planet’s ecosystem is causing widespread suffering and loss.
For good measure, Brooks Thistlethwaite, a senior fellow at the liberal Center for American Progress, saw a way to work in another liberal bogeyman, the non-existent conservative "war on women":
“Mother Earth is annoyed with you” is another way of talking about global weirding; the upheavals in earth’s temperatures are felt in these climate catastrophes and increasingly dangerous conditions around the world, from drought to flooding to more frequent and violent tornado and hail events. “Mother Earth” as a common cultural expression is supposed to mean the way in which the biosphere is the giver and sustainer of life. But, calling the earth by a female metaphor reveals how much the earth is subject to actions and policies that exploit rather than protect. There’s a kind of ‘war on women’ that applies to the planet too.
Brooks Thistlethwaite then trained her ire on fellow Christians whom she considers too timid on environmental issues:
Judgment on injustice toward the planet, and seeing this injustice specifically as sinful, is the theological message we need today. Evangelical Christians emphasize “creation care” based on “stewardship” (Gen. 1:26), but this is frankly inadequate for a global weirding theology today.
Instead, we need to look at how the Bible actually talks about how climate catastrophes should be seen as God’s judgment. According to the prophet Isaiah, God says, “By a mere rebuke I dry up the sea, I turn rivers into a desert; their fish rot for lack of water and die of thirst.” (Isaiah 50:2b)
And with that, Brooks Thistlethwaite did what she does best, rip Scripture out of context to serve her political arguments:
Even more to the point, Isaiah contains a passage where God is seen as a woman groaning in childbirth, and like a woman in childbirth God cries out in pain. This is itself a biblical image of God’s judgment on injustice.
“But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant. I will lay waste the mountains and hills and dry up all their vegetation; I will turn rivers into islands, and dry up the pools.” (Isaiah 42:14b-15)
But in the 41st chapter of Isaiah, God indicts His people Israel for the sin of idolatry, not ecological devastation:
Set forth your case, says the LORD;
bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob.
Let them bring them, and tell us
what is to happen.
Tell us the former things, what they are,
that we may consider them,
that we may know their outcome;
or declare to us the things to come.
Tell us what is to come hereafter,
that we may know that you are gods;
do good, or do harm,
that we may be dismayed and terrified.
Behold, you are nothing,
and your work is less than nothing;
an abomination is he who chooses you.
I stirred up one from the north, and he has come,
from the rising of the sun, and he shall call upon my name;
he shall trample on rulers as on mortar,
as the potter treads clay.
Who declared it from the beginning, that we might know,
and beforehand, that we might say, “He is right”?
There was none who declared it, none who proclaimed,
none who heard your words.
I was the first to say to Zion, “Behold, here they are!”
and I give to Jerusalem a herald of good news.
But when I look, there is no one;
among these there is no counselor
who, when I ask, gives an answer.
Behold, they are all a delusion;
their works are nothing;
their metal images are empty wind.
(Isaiah 41:21-29 ESV)
Yes, the Bible is full of language in the Old and New Testament about God's wrath and judgment against sin, and one can argue that pollution is a sin that God will judge and punish. But Brooks Thistlethwaite seems to be purposely ripping texts out of context -- something the Bible strongly warns about -- to service her political point, and as usual, the liberal-leaning Washington Post is serving as the "Amen" pew.
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Comments
➚ Their God
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 2:50pm.
I think I'm gonna' puke
Both food production and world population continue to smash all
Submitted by merly1 on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 2:52pm.
previous records.
Oh, the "suffering"..........................
Really, how stupid are those global warming morons.
If one wants worry, first give them something to worry about.
For now, if someone is truly helping warm the globe, give them Nobel Prizes!
(Hint: with the next major cooling event, and massive starvation, then there will be true chaos)
God's judgment on --- what?
Submitted by Galvanic on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 2:55pm.
If destructive weather conditions are part of God's judgment on people, how can Thistlethwaite be so sure that it isn't God's anger over secular humanism? Or the self-indulgent secular writings of those who think that humans can control the Earth's climate?
