TIME Selects Angela Merkel as 2015 Person of the Year

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"For asking more of her country than most politicians would dare, for standing firm against tyranny as well as expedience and for providing steadfast moral leadership in a world where it is in short supply, German Chancellor Angela Merkel is TIME's Person of the Year," announced TIME magazine's managing editor Nancy Gibbs on December 9.
TIME's short list of finalists included a strange mix: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (the militant leader of ISIS or Daesh), billionaire presidential candidate Donald Trump, Black Lives Matter activists, Iran's president Hassan Rouhani, Travis Kalanick (CEO of the transportation-sharing company Uber) and Caitlyn Jenner (transgender individual).
The accolade, awarded annually to a person who is deemed to have impacted world events most profoundly, whether for good or ill, went to Merkel, 61, only the fourth female recipient since TIME initiated the honor in 1927.
Born in 1954 in officially atheistic East Germany to a Lutheran pastor father and an English teacher mother who was never granted a teaching position, Merkel was 7 years old when she watched the Berlin Wall go up. She studied physics and built a career in quantum chemistry, reinventing herself as a politician when the wall fell in 1989.
She won a seat in parliament in 1990 and gained a Cabinet position within a year. Her rise to power in a party dominated by conservative male West German Catholics was no small feat for an East German divorced Protestant woman who later married her longtime live-in partner. By 2005 she had risen to become Germany's first female chancellor and leader of the world's fourth largest economy.
Merkel functions as the de facto head the European Union, steering that joint venture through three existential crises that could have meant the unraveling of its relations: 1) Greece's debt crisis which was tied to Europe's common currency, the euro, 2) Russia's annexation of the Crimea and incursion into Eastern Ukraine and 3) the dramatic influx of refugees and immigrants from the Middle East and elsewhere.
Dubbed "the Chancellor of Europe" if not of the entire Free World, Merkel has been called "Machiavellian" or "Merkelvellian" by some pundits while many Germans call her "Mutti," which means "mommy."
She has been described alternatively as "a permanent delayer," "cautious," "patient," and "a master of listening" who speaks 20 percent of the time and is silent the rest of the time.
Gibbs wrote that Merkel "proudly practiced what Willy Brandt once called Die Politik der kleinen Schritte (the politics of baby steps), or as it is sometimes called in the United States, "leading from behind."
Merkel has been accused of not having a vision beyond two weeks. Yet she said she liked to sit in the back of the room when she was a student, so she could "have the overview," the way a ship's captain positions himself so as to be able "to make course corrections as needed."
Her style is understated, analytical and methodical, not unlike a chess master who "is always a few moves ahead of her competitor," according to dissident clergyman Rainer Eppelmann. Whether it comes from her East German upbringing, her training as a scientist or something else, she displays a calm demeanor under pressure and quiet determination opponents underestimate to their peril.
"If you cross her, you end up dead," John Kornblum, former U.S. Ambassador to Germany, said, (though we assume he didn't mean that literally). He added, "There's nothing cushy about her." A German senior official said, "If you want to sum up her philosophy, it's 'under-promise and over-deliver.'"
TIME lifted up Merkel's values of "humanity, generosity, tolerance" as alternatives to Germany's "toxically nationalist, militarist, genocidal past."
Matthias Wissmann, who served next to Merkel in former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl's Cabinet, said, "She has one principle … She does not want to see people surrounded by walls." Green leader Katrin Göring-Eckardt agreed, stating that Merkel's highest value is "freedom, and everything else is negotiable."
In September, she asserted that "Fear has never been a good adviser, neither in our personal lives nor in our society," adding that "Cultures and societies that are shaped by fear will not conquer their future."
Merkel acknowledges that she has struggled with doubt at times, but always returns to faith in God as the origin of "the sacred dignity of the human being." Viewing ourselves as God's creation "guides our political actions," she said in a recent interview, adding, "My faith in God makes many political decisions easier."
She has advised German Christians to go back to church to rediscover "some biblical foundations" so as to get to know "our own roots" better. "I would like to see more people who have the courage to say 'I am a Christian believer,'" she said, "and more people who have the courage to enter into a dialogue."
More on this story can be found at these links:
Angela Merkel: The Choice. TIME 
Person of the Year, Chancellor of the Free World: Angela Merkel's Journey .... TIME
American Christians Could Take a Lesson From Angela Merkel. Religion News Service
The Quiet German. The New Yorker
Merkel: "Faith in God Makes Many Political Decisions Easier. Evangelical Focus
The Big Questions
1. If you had the opportunity to interview Angela Merkel, what question(s) would you ask her?
2. What other awards, prizes, honors or acknowledgements can you name that people use to recognize those who rise above the crowd for some reason? What do those honors suggest about what we humans value? Do you think those values are the same things God values? Explain your answer.
3. Imagine you are on a committee to determine the "2015 Human of the Year." Without reference to the criteria used by other committees who make similar selections, how would you go about choosing your winner? What qualities, characteristics or actions of the individual would you consider, and why do you think those things are important? What would disqualify a person from being considered? Should the criteria change or remain the same over time? Explain.
4. Who would you pick as your "2015 Human of the Year" and why? Who do you think God would pick? Do you think your choice would match God's? Why or why not?
