‘Global Solutions’ to Global Warming: What’s the Objective?

Last night during the GOP debate (January 30) in California at the Reagan Library, both John McCain and Mitt Romney outlined their views on the topic of global warming. McCain reiterated yet again that, even if people did not believe in global warming, what harm could be done by trying to take steps to clean up the planet?

As Christians, many times we have overlooked the story of creation, and the responsibility which God gave to Adam in Genesis 1:28:

“And God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it [using all its vast resources in the service of God and man]; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth. “

Part of mankind’s role, then, is to take care of the earth and its inhabitants which God has entrusted to us. While many nature lovers of every creed strive to do what they think is best to take care of the earth, how much more so…with a mandate from God…are we as Believers not simply encouraged, but given the direct task to take care of God’s creation? According to scripture…(which as Christians we claim to follow, correct?) are we taking care of the earth and our environment?

However, at this point it may be beneficial to re-examine the debate of global warming. First, is there any type of consensus, even in the scientific community, regarding the cause of global warming? Wasn’t there multiple studies and a general supposed ‘consensus’ just 20 or 30 years ago that the earth was facing a ‘global cooling’ crisis? Why have things changed, and what has changed? If that is true just a few years ago, how have things progressed and developed? Do the theories even fit together? Is there any explanations which have been found trustworthy?

At about this point, I can hear the many clicks of people’s mice as they start to grow tired of ‘yet another’ global warming post and look to check their email. However, please humor me a little here. I would like to ask:

What is being said about global warming?

Who is saying it?

And…What are the suggestions being made to ‘fight’ global warming?

Going back to discussion of the GOP debate last night on CNN (hosted by Anderson Cooper), both McCain and Romney made references to global warming as a ‘global problem’ which required a ‘global solution’. However, if memory serves neither candidate enunciated any solution other than that the global community must come together to find a ‘global solution’, which would include India and China being held just as responsible as the United States.

Hmm….a ‘global solution’ to the ‘global problem’ of ‘global warming’? Just a second… Doesn’t that sound a bit familiar? Isn’t that what have European politicians been talking about for a few years now? I would encourage everyone to consider these words for yourselves, and do your own research: Who is calling for ‘global solutions’ to global warming? And what actions are they calling for?

When people talk of a ‘global solution’, one idea which keeps coming to the forefront is something commonly referred to as a global ‘carbon tax’, or taxation based on calculated carbon dioxide output.

Who has the power to tax globally? Who is going to enforce a possible global tax? If we live in free societies: who is casting ballots regarding new global carbon taxes? Aren’t governments the only authority that are able to tax people? And if a global oversight/government/authority is built to oversee a possible tax or even simply certain global directives or laws: Who voted to put those politicians…and those laws…in place? If they do move into place, can our own duly elected representatives reject global laws or taxes (or authorities) which we find objectionable?

I am all for following God’ Word and performing our duty to take care of the Earth which God has entrusted to us. But what are the main effects or consequences to the ’solutions’ from a possible ‘global solution’ to global warming? Is it simply a matter of knowing what to do to solve a problem, and then doing it? If we are not sure why global warming is happening, wouldn’t it be in all of our best interests to work overtime to figure out what is happening before we make dramatic changes to our lifestyles and forms of government and taxation?

Regardless if global warming is happening due to the causes that are touted by men such as Al Gore, I would like to pose the question: Are we being sold global government as an add-on to combating a perceived problem? Or do many prominent world politicians suddenly wake up with a conscience: finally seeing a problem which they believe is so important that they will keep pushing for its ’solution’ until it is passed? (Kind of makes a person wonder, for example, why more traditional ‘conservative’ Republicans never treat issues like abortion so seriously, doesn’t it?)  Does the solutions that are being proposed…and that have yet to be proposed…present an actual solution, or simply a list of things which may somehow influence global warming?  In the end, after all the talk…Is there a real threat which we can fight?  If so, is there a real, workable, definite solution?  Or simply steps made in the name of hopefully finding a solution (but in reality introducing changes of a different, more subtle nature)?