The AGW advocates who've told us for years to "trust the science" now want to scare the skeptics by citing "God's anger." They are a fad desperately fighting for relevence in the face of mounting counter-evidence.
➚ God's judgment
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 2:59pm.
We could easily make the argument people starve as a result of diverting the corn crop into our gas tanks.
OOPS! That's also an economic certainty.
I'd never guess she was a
Submitted by forest on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 2:58pm.
I'd never guess she was a progressive by looking at her.
Well, then...
Submitted by c5then on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 3:04pm.
What was GOD angry about when he gave us the last ice-age? Or was that supposed to be a reward? Was he happy and rewarding us when he gave us the medieval optimum and temperatures were higher than they are now, or was that a punishment too? How about the "Little Ice Age that ended just after the founding of America? Is that why the climate got warmer? Because GOD was happy that America was founded? Or no...wait.. I forgot. Warm is bad and cold is good, right? So GOD was angry that America was founded based on freedom, liberty, free speech and fredom of religion?
Malpractice is one thing, but out and out charletanry and diception needs to be dealt with.
Madison and Jefferson and Franklin built a Republic - Roberts killed it!
Annoyed God
Submitted by dmntd1 on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 3:06pm.
What was God annoyed about when he gave the world this twit? What did we do to deserve her presence as our punishment?
We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed.
Genesis 8:21
Submitted by dmntd1 on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 3:09pm.
The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though[a] every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.
For a theologian, she sure needs some study time!
We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed.
I have my own 'theological' views on this subject:
Submitted by Grumpy in Arizona on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 3:13pm.
"I'm sick of paying exorbidant water/trash/sewer bills - and want the city to rip-out this new sewer and give me my old septic tank back! " - (you may quote me).
Past that, this particular 'theologian' doesn't seem to understand much about theology... pagan worship of 'MOTHER EARTH' - no doubt about it... theology not a clue.
- Grump :o)
Wait a minute....
Submitted by Model850 on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 3:18pm.
To support her contention that GW is punishment from God she (mis)uses some scriptures:
According to the prophet Isaiah, God says, “By a mere rebuke I dry up the sea, I turn rivers into a desert; their fish rot for lack of water and die of thirst.”
I will turn rivers into islands, and dry up the pools.
But aren't the global warming/climate change alarmists predicting sea levels will rise? These verses seem to say God is going to do the opposite. If you're going to try to scare people into adopting your position at least try to be a little consistent with your rhetoric.
So, let me see if I got this
Submitted by texastommy on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 3:23pm.
So, let me see if I got this straight.
God's angry that we're screwing up the plant, so he screws up the planet.
Ahhhh. Got it.
What?
Submitted by Nonanon on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 3:26pm.
They have so many inconsistencies that it is exhausting swatting them down. It seems to me we were told to be stewards of the earth and servants of God, not servants of earth and stewards of God. They scream when a conservative or Christain invokes God's name or Word, but rally around liberals when they do it, presumably because they know libs twist the verses to fit their agenda or know they do not intend to obey them. I also say that one piece of evidence that Obama is not a Christian is that we see how the so-called news media attack those who practice biblical principles verses how they defend Obama. The inconsistency gives credence to the belief he is not genuine.
Target: Mars
Submitted by deadeyedan on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 3:25pm.
And the Martians are sinful too, as their north polar cap had increasingly rapid and extensive summer retreats at least from the 1950's until this century.
The Force of Nature deniers continue to ignore the dynamics of solar system mechanics as applied to planetary climate.
GLOBAL WARMING - authoritarian, rather than authoritative, science
Jeremiah 14:14
Submitted by drsamherman on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 3:44pm.
"Then the LORD said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds." (NIV)
Well, Thistledumb?
How does Rev. B-T know HER
Submitted by motherbelt on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 3:55pm.
How does Rev. B-T know HER assessment is the correct one?
Will "On Faith" give equal consideration to someone who thinks it's a punishment for devolving to an increasingly Godless society, where He is shunted to the shadows?