5. Do you think being a Christian makes political decisions any easier for a world leader? What role do you think Merkel's faith plays in her decision making?
Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope
Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion:
1 Samuel 16:6-7
When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed is now before the LORD." But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." (For context, read 16:1-13.)
After King Saul displeased the Lord, God commanded the prophet Samuel to go anoint one of Jesse's sons to become the next king of Israel. The problem was that Jesse had eight sons: How would Samuel determine which of them had God's approval? They all looked good to the prophet, but God's criteria for greatness went much deeper than outward appearance. It was David, the youngest, God had chosen.
Questions: What role does God have in the selection of world leaders today? How do people decide who is worthy of honor or who is ready to lead? What criteria does God use to make that determination? What is God looking for when he looks on the heart?
1 Samuel 18:5-7
David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him; as a result, Saul set him over the army. And all the people, even the servants of Saul, approved. As they were coming home, when David returned from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the towns of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. And the women sang to one another as they made merry, "Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands." (For context, read 18:1-9.)
The first king of Israel, Saul, came to view the young warrior David as a threat to his throne, at least in part because of his celebrity as the slayer of the giant Goliath. So David's popularity was a double-edged sword: He won the approval of all the people, but earned the wrath of the jealous ruler.
Questions: Can you recall a time when you were simultaneously the recipient of recognition or honor and also the target of hostility or resentment? How did you handle the mixed messages about your worth or accomplishments?
Judges 4:4-5
At that time Deborah, a prophetess, wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel. She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the Israelites came up to her for judgment. (For context, read 4:1-10.)
Judges 5:7, 31
The peasantry prospered in Israel, they grew fat on plunder, because you arose, Deborah, arose as a mother in Israel. … And the land had rest forty years. (For context, read 5:1-31.)
At a time when judges presided over the affairs of the people, Deborah is renowned as a prophet through whom God spoke to the people, guiding them to military victory in times of war, and establishing a time of peace that lasted 40 years. Though her leadership is questioned by some, she proves to be wise and caring as a mother in Israel.
On one occasion, Deborah gives Barak instructions to prepare for battle against Sisera who commands an army of 100,000 with 900 iron chariots. With only 10,000 soldiers in his army, Barak understandably declines the commission unless Deborah accompanies him. She willingly does so, but indicates that timid Barak will not receive any glory from victory, which will come at the hands of another woman.
Questions: What similarities, if any, do you see between Angela Merkel and Deborah? What skills did Deborah need in order to be successful as a leader in times of war and peace? How did she come by those skills?
Matthew 25:21
His master said to him, ''Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'' (For context, read 25:14-30.)
In the parable of the talents, Jesus says the kingdom of heaven is like a slave owner who gives his slaves assets to manage while he is away on a trip. When he returns, he calls them in to account for the trust they were given. The first two were commended for doubling the original investment, but a third who did nothing with the assets he deemed "wicked, lazy and worthless" and cast out.
Questions: What assets has God entrusted to you to manage for him? What do you need to do with those assets to ensure that you will hear the words, "Well done, good and trustworthy slave" when you stand in his presence to give an account of your management of what God has entrusted to you?
For Further Discussion
1. Comment on this from TIME's managing editor Nancy Gibbs: "At a moment when much of the world is once more engaged in a furious debate about the balance between safety and freedom, the Chancellor is asking a great deal of the German people, and by their example, the rest of us as well. To be welcoming. To be unafraid. To believe that great civilizations build bridges, not walls, and that wars are won both on and off the battlefield."
2. Respond to this statement, also from Nancy Gibbs: "Leaders are tested only when people don't want to follow."
3. Merkel grew up in a walled country where atheism was the norm. Do you ever feel isolated in your Christian practice? How do you handle feelings of isolation? How can you assist isolated people who want to develop their Christian faith?
4. Merkel's training as a scientist might have made her more skeptical of faith matters; however, she professes to be a Christian. What barriers have you overcome to grow your own Christian faith?
5. Critics note that the "Person of the Year" award can go to someone who is changing the world for ill. Many believe that Merkel’s policies regarding immigration fall into that category, and will result in Germany (and much of Europe) changing from relatively liberal democracies to something more representative of an authoritarian and more repressive Middle East. Commentator Jim Geraghty with ironic humor criticizes her by noting that "No German chancellor has done more to change the demographics of Europe since ...." While we obviously cannot see the future and take no position on this particular matter, it does lead to thoughts on consequences. It is said that "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." How should we (or should we not) examine policies and actions beyond "good intentions" to look at ensuing or long-term consequences?
Responding to the News
Take time to pray for world leaders and to ask for God's direction for nations as they select those who will guide their steps into the future.

