Why you care about not caring about global warming (pt. 1)…
March 10th, 2007
Warning: long post. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. I do think this will be worth your time, however.
Brent Steeno has been crying out in the wilderness of his web journal about global warming. I think some have missed the point of what he is doing. Global warming is the hot button issue of the hour, but I am convinced that the issue itself is a non-issue - and that the numbers and facts presented by its proponents are but mere tools unto a desired end. The closest example to illustrate what I feel is not just wrong, and not just dishonest, but actually dangerous - that I can think of - is the AIDS “epidemic” of the 90’s.
The word “epidemic” is in quotes because of the complete unreality of attributing such a word to the disease. The statistical grounds to make such a claim were completely unfounded. In fact, by 2005, according to the Center for Disease Control, the total number of AIDS/HIV cases in the United States totaled 988,376. With the U.S. population at that time at about 296.5 million, we would be talking about less than 1% of the population. In 2005, more people died of the flu. More people died from diabetes. 15 times more people in the U.S. died of heart disease than contracted AIDS/HIV that year. I don’t remember reading about a flu epidemic two years ago, do you?
Hold steady, I have more numbers. About 765,000 of those cases involved males; 183,000 of those cases involved females; and roughly 9,000 of those cases involved children. Thus, about 80% of all AIDS/HIV cases involve males. Of those, 454,000 involved male to male sexual contact. 170,000 cases involved drug use. Another 66,000 cases involved both homosexual activity and drug use. These statistics are stunning to me - if you are a drug-free heterosexual, you have virtually no chance of contracting AIDS/HIV. In 2005, the “other” category - the number of people that contracted AIDS/HIV outside of drug use or sexual interaction - was 540 people. 540. So, if you add “abstinence” or “marriage” to being drug-free and heterosexual, you have better odds of drowning than contracting AIDS/HIV. Yet, for years we heard about the AIDS epidemic. Still no word on the drowning epidemic yet.
The idea that anyone at anytime could contract AIDS, that it was not just a “gay disease”, was a popular one in the 1990’s. This was said so often many assumed it must be true. Few actually checked the actual statistics to see if there was indeed a problem that needed more attention. A small number of activists just…well…said that there was an epidemic. Loudly. To the media. Often. A movie star dies quietly. A famous pro athlete contracts it. Suddenly, the rhetoric (and a selective presentation of the facts) kicks into a new gear, and the idea that AIDS/HIV is an epidemic takes hold of the American psyche. Movie stars and important people wear ribbons. It becomes the cause of the moment, and it feels good to take a stand for unknown friends that are passing away in shame. Movies are produced (Philadelphia), Broadway plays are performed (Rent), and HBO specials sign headline actors to get the message out there (And the Band Played On). Where are the activists today? Has AIDS/HIV been conquered in our time? Did they achieve victory? Have they funded a cure? Or is there still an epidemic?
There is a phrase that haunts me when I think about the agenda that presses people to push ideas that they patently know to be untrue. It’s the Latin phrase, cui bono. Who profits? What advantage is gained?
In the case of AIDS/HIV, the primary issue was funding related to finding a cure. When less than 1% of the population has contracted a disease, and the vast majority of that 1% are homosexuals, drug abusers, and homosexual drug abusers, how does one commission doctors to spend time, energy, and resource to work towards conquering the disease? In the Hollywood and Broadway communities in particular, there was an uncomfortable number of friends and loved ones contracting this disease. People that had influence and a measure of power over what the masses cared about wanted the masses to care about their friends. I appreciate that. That they had to trumpet facts selectively and carefully, and often times blatantly untruthfully could easily be justified by the cause itself - “doing good” would trump the little half-truths and white lies that swayed public opinion and influenced the flow of real dollars to real doctors.
Secondarily, and more insidiously, is the itch of the soul that is scratched by doing good. Who profits? The one whose life needs more meaning than entertainment. The one who longs to do good and help their fellow man. The one who wants to feel like all of the trouble, all of the discomfort, and all of the pain and loneliness that comes with fame actually means something, somehow, someday. The cost of fame and power is great, and weighs heavily. The threat of vanity, meaninglessness, and emptiness gnaw and tug at the heart of the one who has given up much to gain the whole world. Is it possible to gain the whole world AND keep your soul a the same time? Well, one could actually trade on their fame and power to make some kind of difference - and wouldn’t that make everything - all the sleepless nights, the disrupted, abnormal life, the maladjusted children, the addictions and the fear - really, wouldn’t it make everything worth it in the end if that fame and power made a difference in just one life?
