[LUconn]

I don't know if anybody has recently read that a bunch of the Southern Baptists signed a petition basically acknowledging global warmings existance, but they did. Way to jump on the bandwagon guys, just when it's being doubted the most.


But from that article, this website was in there

http://baptistcreationcare.org/

Has anybody ever heard of this? I'm wondering if anybody here knows the spokesperson they have listed

Jonathan Merritt (B.S. from Liberty University, 2004; M.Div from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2008) is the National Spokesperson for the SBE & CI. As a young faith and culture writer, his work has appeared in national outlets like The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Relevant, Outreach, HomeLife, Charisma, Christian Single, and FCA's Sharing the Victory magazines. He is the son of Dr. James Merritt, pastor of CrossPointe Church and former SBC President (2000-2002), and Teresa Merritt , and he resides outside of Atlanta, GA.

[RagingTireFire]

Johnny Hunt signed off on this. Interesting.

[fan00]

he used to give announcements in convo. around 2000-2001
here is his blogspot with a picture...

http://jonathanmerritt.blogspot.com/

[LUconn]

wow, his Feb 5th entry is just priceless

[ALUmnus]

If anyone here is a member of a church that is a member of the SBC, feel free to write and complain to them. There's no reason for them to use the SBC's name to promote this garbage. If these pastors want to do this under their own name, that's fine, but to throw everyone who's under the umbrella you happen to represent into this mess is irresponsible. It's very surprising, and disappointing, to see some of the names that are on this.

Like I told someone else, it's just like a conservative Christian to sign an online petition that turns out to be untrue or a scam. It must be in our nature or something.

[blwall1416]

Johnny Hunt signed off on this. Interesting.

Yet, not as interesting as the signature of Mike Hunt...

[matshark]

Yeah, Global Warming... Shame the average temperature this year is 6 degrees colder worldwide than last year... hmm...

Global Warming is the biggest scam I've ever seen.
Proof of if you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it.
Funny how the people screaming the loudest about it contribute the most to it...hmm...

Climate change my foot.
They claim the earth is millions of years old and that its already gone through several climate changes, yet they are so arrogant as to think they can keep it from doing it again? BWAHAHAHAHA

What I'd like to know is how much money the people pushing it have invested in companies that stand to gain the most from it.
IMO its one big scam designed to make people like Al Gore rediculously rich. I mean, he DID invent the internet after all... oh, and pants too.

[phoenix]

I don't think global warming is the issue the left makes it out to be.

But I also think that it's our responsibility as Christians to be good stewards (managers) of the creation God left us in charge of, and not screw it up. That's all this petition is trying to say -- that previous SBC statements on the environment do not reflect our commitment to be good stewards of God's creation.

His mistake was calling it the Southern Baptist anything. It made it sound like it was an official position of the SBC, and it's not. He should have phrased it as a resolution and brought it before the convention in Indy this summer.

Of course, SBC resolutions aren't binding on local churches (the whole local church autonomy thing), so the whole procedure is essentially pointless. And this kid should have known that -- his father's a former SBC president, for crying out loud.

It's telling, though, the names that he got to sign the thing. There are people in the convention, in high places in the convention, that don't like the anti-environmentalism that has been seen as the official policy up until now.

[LUconn]

You're almost right. Did you read through the statement? Almost all of it is spot on but the following is what makes the headlines:

After going on for 4 paragraphs explaining how it is very much still contraversial and there is no consensus it says

Yet, even in the absence of perfect knowledge or unanimity, we have to make informed decisions about the future. This will mean we have to take a position of prudence based partly on science that is inevitably changing. We do not believe unanimity is necessary for prudent action. We can make wise decisions even in the absence of infallible evidence.

Though the claims of science are neither infallible nor unanimous, they are substantial and cannot be dismissed out of hand on either scientific or theological grounds. Therefore, in the face of intense concern and guided by the biblical principle of creation stewardship, we resolve to engage this issue without any further lingering over the basic reality of the problem or our responsibility to address it. Humans must be proactive and take responsibility for our contributions to climate change—however great or small.

