Climate change in the hour of truth
A call up from the Raad van Kerken in Nederland
In this ‘climate-call-up’ the Council intends to call the attention of her members and the politics to the climate change, draw up a programme for it and carry out the message. The Council summons churches, church-members and political and social organizations to face the seriousness of the present climate situation. The Council wants to stimulate them to look for spiritual motivation and concrete measures for a durable lifestyle which contributes to a good quality of life, now and in the future.
In an extensive motivation the council deliberately takes a prophetic stand. She states that, in order to prevent disasters, no less than an essential change-over is necessary from the road we are set on presently. Only with radical, short-term measures in the area of energy utilisation and CO2 emission the heating up of the climate, with all its consequences, still stoppable.
For that we will have to abandon our idea of manufacturability of life in order to come to realize that man and nature are linked together in vulnerability and dependant of one atmosphere in which all life shares.
Acknowledgement of vulnerability is biblically speaking a moment of truth that leads to a new, positive dedication. From vulnerability we can acknowledge that we are part of the problem and in that sense guilty and sinful, without letting ourselves be paralyzed by it.
On the contrary, acknowledgement of guilt in vulnerability can lead to new, liberating understanding, to new ways to be man in Gods image and to new perspectives on peace, righteousness and wholeness of creation. Subsequently we can take responsibility and take courage to set out for a really good life on earth, in relationship with fellow men, animals and plants.
→ download Vulnerability, responsibility and courage [.doc]