The vanity. The emptiness. The meaninglessness. One can solve the pain and ache that burns within the hidden places of the soul with but one word - repentance. Jesus - the name that instantly transforms a life from meaningless and empty to meaningful and full of real impact. I would have no problem with a believer that fought night and day to bring aid to AIDS victims, homosexual or otherwise. Acts of mercy done in the name of Jesus have much meaning. There really is an AIDS epidemic, a grave crisis, in Africa - and there has been for years (you never hear about it, however). A believer who spends their life serving orphans with AIDS in Africa is living a life well lived before God, and will find much reward in the kingdom at the return of Jesus. Even a cup of cold water given in His name finds its reward.
You wouldn’t have to trump up the facts. You could take on AIDS honestly, and give yourself to a passionate outreach to homosexuals in the name of Jesus. You could rally other believers to the cause that has stirred your heart. Your labors would have eternal impact. They would not be in vain.
Who profits? The one who wants the whole world and keep their soul in the bargain. The one who wants to soothe their aching conscience by finding a way to make an impact without involving Jesus. The one who wants to assign meaning to their life and depth to their name on their terms. Who profits? The one who can make a difference without repentance, without any changes in their lifestyle or sensibilities, without any need to confess Jesus as Lord. The honor and the esteem of men then provide a deceptive and seductive reward for the heart in this life.
It’s tragic.
Part 2 coming soon - I’ll connect this analogy to the current mania over global warming, though I am sure you can anticipate where I am going. Two pre-post thoughts to satiate your curiosity:
1. Christians should be the world’s leading environmentalists.
2. Environmentalism without Jesus is dangerous, demonic, and destructive. In our day you can now add “deceptive” and you have the full preview of where I am going with this….cui bono…
David
Entry Filed under: current events, end times, global warming
37 Comments Add your own
1. The World as I Know It&hellip | March 10th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
[…] or read my blog please read this article on the subject of Global Warming by my good friend Dave Sliker. It is well written and is the very reason that I do what I do. Thank you Dave. Thank you. […]
2. Brent Steeno | March 10th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
Amen. Amen. Amen. Finally someone who understands my point. I have waited weeks for this post. Amen. Amen. Amen.
Those stats are great! I love when the truth is brought into the light.
3. Sean | March 10th, 2007 at 10:47 pm
Here is a url that you can send to friends and family that will direct them to the video “The Great Global Warming Swindle”.
http://gorelied.notlong.com
For more information on the documentary you can go here.
http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/G/great_global_warming_swindle/index.html
4. Kristen | March 10th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
Great post Dave- you made me nervous for a minute. but by the end I was grinning. So typical.
I would just like to add that the conversation about AIDS, specifically Africa, is noticibly absent from our community (not IHOP in particular, but the church in general). I was just reading that out of the 3 million deaths from AIDS in 2005, 600,000 were children. It’s staggering. Surely there is a place for intercession for these ones.
5. Brent Steeno | March 11th, 2007 at 7:09 am
Here is an interesting slant on the AIDS issue and Africa. I think we are praying for it by asking God to break in with revival. AIDS is an issue of immorality that is affecting an entire generation of children that did not do anything to make this happen.
6. Cathy | March 11th, 2007 at 8:47 am
An interesting point that Dean told me was that at one point Billy Crystal didn’t want to wear an AIDS ribbon while hosting the Academy Awards, and apparently he was given quite a hard time about it.
I like this quote from the March 31, 1993 edition of the NY Times (of all places):
“Poor Billy Crystal. Swamped by self-righteous sentiments, gazing into a sea of red AIDS ribbons (now so obligatory at Hollywood functions that their size, position and glitter content have become fashion statements) and lavender ones (protesting urban violence), fielding preachy political asides from various Oscar presenters and recipients, Mr. Crystal had precious little to joke about this year.”
Hollywood became so consumed about the “AIDS epidemic” that you were an outcast if you didn’t support it (hence the Seinfeld episode where Kramer refuses to wear the ribbon while running for the cause). It also became a fashion statement - ribbons of all kinds, big, small, some with glitter - so ridiculous!