That's ridiculous. We don't know what "it" is yet but we have to take responsibility for "it"? What does that even mean? If I told you there's some debate about whether or not Phoenix killed 5 puppies would you take responsibility for it? You'd be crazy to sign your name to that and handicap yourself.

[flamesfilmguy]

Johnny Hunt signed off on this. Interesting.

i would question that. because i highly doubt he would knowingly sign off on somthing like this

[RagingTireFire]

From the 'Signatories' page:

Johnny Hunt, Pastor of First Baptist Woodstock (Woodstock, GA)

[Ed Dantes]

Maybe the SBC should focus on why people are leaving its denomination than on some wacko theory that will be proven false in due time. I mean, have they checked the thermometer in the last, I don't know, four months?

[vastrightwinger]

My thoughts exactly...

[phoenix]

Maybe the SBC should focus on why people are leaving its denomination than on some wacko theory that will be proven false in due time. I mean, have they checked the thermometer in the last, I don't know, four months?

Since the SBC as a whole has nothing to do with this, and based on my own observation of actual Southern Baptist churches at work, I'd say that's exactly what we're doing. That's the biggest problem with the document -- it SOUNDS like it's an official SBC movement, but it isn't at all.

And I agree that the section on global warming is way off, and there's no way I'd sign the thing. But global warming is a very small part of the idea of being ecologically concerned. There are plenty of people who are concerned about environmental issues that think global warming is bunk -- doesn't mean we shouldn't care about what we do to the environment.

I think it's meant less as an official position paper than as a spark for conversation. There are too many people who have a warped view of the entire environmental movement, because of the high-profile radical left elements. If he was trying to get this made into an official policy, it would have been brought forward as a resolution to be considered this year in Indianapolis.

[Realist]

This was in my local paper today stating that southern baptists were taking up the fight against global warming

[Sly Fox]

Our fellow LU alum behind this explains himself ...

EXCLUSIVE: Interview with the Man Behind the Southern Baptist Climate Initiative

Many of you caught the recent news of a growing number of Southern Baptist leaders signing onto a global warming declaration. They say their church's official stance is "too timid" and call for more action on climate change. They write:

We realize that simply affirming our God-given responsibility to care for the earth will likely produce no tangible or effective results. Therefore, we pledge to find ways to curb ecological degradation through promoting biblical stewardship habits and increasing awareness in our homes, businesses where we find influence, relationships with others and in our local churches. Many of our churches do not actively preach, promote or practice biblical creation care. We urge churches to begin doing so.

This statement was pioneered by Jonathan Merritt, a graduate of Liberty University. He is currently a seminarian at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, in North Carolina. Over the weekend the IPLog wrote to Jonathan Merritt, asking for an interview and he graciously agreed to share his thoughts with the Interfaith Power and Light community.

Click Here for Full Story

[Sly Fox]

The Green Baptist
Jonathan Merritt seeks a renewed approach to American society.
Tim Stafford | posted 11/24/2009 11:31AM

Jonathan Merritt was headed for medical school upon graduating from Liberty University in 2004, until, in the "clearest word I had ever gotten," he heard God's call to write. The writing life wasn't an immediate success; he says he received hundreds of rejections while attending Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Finally, after almost three years of trying, he got his first assignment. Today Merritt publishes articles in places like Relevant magazine and USA Today, and makes appearances on NPR and ABC World News. A book, Green Like God, will appear in the spring.

The high-energy Merritt calls himself a "faith and culture" writer who wants to guide evangelicals in a renewed approach to American society. "I feel God has positioned me to speak truth to my generation, which is in some ways doing things so much better than previous generations, and in other ways gets lost in the pride of youth." But he is best known for his environmental activism.

Click Here for Full Story

[LUconn]

See now, I don't see anything unreasonable in this article. I'm not for polluting or destroying God's creation, obviously. But is carbon emission pollution? Doubtful since God created us to naturally emit carbon dioxide. Is cutting down trees for lumber destroying God's creation? Debatable. People need lumber for houses etc. but wildlife would have a hard time living if we went overboard. He's got a nice little niche going, and that might be needed in this time of evangelicals infusing politics into their doctrine for some reason or another, but he needs to think things through and stay away from climate change.