Does GOD work through people even if they don't believe?

Question

I ask because for some reason many Christians in America have taken the stance that global warming is a "farce" because GOD has everything under control. This is also somewhat coupled with the belief that scientists are trying to disprove Christianity. My offering is that if the scientists that have done the studies on global warming were given their intellect by GOD then wouldn't it be wise to listen to them? This of course hinges upon the question of whether or not Christianity actually represents an existing GOD but that is another topic entirely.

Answer 1

I believe that goodness, love, kindness, compassion, intellect for the greater good comes from God, even if it is acted out my someone that is not necessesarily a believer. I also believe some people could be close to God and not even be aware of it on the concious level.

To answer your question of Global Warming, yes, I believe God is ultimately in control, but that doesn't mean that we don't have the burden of cause and effect. We suffered the effects of the Black Plague because we did not have proper sanitation practices, the woes of 2 world wars because we couldn't reconsile our differences, and if we know that our planet is threatened and we choose to ignore it, it is more than likely that God will allow us to destroy ourselves.

Answer 2

There are a couple of different schools of thought on that question. For example, Abraham Kuyper formulated the doctrine of common grace, which states that even the lost can do math, study physics, etc., and come up with reasonable conclusions. In this he proposes that the effects of the fall are primarily spiritual, and do not deflect the reasoning capacity of man too severely. The other school of thought says that the effects of the fall are so pervasive that not even the math of a lost person can be trusted. This view is associated with Cornelius Van Til and the presuppositionalists. It is somewhat an extension of the Augustinian notion of the Antithesis, that the “city of man” and the “city of God” do not and cannot speak the same language to each other because they have such radically different starting points.

The middle school of thought, my own, says that while the lost may do math correctly in the abstract, nothing is ever really done in the abstract; there is always a social/political/religious context to everything. This allows the sinful nature of man to bring distortion to the interpretation of data. If one begins with the belief that scientific data is flowing from an essential stable natural process governed by God, that will produce a different interpretation of the data than an initial belief that the process is ultimately random and therefore essentially unstable. That is why theistic interpreters of the data are more inclined to look to such things as large scale thermal cycles as opposed to greenhouse gases as the primary driver of the incoming thermal data. Indeed, one group has observed evidence that the last great ice age may have been preceded by a significant increase in global temperatures, implying that some balancing mechanism kicked in and produced an offsetting ice age. One's presuppositions about the limits of one's own knowledge are a factor here. If we do not fully grasp the system, how can we be sure of our diagnosis? Therefore, humility versus hubris enter into the interpretive process as well.

None of this answers the deeper question of what is actually happening to the climate and what are the principle drivers, whether man and his fuels or some other combination of forces. But I think that being able to step back and analyze the problem with a genuinely open mind will give us a more realistic view of what we may or may not be able to do about it. I would hate to think that political powers would use the interplay of human weaknesses such as arrogance and fear to give themselves extreme control over a free people. However, as a Christian, I also accept that people can be that wicked. Therefore, I am hedging my bets. On the one hand, let's do the best science we can to really know what's going on, and on the other hand, lets not get so crazy with panic we turn the country over to a Green Gestapo. Such a "cure" may be worse than the disease.

Answer 3

The answer would be yes. The bible states the God doesn't wish that anyone should perish but have everlasting life. A Christain's duties are to set an example of a Holy life, let their enter light shine outward. When they speak to people and share God's word, a seed is planted. God does the watering. If a person is truly hungry for change, God will lead them. As far as scientist that don't believe in God and that don't have any desire to know him would be considered someone that leans on their own understanding. the answer would be no. God only speaks to and through his people. The bible says Jn:1:5: And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. God is the light of the world. One must come into the light to understand the light. People that are not a part of God will not understand his ways or his thinking. Eph:4:18: Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: To close God says Prov:2:7: He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.Prov:1:7: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. If you need more details and scriptures please let me know. God Bless you my friend.

Answer 4

to answer the question: yes, strange, but yes.

as far as global warming=end times...who knows? supposedly all these prophecies have come true, like the beast thing with all the horns. some were counting all the horns and I think 7 or 8 of them. and when the EU emerged, they counted how many countries joined the EU and they had counted 7 horns so it was the beast that represented the EU. The EU is a sign because of the "one world" thing that is designed by the devil. But since then there are now more than 7 countries in the EU. Just an example of control and interpretation.

Answer 5

Yes. Some of the greatest Christian quotes actually come from non-Christians. E.g. Sigmund Freud - "The best way to escape from the cares of life and forget real misery is to follow the path that expects all satisfaction to come from loving and being loved" ties in with the concept of God being love and the importance of faith working through love.

However, what the unbeliever says still needs to be checked so that it's not inconsistent with Biblical teaching.

Answer 6

True science and true Christianity (belief in the Holy Bible) do both, support one another. They are plausible when they are both, in their pure form. Actually, God commanded Adam to keep the Garden [Eden]. Scientists do have good reason to be telling us, today to "shape-up" when it comes to this orb we live on. When you read the scriptures [Bible], it tells of a time to come where this earth will have global catastrophes bring this world down. Human greed and the love for riches and power will contribute to our demise. BUT; God fore knew this would occur because He knew people would deny His existence therefore, not heed neither, the warnings of Him nor Science. God will eventually, send back His Son, Jesus to this earth to clean it up and recondition it. Christians are to do his or her best to maintain this earth as they can. No ... God does exist (His prophesies attest to His existence) and Christians have a role to play in keeping the earth.

Answer 7

God has everything in control I believe but does that mean there cant be end to this world? Personally I dont believe in this theory but not because I think god would never let it happen. Curses and Plagues are given throughout the bible and john in revelations gives accounts of some scary things that are gonna happen at the lords second coming. God has a plan for all things and what exactly that is no one really knows.

Answer 8

Leave god out of this mess, the reason he made this planet round is so that everything we throw out comes back to us, just a matter of time before the next ice age comes. and is it really the guy up there that gave assurance to the christians in america that things are under control or some retard fellow believer who doesnt want to accept the fact that the mess we are in now is cause by man.

Answer 9

In the Old TEstament God worked through a donkey to talk to a stubborn prophet. He can use anyone or anything.

I would like to ask you, do you think however God would choose an occult medium like for example Jakob Lorber to convey a pure message about Himself?

Answer 10

I have no idea what you're talking about. I don't know any Christians who don't consider global warming a real threat.

Oops--yes, God works through unsaved people as well as saved.