THE WORLD'S MOST IMPORTANT MEETING
It has been a remarkable seven days in terms of news items that we could comment upon and draw conclusions about the state of our nation. Almost every conceivable subject has arisen - climate change, the ordination of an openly gay woman Bishop, 100th death in Afghanistan, further revelations about the Iraq War, government involvement in children’s use of the internet, bankers bonuses, high-earners in the Public Sector, the state of nations’ finances, immorality among high-profile sportsmen, government attitude to religion etc. These and several other issues have all featured in the news, and yet to me one statement stood out which needs comment and analysis.
Hilary Benn is the Secretary of State for the Environment. He is very involved in the discussions going on in Copenhagen at the Climate Change Conference. This is said to be the biggest event of its kind ever held. Mr Benn went further and said the meeting between the heads of governments that will take place at the end of the Conference is “the most important meeting ever held.” That is a pretty huge statement to make. If we reflect back through history at some of the great meetings that have been held to secure peace and sort out the aftermath of war, or to resolve differences and find ways to live together, then we can perhaps identify some very significant meetings. Then again if we consider the smaller meetings, at least in terms of numbers, between individual leaders or great thinkers down through the ages, we can again identify some very significant events that changed the world.
For Mr Benn however, the meeting about global warming and taking measures to address the causes, is more significant than anything else. That is, of course, because of the view that unless this is done the world is heading for such catastrophic changes in climate that the future of the planet may be imperilled. That is undoubtedly his view and he is very sincere in holding it. His commitment and dedication to the theme is to be admired. He does not stand alone. There is a whole ground swell of popular opinion and also of expert advice which supports his arguments. Many other leaders from around the globe think exactly the same.
The fundamental premise is that man has caused this problem, and man must solve it. Whatever anyone thinks about the nature of the problem, and there are very divergent views, and whatever you think about the causes, and again there are divergent views, one thing is undoubtedly true - mankind has seriously misused the resources of the earth.
When God created man, He gave him a specific role to fulfil. Man was made in the image of God and as such was given the abilities and capacities to fulfil responsibilities that reflect the work and nature of God. So we read in Genesis 1:26-28 how God conceived the idea and role of man in the world.
“Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, in Our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."”
This passage is sometimes called the Cultural Mandate. It sets out man’s role in regard to the rest of creation. “To rule over the earth” does not give mankind the right to exploit and misuse the earth. It rather sets out the expectation of developing and nurturing creation. As God rules over all things and especially over mankind to bless them and bring them to fulfilment, so man is to rule over the earth. In this every one of us has failed. How wickedly men have raped the earth, and sometimes done it in the name of God. How selfish and inconsiderate men have been. What disasters take place regularly in our world because of greed and selfishness - so we see huge mud slides that destroy the lives of thousands because of callous behaviour by companies and governments.
On the issue of climate change I believe there are more factors than man’s activities. But that does not exclude the awesome fact of the misuse of the earth by us all. A grievous affront has been done to the earth and, more seriously, to God by the way we have used the wonderful creation God has given us. If, at this meeting in Copenhagen, the leaders of the world were to acknowledge their sin against the earth and especially against God; if they were to cry out to God for help and to lead the nations of the earth in repentance, then the meeting might be considered as being “the most important that has ever taken place.”
But if there is no reference to God and no word of repentance, the meeting will achieve only small things, and will not deserve any great accolade and praise. If none of the thousands of delegates, lobbyists and protesters had not travelled to Copenhagen they would have avoided damaging the planet’s atmosphere by their travel and done possibly more good than the political settlement that will come out. They will hail it as significant and important. God will see it as yet a further affront to His authority and majesty.