I’m awaiting the first “Global Warming” telethon or concert - they can’t be far behind. In fact, I think I’ll plan to spend those exact hours in prayer, interceding for God to break through on real issues like abortion.
7. Ian Barker | March 11th, 2007 at 1:33 pm
There is a GW concert planned for this summer. Don’t know when or where.
Where I grow confused in discussing a topic like AIDS is what do we do with someone like Bono who is working tirelessly to draw attention to the AIDS crisis in Africa. I personally believe that he is a believer, but he comes close to having a humanisitic attitude when he talks about the subject. I get confused because as Christians, we should be devoting energy towards it in prayer and in activism.
At the end of the day, I don’t know what to say because we are supposed to preach the gospel and pray for revival, but is what Bono is doing wrong?
This is not really on GW, but this post is more than about GW either.
Great stuff Dave.
8. Cathy | March 11th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
I don’t think the question is, “is what Bono is doing wrong?”. I think perhaps it should be - “is Bono also preaching the gospel, interceding and praying for revival?”
Like you said - he comes close to having a humanistic attitude. (I’d personally say he does have one.) If what he’s doing is not leading people to Jesus, but instead is encouraging this “we can fix this ourselves” attitude that keeps Jesus out of the equation, then, in my books, there’s something definitely wrong.
9. Kyle | March 12th, 2007 at 12:45 am
I agree that I’ve missed the point in what he’s doing, because I haven’t heard him make any of the points you illustrate above in his own blog posts. Maybe he made all those points before I started reading - but my understanding is now satiated.
Let me restate the point I think you’re making: Brent doesn’t care whether or not Global Warming is happening or not - he just thinks that Hollywood is lame for making such a big deal of it.
He’s not attacking the ‘fact or fiction’ of global warming itself - but instead he’s lamenting a pop-culture mentality that jumps from one issue to another for the sake of itself.
Is that accurate?
10. John Cross | March 12th, 2007 at 6:38 am
I think that, based on the comments above, I can see where David is going with this. Of course I am still looking forward to seeing your second part to this David.
I would tend to agree with Kyle’s comments on the “pop-culture mentality” that jumps from issue to issue. My main concern is truth and especially truth in science.
While we can discuss responsibilities and how to fight against global warming or even if we need to, what we can not work from is faulty information.
Take the link to Channel 4 that Sean put in comment 3 (on the Global warming swindle). Looking at the scientific content, there is no doubt that it wrong in places. For example under the section on “the arguments” they have the following:
… then scientists predict that the troposphere (the layer of the earth’s atmosphere roughly 10-15km above us) should heat up faster than the surface of the planet, but data collected from satellites and weather balloons doesn’t seem to support this.
Now a bit of research shows that the Troposphere is actually the region from the ground to about 10 - 15 km. And that area is warming as expected. The region they are talking about is the stratosphere which is experiencing cooling (as predicted by the global warming theory). So in fact while they have not understood the terminology the knowledge they present actually is supporting global warming.
Whatever your views about global warming and what to do about it, they can not be served by refering to lies.
John
11. David | March 12th, 2007 at 8:07 am
Kristen - You un-lurked! I can’t tell you how blessed I am. That’s twice in one month I’ve drawn you out! I’m pretty much going to secretly dedicate all future posts to you if you keep this up - as in imagining, “Hmmm, what is Kristin interested in today?”
I agree, by the way, there is a true epidemic in Africa that few seem to truly care about.
Ian - In that, I think that Bono has become a stunning politician who knows how to talk to world leaders and self-interested power brokers to stir them into action that has little political reward (outside of young voters seeing you with Bono).
The problem with having to play the political game to get political results is that you have to make little compromises to get any kind of results from that arena. Bono’s compromises are probably ones that, in his mind, are worth making to get people to act.
We’ve chosen the foolish things and the weak things to bring change (as Kristen said) and thus I doubt we would actually find much common ground with men like Bono, who might be frustrated with the numbers we gather compared to the actual things we accomplish outwardly in terms of activism.
12. David | March 12th, 2007 at 8:08 am
Kyle - define pop culture mentality. I think we are on the same page, but I don’t know if that term does justice to the evil that is fueling what I am seeing.
John - point taken. I appreciate truth and any clarifications to that regard are helpful.