Closing Prayer
Shepherd of our souls, lead us in the paths of righteousness, so that in all our ways we would bring honor and glory to your name. Amen.

Fear of Terrorism Drives National Politics

© 2015 The Wired Word

www.thewiredword.com

A recent presidential poll puts Donald Trump at the head of the Republican pack, partly because more of those polled say he's the man they trust to deal with the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL or Daesh. As of December 4, Trump had a 20-point lead over other Republicans and Republican-leaning independents in a CNN/ORC International poll, with Republicans saying overwhelmingly that he's the best man for the job to be commander-in-chief and defeat ISIS (The Wired Word does not endorse any presidential candidate).

Then, on December 7, Trump called for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States," a dramatic response to the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino that have raised the anxiety level of the American people. Trump released a statement saying that "according to Pew Research, among others, there is great hatred towards Americans by large segments of the Muslim population."

It should be noted, however, that a 2013 Pew Research poll found that concern about Islamic extremism is widespread among Muslims from South Asia to the Middle East to sub-Saharan Africa. Across 11 Muslim populations surveyed by the Pew Research Center, a median of 67 percent say they are somewhat or very concerned about Islamic extremism. In five of these countries -- Pakistan, Jordan, Tunisia, Turkey and Indonesia -- Muslim worries about extremism have increased. So it is not clear which Pew Research findings Trump was citing in his statement. However, the Pew figures do leave room for some Muslims to be supportive of extremism.

On Sunday, President Barack Obama made a national address in which he called on Americans "to reject religious tests on who we admit into this country" -- a response to a call from Republican presidential candidates, including Trump, to stop accepting Syrian refugees into the United States after last month's terrorist attacks in Paris.

Obama described the mass shooting in San Bernardino as a terrorist attack by a couple who had gone down the "dark path of radicalization" and embraced a "perverted" form of Islam. "This was an act of terrorism designed to kill innocent people," Obama said. "Here's what I want you to know. The threat from terrorism is real, but we will overcome it. We will destroy ISIL and any other organization that tries to harm us." But Obama's speech did not describe the overhaul of a policy that critics say is unable to overcome the terrorist threat.