Nope, that doesn't bother Him....but abusing the earth, that makes Him angry.
When I see "liberal
Submitted by ricklail on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 3:46pm.
When I see "liberal theologian" I usually stop there but in this case I can't. To say what she has said is to the deny the wisdom of the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob. God is not going to allow man to destory this earth as she thinks. He is not going to put more people on this earth than it can sustain. She acts like God does not know what he is doing. He is the only one that is omnipotent, in full control. Many that believe that Obama is omnipotent. She must be one of them. God is going to destroy this earth when he gets ready and not when man thinks it needs destroying.
When you say the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob the Jews knew that to be the one and only true God. The god she is talking about is not that God.
You'd think that someone that calls themself a theologian would know the doctrine of sin. You can't sin against the earth only God. She should have learn that as a child in Sunday School
Yeah, you can sin against the
Submitted by motherbelt on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 3:57pm.
Yeah, you can sin against the earth, if you call it Mother Earth (as she does) and consider it a god.
I did forget that. In Romans
Submitted by ricklail on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 4:13pm.
I did forget that. In Romans 1 Paul talks about worshipping the creation more than the Creator. Seeing God in a rock or tree is idolitary.
She is just like the
Submitted by tcm14 on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 3:51pm.
She is just like the government in the book 1984 who deletes portions of books and newspapers that they don't like. Except in her case she just ignores the portions of scripture that don't agree with her point (e.g., the scriptures she cites refer to idolatry).
In fact, they should just come out with a socialist bible. It will be a few sentences on each page surrounded by large areas of white space where the text has been deleted.
Is that Bill Maher with a bad
Submitted by inquiringmind on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 4:01pm.
Is that Bill Maher with a bad hairpiece?
This woman is one that Ann
Submitted by motherbelt on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 4:11pm.
This woman is one that Ann Coulter described in her book Godless: The Church of Liberalism:
- We say humans stand apart from the world and our charge is Planet Earth; they say we are part of the world, and our hubristic use of nature is sinful.
She represents the gay wing
Submitted by hardrock01 on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 4:18pm.
She represents the gay wing of the liberal clergy.
That's funny,...
Submitted by BBallleaper on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 4:19pm.
I spoke with God just last night and he assured me that his curse was directed solely at liberal (socialist, communist, fascist, anarchist - You got any others you want to throw in?) theologians. He said it had to do specifically with giving them extremely bad haircuts and bad blond dye jobs.
Sins of the Planet?
Submitted by mmilesll on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 4:21pm.
The only sin I see is the photo of a left wing loon. She needs to quietly go to a rest home and stay there. Wait, algore is single now, why not marry algore. Perfect. Two wack jobs in love. I think I am going to throw up
Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite
Submitted by Edward Cropper on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 4:35pm.
Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite is God exposing a liberal Theological Toady
Fine, then the
Submitted by nolefan2 on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 4:36pm.
election of Barack Obama was God's punishment on this country for trying to remove Him from every aspect of our society.
I'll second that.
Submitted by mattm on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 11:39pm.
I'll second that.
she's a conversion job...??
Submitted by wizardjr on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 7:30pm.
why the, "She (sic)" ?
If "she" is a conversion job then it's no surprise "she" looks like that.
I think you need to re-read
Submitted by RESTLESS 1 on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 7:49pm.
Thistlethwaite referred to God as "She", hence the (sic) inserted by Ken.
Let's check here for God's top ten...
Submitted by vrwc13 on Tue, 04/24/2012 - 9:56am.
1. Have no other gods.
2. Have no idols.
3. Honor God's name.
4. Honor the Sabbath day.
5. Honor your parents.
6. Do not murder.
7. Do not commit adultery.
8. Do not steal.
9. Do not perjure yourself.
10. Do not covet.
...nope nothing here, maybe we should next check His 'Abominations'?
v
“I didn’t see no ’tissue’; I just saw a child.” - October Baby (see #6)
The burden of life is from ourselves, its lightness from the grace of Christ and the love of God. - William Bernard Ullanthorne