For argument’s sake, how else could global government form but by a global threat, either real or contrived? Without some kind of threat, do you think people want to trade local government for global government?

If scientists cannot come close to a consensus….if still politicians and media, as well as celebrities push for dramatic lifestyle and government changes…Why the rush? Shouldn’t we be first focused on finding the heart of the problem as quickly as possible, so that we can implement the correct solution? If we are indeed facing dire consequences, can we afford to act quickly and make the wrong assumptions? Shouldn’t we have a little more proof first?

Are we seeing the formation of a global society, as described in Biblical prophecy? Are we seeing ‘wars and rumors of wars’? Are things looking more and more hopeful with each coming year, or do new and more frequent crises seem to scream out for new and wider-encompassing global solutions with each passing day?

What do you think?

Economic Considerations Toward Global Government?

Revelation chapter 13 says:

“1And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

2And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

3And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

4And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

5And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

6And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

7And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

8And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

9If any man have an ear, let him hear.

10He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

11And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

12And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

13And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

14And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

15And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

16And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.”

Have you ever asked yourself, “If the Bible talks about a global government and global economic system in places such as Revelation 13, how would that ever come to pass?” If you do believe the Bible is 100% accurate, you therefore believe that this prophecy will one day come to pass. However, being the ‘watchful’ person that you need to be perhaps you are asking yourself, “But is it a literal, physical global government? Is it an allegory for something else? How should I interpret this prophecy?”

As Christians shouldn’t we first pray? And after prayer…seek God’s word? What does the Bible say?

After considering the prophecy throughout the Bible, then ask yourself: Can I ‘consider the fig tree’? Is there seem to be signs or developments of a push for global government? Is the world just as regionalized and seperated as before? Or is it gradually merging countries and regions into each other to form larger governments and/or bureaucracies?

Again, I would refer you to the numerous prophecies about the return of Israel to her land. Was that not a part of many of the same prophecies? Did that ever come to pass, or was that figurative? Wasn’t that mentioned or described in the same way? It may be prudent to point out that for many years the Christian community believed that to be an allegorical ‘return’, as many thought it ridiculous to consider an actual return…Because, well…Wouldn’t that take a miracle? The Jews had been spread out to many nations on earth, and suffered persecutions and/or settled in areas around the world. Could it really happen?

But who are we really questioning here? Ourselves, and what man can accomplish? Or are we questioning God, and how we may or may not think He can accomplish what He has said. Again, what does God’s Word say? Do we consider His Word and believe it? Or not? Can we really have it somewhere in between?

If you do see the start of a possible global prophecy coming to pass, are you continually tracking it to see if it matches prophecy? What are we to be looking for? Well, for starters…

What would it take for a global government to develop? Wouldn’t people just fight that? Surely that could never become a reality. Let’s look at 3 quick examples and in the interest of time one important aspect which is an important component of each…

When the original 13 colonies (which would later form the first 13 states of the United States) broke away from England, they banded together to form a union of states to work together, correct? Did they view themselves as one country? Or as states which banded together for common interests and protections? Didn’t they still view each state as sovereign unto itself, and could come and go as it pleased? As part of these interests and protections, did they not form their own currency? Did they not believe that besides representation and fair taxes, that they should also have a more sound economic system?

When the Confederacy broke away from the US during the Civil war, did they come together to form a federal ‘country’, or were they a collection of states which banded together in common interest? Didn’t they still view each state as sovereign unto itself, and could come and go as it pleased? (Isn’t that the major issue as to why the Civil War occurred?) And to protect their common interests and protections, did they not form their own currency? Did they not believe they had been trampled on by an increasingly powerful federal government in the North which overstepped its legal bounds and threatened state’s rights, as well as the economies of the southern states?