Anxiety is running high among the American people, with fear of terrorism a top concern. Some of this is justified, since ISIS has a long list of enemies that it wants to destroy, from the United States to the Arab oil sheiks. ISIS even wants to conquer Muslim countries such as Iran, Iraq and Syria. Fear is an emotion with aspects that are both positive (when it motivates to protection) and negative (when it paralyzes or is used to motivate irrational or counterproductive behavior). We are told to "fear the Lord" above all things, which should place other fears in perspective. But fear is an emotion that Christians have faced in the past, and faithful people have found ways to overcome fear that is irrational or counterproductive.

Novelist Marilynne Robinson makes two important observations about the challenges we face today: "First, contemporary America is full of fear. And second, fear is not a Christian habit of mind." She reminds us that as children we learn to say, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me." And she points out that after his resurrection, Jesus told his disciples, "Lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." Her conviction is that "Christ is a gracious, abiding presence in all reality, and in him history will finally be resolved."

Robinson does not deny that there are very real threats in the world today, but she believes that as Christians "we are to fear not the death of our bodies but the loss of our souls." As we face the threat of terrorism, it is crucial that we maintain our faith in God, the one who walks beside us through the valley of the shadow of death. Worse than physical death is spiritual death, which can happen when we lose our connection with Jesus, the one who is with us always, to the close of the age.

More on this story can be found at these links:

Trump Crushes Everyone -- And ISIS -- In National Poll. Sun Times 

Trump Calls For "Complete Shutdown" of Muslims Entering the US. NBC News  

Muslim Publics Share Concerns about Extremist Groups. Pew Research Center  

Obama: "This was an act of terrorism." CNN  

Fear. The New York Review of Books 

The Big Questions

1. Which aspects of your Christian faith help you to deal with fear? What are some differences between fear and anxiety? How can the mission and ministry of the church help to calm anxiety in an uncertain world?

2. Why are many American Christians suspicious of Muslims? What bridges can be built between American Christians and American Muslims? If you have friends who are practicing Muslims, what have you learned from them?

3. What steps need to be taken to degrade, defeat, and destroy ISIS? Will victory come only through military action? Why or why not?

4. How can our political leaders lower the level of fear and anxiety being felt by the American people? How can our religious leaders help? What difference does it make that the risen Jesus is with us "to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20)?

5. According to Jerry Falwell Jr., president of Liberty University, students should be armed and loaded to "end those Muslims before they walk in and kill" should his university come under terrorist attack. Discuss.

6. After the killings in San Bernardino, people were criticized for offering "thoughts and prayers." Critics called for action instead of prayer. Where do you see value in prayer after a tragedy? What kind of prayers do you offer, if any? Both Trump and his critics have called for actions: How do you evaluate and choose among various proposed actions?

Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope

Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion:

Exodus 14:13

But Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the LORD will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again." (For context, read 14:1-25.)

When the Israelites escape captivity in Egypt, Pharaoh and his army come after them. The Israelites look back, and in great fear cry out to Moses, "What have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt?" (v. 11). They say that it would be better for them to remain in slavery in Egypt than to die in the wilderness. But Moses advises the people to put aside their fear, stand firm, and wait for the Lord's deliverance. God divides the sea and the Israelites are able to cross on dry ground.

Questions: Why is it difficult to remain faithful to God during uncertain times? How can you "stand firm" in the face of a threat? What sorts of deliverance -- whether physical, spiritual or emotional -- does God offer in times of danger?

Psalm 23:4

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff -- they comfort me. (For context, read 23:1-6.)

The "darkest valley" might be a terminal illness. A terror alert. A death in the family. A betrayal by a friend. A marital problem. The loss of a job. A failure in a business venture. Whatever the darkest valley, Psalm 23 promises that our shepherd God is with us, offering the comfort of a rod and a staff. And while God's "rod" makes sense as a shepherd's tool, it also signifies royal authority. This rod is the scepter of a shepherd king, with power over anything that can hurt us.

