Do I believe in global warming? That is an interesting question.
My answer is yes, but not for reasons most accept.
When it comes to modern-day views about global warming, I
do have some questions. First of them is: Why should I believe
it?
You see, I've become quite a skeptic of new theories and ideas
which some person suggests and the whole world, for some rea
son unknown to me, suddenly accepts as though it were a proven
fact.
Some of those theories have been around for years, have little
or no supporting scientific evidence, and yet are taught as ab
solute truth.
Darwin's theory of evolution is one example. It's been taught
as fact for several generations now, but there's no real proof. The
supposed "missing links" are still missing. The simple one-celled
organisms are turning out to be far more complex than anyone
ever imagined. And the dating systems used to calculate the ages
of fossils and artifacts have been shown faulty. And, of course,
the evidence that does not fit the system has been ignored and re
jected.
But getting back to global warming and my skepticism. Why
should I believe in global warming when it was not that long ago
scientists were warning that we were on the brink of another ice
age - and, of course, we were supposed to accept their views as
gospel fact.
I still have my winter parka in the closet, but I seemed to have
left my snow boots behind in Kansas. Do you think I might need
them?
Now, most of those scientists from the 1970s who predicted a coming ice age - if they are still around - have probably jumped on the band wagon of those touting global warming.
They probably traded off their parkas and snow boots for swim suits and sun-tan lotion. Just maybe I can find a good deal on the snow boots at a garage sale.
Perhaps I should tell you that the Russians are not necessarily so convinced we're headed for global warming. In January of this year, Pravda - if you folks remember Pravda - again ran an article predicting that the earth is on the brink of another ice age. It appears from the article, that a number of Russian scientists still hold to the Milankovich theory of iceage causation. (The theory is named after Serbian mathematician Milutin Milankovich.) The theory holds that the three Milankovich astronomical cycles, which include variations in the tilt of the earth during its orbit and the earth's wobble, causes a cycle of ice-age maximums and warm interglacials.
So to be honest with you, I'm not sure if I'll need a good supply of snow boots and parkas and maybe some of that hard-toget ammunition to defend against polar bears or if I'll need cool clothes, sun screen and lighter ammunition to fend off snakes and alligators.
There was a day when I enjoyed a good, cold winter; but now that I'm older, I'm wondering what would be wrong with a little global warming?
I feel sorry for those poor folks in northern Minnesota who have such short summers. When I lived there, they used to joke about the men taking off their long underwear on the 4th of July but putting it back on by the evening of July 5th. I remember feeling the cool winds of fall in the air by the end of August.
Oh, that's right, the oceans might rise with the melting of the polar ice caps. Well, it seems to me some eastern cities, and especially Wall Street, could use a little cleaning up - perhaps their sins could be literally drowned in the depths of the sea.
And on the west coast, I distinctly remember scientists predicting that the lands west of the San Andreas Fault were going to slide off and sink into the Pacific. That hasn't happened yet
either; but if it does, I hope the sea level rises enough to make
for some good beaches in the Mojave Desert.
Folks nowadays who are complaining about the carbon emis
sions of coal-fired power plants apparently haven't bothered to look
at the century-old photos of major cities during the winter months
when clouds of black smoke hung in the air from all the homes and
businesses burning coal in their furnaces - and in a less-efficient
and eco-friendly way, I might add. If anything should have creat
ed a greenhouse effect and choked out life on the earth, that should
have done it. But, we're still here. Amazing, isn't it!
I think by now, you might be getting my point. Modern science
- different from true science which is knowledge which can be
verified - and its theories tend to flip-flop from generation to gen
eration. One day, we are told to eat certain foods because they are
good for us; the next, they should be avoided like the plague be
cause of their harmful effects. One generation predicts an ice age;
the next warns of global warming. What is a fellow to believe?
Well, I told you I believe in global warming. But I have anoth
er source for my conviction. This source has never flip-flopped on
anything and has always been proven true.
What does this source say of global warming? Let me tell you:
"But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same
word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judg
ment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not igno
rant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand
years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack
concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but
that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will
come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass
away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent
heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be
burned up"(2 Peter 3:7-10).
Modern-day scientists can talk all they want about coming ice
ages or global warming. I don't figure I'll go out and buy new
snow boots or sun screen any time soon.
I figure the only sure way to be ready for global warming is re
pentance and faith in Christ Jesus, and that's my focus.
Opinion, Pages 5 on 08/19/2009