When the European Union formed in Europe, how did it form? Wasn’t it a collection of nations banded together for a common interest? Are they following the same historical pattern of other states in ancient (or in our other examples, modern) history which show the development of a larger country? What is happening with the EU? Haven’t they been working on their own ‘Constitution’? Did it not form its own bureaucracy? Hasn’t the EU formed their own economic laws and regulations, as well as their own currency, the Euro? Though they do not refer to themselves as a government…What is a government? What are the tasks of government? Ask yourself this, and then ask yourself if the EU fits your own ideas of what necessitates a government. (And if it is a government, how are its people elected? Is there fair and free representation?)

Let’s even take this a step further: Do we see a coming union with the US, Canada and Mexico? Many dismiss the thought because they find the thought difficult to comprehend. But what do the facts say? (I refer to this in a previous blog post which you can find at this link -HERE-) If that did come to pass, wouldn’t that show a move towards more regional governance, instead of national sovereignty? (Just to keep in mind while you watch the news in the future…)

Where am I going with this? A major component of each of these unions is financial considerations. Each banded together in part for proposed financial security and enterprise.

Going back to our original question, what would a major factor be which people would find acceptable for forming an eventual global government? We have already seen the formation of enlarged regional governments based on economics. Might this have some possible hint about the future?

The Bible describes a time in the future where the world will be in chaos: People will be frightened, lost, and seeking hope. According to Scripture, when all things seem lost a man will come onto the seen to seemingly present a final solution for peace and prosperity on earth for all mankind. We know him from the Bible as the ‘Anti-Christ’. While that term may be debated Scripturally as to its specific meaning and its application to multiple people, isn’t the Bible clear about a single man in the End Times?

Couldn’t a global financial crisis help people band together? Aren’t we told each day by financial experts and news that the world is financially interdependent? Aren’t there many people who are heavily invested in foreign markets? If regional economic markets were to falter or fail all over the world, wouldn’t that affect many people? And if everything is so connected, wouldn’t the world beg for a global solution so we could continue the current way of life? Could solutions be reached at a local level, or would there be calls for a global oversight to a ‘global problem’? If our current governments have problems, whether with education, terrorism, responding to natural disasters, etc…Is it state and local governments finding solutions for the future, or is it the federal government looking to further expand agencies and programs? Are the solutions we see around us small and localized in nature? Or are they built as larger ‘blanket’ policies?

One such possible sign may be mentioned in the news this past week. What has been going on with the American Dollar? Has it been gaining or losing value? How does inflation work? Are we going into financial troubles with our markets now, or is everything ‘ok’?

Just yesterday, many articles described a new development by the Federal Reserve of the United States. Viewing the coming economic downturns in the US, the Fed decided to cut rates. You can read more about it in almost any news outlet. Here is one such article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/22/business/23cnd-fed.html?em&ex=1201237200&en=394d45f8988d4dce&ei=5087%0A

I would encourage you to read and consider the article, as well as other ones you can find for yourself from other sources and viewpoints. Are these common events? Or ‘once in a lifetime’-type events? What effects will grow out of these ’solutions’?

Maybe right now you are feeling overwhelmed by seemingly large and confusing economic concepts. What is money? How does it work? Would you like some more information? One possible resource is a 42 minute documentary available online free (and legally) for viewing. It is called, “Money, Banking, and the Federal Reserve”, and may provide some insight as to how money works, why inflation happens, and so forth. Isn’t it important for us to use our money wisely? If that is so,wouldn’t it be helpful to understand first how our money ‘works’, and what gives it any value? How can we follow economics and take care of our families if we don’t first understand what money is and what gives it value?

I would encourage everyone to find multiple sources of their own, and compare them for information and validity. However, here is the link to the aforementioned free and brief documentary online:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-466210540567002553&q=banking+federal+reserve&total=302&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

But again…ask yourself: What does the Bible say? Does the Bible talk about global government? If so, what would it take to set up a global government? Do we see ’solutions’ to crises working at small, the same, or increasingly larger levels? Do we see any signs today of government getting smaller, or bigger?

What do you think?