Questions: Where have you felt God beside you in a dark valley? What protection did God offer from evil? How would you describe the comfort of the shepherd's rod and staff?

Psalm 56:4

In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I am not afraid; what can flesh do to me? (For context, read 56:1-13.)

Psalm 56 describes accurately what it feels like when foes oppress us and "enemies trample on [us] all day long" (v. 2). But it also asserts, "when I am afraid, I put my trust in [God]" (v. 3). The psalm-writer questions whether a "mere mortal" can destroy him, and affirms that trust in God is an antidote to fear (v. 11).

Questions: When have you felt trampled by enemies? How have you experienced faith as an antidote to fear? In what sense is it impossible for mere mortals to destroy us?

Matthew 10:28

Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (For context, read 10:26-33.)

Jesus is more concerned about spiritual death than physical death. He assures his followers that their heavenly Father cares for them, and encourages them to "not be afraid" (v. 31). He challenges them to proclaim his message and to acknowledge him before others. If they do, Jesus promises to acknowledge them "before my Father in heaven" (v. 32).

Questions: Where do you see the threat of spiritual death today? How can you share the message of Jesus and acknowledge him in the world? In what ways, if any, does a shift from body to spirit help you to feel less fear?

John 1:5

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. (For context, read 1:1-5.)

Jesus is the Word of God who was "in the beginning with God" (v. 2). He played a role in the creation of the universe, and created everything including the life that "was the light of all people" (v. 4). This light shines brightly even today, and cannot be overcome by darkness.

Questions: What confidence do you gain from Jesus being part of God's creation of the entire universe? What is the significance of his light being able to conquer darkness? How can you share his light today?

Philippians 4:6-7

Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (For context, read 4:4-9.)

The apostle Paul has suffered persecution as a missionary, but still he rejoices in the Lord. In every circumstance, he recommends giving thanks and lifting requests to God in prayer. He promises that the peace of God will guard our "hearts and minds in Christ Jesus" (v. 7), and recommends that we maintain a focus on positive qualities such as justice, purity and excellence (v. 8).

Questions: Although many Americans are scared about what lies ahead for us, what value do you see in rejoicing in the Lord? How can prayer help us in times of uncertainty and threat? While you remain watchful and aware, how can you focus on positive qualities instead of negative emotions? What is the benefit of doing so?

For Further Discussion

1. When have you reacted in fear to a political, economic and/or spiritual crisis? Did you remain in a state of fear? If not, what helped you reassess the situation?

2. During World War II, loyal and patriotic American citizens were taken from their homes and put in internment camps because they were of Japanese descent. The attack at Pearl Harbor and the political situation prior to that war were much more dire, yet it is still considered a black mark on our history that the internment camps were ever authorized. How does the current situation compare with that of the past? What lesson might we learn from the past that might help us in the present?

3. TWW team member Henry Brinton is friends with a Muslim imam who recently said, "If ISIS is Islam, then I am not a Muslim." How do you understand ISIS to be a perversion of true Islam? What can peace-loving Muslims do about ISIS? What can you do to protest perversions of true Christianity?

4. The author of 1 John asserts that "there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear" (4:18). Where do you see evidence in the world that "perfect love casts out fear"? What can you do to be more loving in situations where you are afraid?

5. Brother Curtis of the Society of St. John the Evangelist suggests that we pray for the conversion of our anxiety. Because, he says, when anxiety is converted, you know what it becomes? It becomes hope. What exactly would it mean for God to "convert our anxiety"? How could hope be a force for good in our world today?

6. A command that appears 67 times throughout the Bible is "Do not be afraid" (for example, Genesis 15:1, Luke 1:30). Why do you think God and his messengers give this command? What would it mean for us to respond to such an order today? How would refusing to be afraid change our lives?

Responding to the News

As you follow news about terrorist threats and listen to presidential candidates offer their proposals, reflect on the ways in which people of faith have responded to uncertainty and danger in the past. Realize that God's people have faced adversity in every era. Trust that God will walk beside you in the darkest valley, and put your time and energy into visible acts of love in your community.

Closing Prayer

God, we live in an uncertain time, with dangers all around us. Convert our anxiety into hope, transform our fear into faith, and help us to be your people in the world. In Jesus' name. Amen.

International Climate Change Convention Opens in Paris

© 2015 The Wired Word

www.thewiredword.com

Beginning this past week, negotiators from 195 countries have gathered in Paris for the United Nations' Convention on Climate Change, working to reach a deal aimed at reducing worldwide carbon emissions with the hope of limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

The gathering is known as COP21 since it is the 21st annual Conference of the Parties (COP) on the U.N.'s annual forum on climate change. Leaders from 147 nations have or will address the meeting.

This international meeting is occurring in a different sort of "climate," one where Americans are divided -- though not equally -- on the cause of global warming and, in some cases, whether global warming is actually occurring.

According to a phone survey of 1,030 adults nationwide conducted on behalf of The New York Times andCBS News, "A majority of Americans -- 53 percent -- think global warming is caused mostly by human activity, while fewer -- 31 percent -- think global warming is caused mostly by natural patterns in the earth's environment. Just 9 percent don't think global warming exists at all. Belief that global warming is caused by human activity has risen 11 points since 2011," says a CBS News report on the poll.

The survey also indicates that political leaning may have some bearing on how the respondents answered. The poll found that 72 percent of Democrats, 52 percent of independents and 32 percent of Republicans believe that human activity is the culprit in global warming. The percentages are approximately the same when respondents were asked whether global warming is having a serious impact at present.

While global warming and causes thereof are reportedly supported by ample scientific evidence and a majority of professional climate scientists, there are known to be scientists, including climatologists, who dissent from that interpretation based upon their analysis of the data. Others disagree based on records of long-term global climate trends and for other reasons, some of which are scientific. Both proponents and opponents bring their own worldviews, ideology and theology to the subject, which no doubt provide their own influences.

To make things more confusing, there are those on both sides of the issue who think that warming could be a good thing for the world.

Finally, attempts on the one hand to stifle opposition voices and on the other hand to ridicule proponents of the main narrative deepen for most of us the problem of perceiving the reality of the situation.

A poll earlier this year, conducted by Gallup, found that about 32 percent of Americans overall are worried about global warming, which is no higher a percentage than when Gallup first asked about it in 1989. Gallup also found that when it comes to environmental worries, more Americans think water and air pollution are greater concerns than global warming.

More on this story can be found at these links:

COP21 Climate Change Summit: 'Never have the stakes been so high.' CNN  

Global Warming and the Paris Climate Change Conference. CBS News 

Why 2 Degrees Are So Important to the Climate. CBS News 

Gallup: Americans' Concerns About Environment Decline. Newsmax 

French Weatherman Fired for Promoting Book Skeptical of Climate Change. The Guardian

Applying the News Story

There is sometimes a difference between the conclusions we draw from a set of facts and the conclusions others draw from the same set of facts. But when it comes to matters of global proportions, few of us are in a position to determine the implication of the facts solely by ourselves. In those cases, it often comes down to what or whom we consider reliable interpreters of those facts, which can include science, respected individuals, ideology, personal values, history, understandings about God and even majority opinion.

As stated in the introduction to this lesson, in technical terms, we are talking about epistemology, which is typically defined as "the investigation of what distinguishes justified belief from opinion." And the fact is that neither gullibility nor hyper-skepticism makes us better followers of Jesus.

The Big Questions

1. In matters of global importance, such as climate change, on what groups of people or fields of inquiry do you rely for determining the meaning of the facts? Do you rely mainly on a single source of information or do you read/watch/listen to several competing sources of information? Why?

2. Regarding such matters, in what ways can skepticism help us? In what ways is it detrimental?

3. For his satirical TV show, The Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert coined the word "truthiness" to mean the means by which a person claims to know something instinctively or "from the gut" without regard to facts. Where do you see "truthiness" at work in society today? What are its dangers? When has your gut feeling helped you? When has it betrayed you?

4. Do you find it easier to believe conclusions which cannot be proven beyond all doubt when they are supported by people who have values similar to yours? What are the pros and cons of such an approach?

5. Are we always better off to know the implications of circumstances that affect us? If yes, why? If no, give an example of when it is better not to know.

Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope

Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion:

John 9:16

Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?" And they were divided. (For context, read 9:13-17.)

This is from the account of Jesus giving sight to the man who had been born blind. The healing causes the Pharisees to divide in their opinion about Jesus, as the verse above shows. Both conclusions -- 1) that Jesus "is not from God" and 2) that perhaps he is not a sinner because he is able to "perform such signs" -- are based on the same set of facts: that the blind man can now see and Jesus was the channel through whom the man's eyes were healed.

It's not that those holding the first opinion are evil and those holding the second opinion are good. Rather it is that something in their mindset, worldview, biases and reasoning process brought them out at different conclusions from the same set of facts.

Questions: What might it mean to invite Christ into your mindset, worldview, biases and reasoning process? How do you transcend the viewpoint you've developed as a member of a club, church, profession, state, political party or nation to get to the truth?

Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. (No context necessary.)

Many Christians have no trouble with being told to trust God, as the first part of the verse above does, but the second part bothers some. We tend to think quite a bit of our own insight. We value our ability to think. So we may not like being told not to rely on our own insight.

But when read as one piece, the verse can be understood to say, "Don't rely on your own insight in place of trusting God." It is not telling us not to think, but it is telling us start with trusting God.

Questions: If God is the source of all truth, how might trusting him affect our ability to determine the meaning of climate change? Which tools for biblical interpretation provide you guidance in understanding the word of the Lord about subjects that may not be directly addressed by scripture?

John 8:31-32

Then Jesus said …, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." (For context, read 8:31-38.)

With these words, Jesus ties following him to truth, and that makes it important for Christians to care about truth. Clear thinking happens best when we have truth as the basis.

The truth Jesus was speaking about here was the truth of the gospel, the truth of his word. But caring about the truth should also apply to the accuracy of information we work with in forming opinions.

Questions: What degree of certainty is necessary when the information at hand seems to demand prompt action for the good of all? How do we reach beyond bias in determining what to believe and whether to act? How do official denominational or congregational stances on climate change affect your thinking about that matter?

Matthew 16:2-3 

[Jesus] answered them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' And in the morning, 'It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. (For context, read 16:1-4.)

Jesus is here responding to some Pharisees and Sadducees who have asked him for "a sign from heaven" (v. 1), some event to authenticate his message. His answer is that the Jewish leaders know how to interpret the sky regarding upcoming weather, but not the only sign that will be given them, by which he probably meant his death and resurrection. They fail to interpret "the signs of the times," Jesus himself.

This lack of ability to interpret the sign that was Jesus himself was not a matter of intellectual acumen, but a matter of faith. In this case, these leaders didn't have the faith, which probably explains why, in verse 4, Jesus broke off the conversation and "left them."

Obviously, because Jesus was talking about himself as the sign of the times, these verses do not directly apply to reading the signs of climate change. Nonetheless, there is the suggestion here that misreading those signs can have unwelcome consequences.

Regarding reading the signs of our times, TWW team member Liz Antonson comments, "The world, including the Christian community, is going about the business of life, the activities of life, with a strange detachment from the erosion of moral and spiritual values and practices, as well as the erosion/destruction of the physical world." She also suggests that these verses are a good way to address the similarities between Jesus' times and ours "of decadence, nonchalance and non-Kingdom of God quests."

Questions: What prior decisions might have affected the ability of these leaders in Jesus' day to interpret the signs of their times correctly? What do you interpret as "signs of the times"? What do you think the signs of the times are pointing to? What part do natural phenomena and global weather trends play in your understanding of who God is and what he expects of you?

Malachi 3:2-3

But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness. (For context, read 3:1-4.)

These verses speak of the refining fire used for metallurgy as a way of revealing the precious metal in us.

Question: What refining fire -- skepticism, research, prayer, etc. -- do you use to determine the truth of matters of global concern?

For Further Discussion

1. Respond to this, from TWW team member Mary Sells: "I find it somewhat ludicrous that we see and accept in some ways our role and the outcomes of our bad behavior that corrupts God's perfect creation of us, such as cancers caused by chemical exposure or genetic modifications to foods, oil spills that kill sea life and alter the balance of that ecosystem, nuclear power plant incidents that cause death, mutation and illnesses -- and yet, when we consider global warming and rising seas, we have this we say/they say dialogue as if it is opinion on whether our bad treatment of the environment is without consequence. Where indeed is the truth?

2. In the Bible, weather events are often interpreted as the direct activity of God (see, for example, 1 Samuel 12:16-18). Do you understand long-term climate change to be the activity of God, the result of human activity, neither or both? Why?

3. One TWW consultant offers an opposing view to the main narrative about global warming. He was careful to tell us that since he works for a Department of Energy lab, this represents his own views and not those of the Department of Energy or of Sandia Corporation or Sandia National Labs. TWW's quoting of his views are to promote discussion and imply neither support of nor opposition to them. Our consultant writes: 

     "I am a physicist; my main work is in computer simulation and atmospheric propagation. My experience relates to the warming controversy since 1) the 'greenhouse effect' is a result of atmospheric propagation, and 2) computer climate models are the main tool kit of anthropogenic global warming (AGW) contentions. I first became aware of AGW theories about 25 years ago, and found them interesting, since they were at odds with the 'oncoming ice age' fears then in vogue. Of special interest, they made relatively short-time period predictions, which meant they could be checked.

     "Long story short: The predictions didn't pan out. Almost all failed: The temperatures didn't warm, the Arctic and Antarctic ice caps didn't melt (in some cases, they expanded), hurricane and storm activity didn't increase (we're actually in a lull), etc. Contrary evidence and explanations were derided with straw men or /ad hominem/s. In addition, power struggles arose, with people being forced to support the theory or harm their jobs or careers. That's not science. Even worse, data tampering began to occur, always disguised as 'corrections,' but also always designed to make the values conform better to AGW theory. Finally, politicians and bureaucrats took charge: to their own benefit, of course, but real science fell by the wayside."

4. The following offerings concern the question of how one can discern what is actually happening:

a. Author Milan Kundera, in his acclaimed novel Immortality, notes that his grandmother, who lived in a small village, couldn't be deceived by propaganda or false news reports: No one could tell her that agriculture was thriving when she could see starving people every day. On the other hand, the city dweller could be told almost anything about general conditions and would believe it, since those conditions were outside his immediate experience. Most of us, in most cases, are more like the city dweller: We don't have immediate access to information, and are dependent upon data -- or, more often, conclusions -- given us be intermediaries. How do you check the views and conclusions you are presented? How can you? How much of your time should be devoted to doing so? If you don't double-check, are your own opinions valid?

b. "When the newspaper reports on something I know about, I find it often is wildly inaccurate. I'm just glad that it's accurate when reporting on things I don't know about." Variations on this quip have been attributed to many, but the irony is without dispute. How accurate have you found news reports to be when on an event or topic you are familiar with? How does that compare your belief to the accuracy of reporters in areas you are not familiar with?

c. The police blotter effect. By selecting which stories to report, a false impression of dangers can be created. For example, although violent crimes have declined steadily for the past 20 years, many people believe that violent crime is at an all-time high. What can you do to help yourself and others have a more accurate view?

Responding to the News

This is a good time to consider whether our arguments about the meaning of climate change are based on good science, faulty science or something else. This is also a good time to ask God to help us interpret, as clearly and without bias as we can, the signs of our times.

Closing Prayer

Help us, O Lord, to be good stewards of the earth, and read correctly the signs of our times. In Jesus' name. Amen.