13. Cathy | March 12th, 2007 at 8:52 am
Non-IHOPers don’t rate a response, Mr. Sliker?
I thought for sure I’d rile feathers with my ‘Bono is a humanist ‘ attitude! hahaha….
14. Rebekah | March 12th, 2007 at 8:57 am
296.5 million? That is 20-30 million off from the U.S. Census (depending on which part of the nineties you’re referring to). Currently we are at around 301 million (give or take a few hundred thousand). I never believe statistics anyway.
I liked this post Dave. I read it the whole way through - and some parts twice.
Peace.
15. tomcole | March 12th, 2007 at 9:35 am
I was deeply involved in the gay community at the onset of the AIDS “epidemic” of the late 70’s and 80’s. Anyone entrenched in that community saw it as a plague. I lost many good friends to the disease. It was and is a wasting disease that anyone with a bone of compassion should weep over. To watch anyone waste away and suffer in that manner is heart-breaking. It really doesn’t matter how someone contracted the disease, the Church needed to (and failed to a greater degree) to respond with a heart of compassion. Such a loss.
After coming to the Lord in late ‘86 I was able to minister to many who eventually succumbed to the disease. Many of those we ministered to hated us at first. As they saw our love and concern they eventually embraced us. The vast majority were rejected by their loved ones and ended up suffering and dying alone. We saw many of these young men give their lives to Christ at the end of their lives.
It’s a reality that we can read tone of voice in email and discussions like this one that isn’t there, but it can often have a condescending and judgmental tone. Please hear me, I am not attributing that to anyone here. However, I read discussions like this from a seeker’s point of view and I can’t help but think that someone struggling with homosexuality, or suffering from AIDS would feel slightly unwelcome to the discussion. Maybe there is no one here like that in the discussion, but what if? Please know I love all of you. And if I’m off base, please tell me.
16. David | March 12th, 2007 at 11:05 am
Cathy - since I said that about Bono publically many times over the last few weeks of my End Times class, I wasn’t too shocked. This probably isn’t the camp that gets thrown off by those kinds of statements, though a few in the Intro to IHOP group were unsettled.
Tom - this was a necessary check, my friend. I love that you read things from the perspective of a seeker. I don’t think that you are off base at all.
I wrote the final paragraphs with the same thoughts, hoping that I would not, in my clinical observations, be guilty of horrible “bedside manner” in the communication of the problem.
I ALWAYS want to grow in excellence in the area of sensitivity and excellence in communication and welcome any perspectives that counsel tenderness. Thanks much.
17. David | March 12th, 2007 at 11:07 am
Rebekah - I used the statistics from 2005 as they were the easiest to gather and correlate between the various streams to make my point. There isn’t comprehensive data yet for AIDS/HIV statistics from 2006 yet from an objective source that I could find outside of the CDC, though the 2006 census is avaliable to study. You are correct - we’ve hit the 300 million point.
18. David | March 12th, 2007 at 11:10 am
Tom - at the end of the day, there are about 1 million people that have contracted AIDS/HIV in the U.S. There are millions more in Africa that need Jesus and need help. That matters, beyond the scope of this discussion. These are real people, not causes. So I want to affirm that in the spirit of your comment - those who are hurting and suffering matter to God - they are important to Him.
19. Ian Barker | March 12th, 2007 at 11:22 am
I certainly see nothing wrong with saying that Bono is operating in a spirit of humanism. I just struggle to see how you can jump into the political arena and promote Christ while getting government to fight the AIDS crisis in Africa. I really like Bono. I just wish that he had a strong voice in his life to help him walk out his faith.
20. tomcole | March 12th, 2007 at 11:42 am
I don’t see any difference with Bono jumping into the political arena to end AIDS in Africa and William Wilberforce doing the same to end slavery in England. Would we call Wilberforce a humanist?
21. David | March 12th, 2007 at 11:45 am
That’s amazing - I was actually thinking about the Wilberforce illustration and Bono this morning.
There are actually many similarities which give me hope that things will turn out okay for Bono. The difference is, however, that Wilberforce wasn’t looking to unify all religions to rally people to his cause.
That difference is kind of a stickler, in the end.
22. Ian Barker | March 12th, 2007 at 11:56 am
Yes, he does have a habit of doing that.
I hope and pray that he understands that he is stepping on pretty shaky ground when he says the things that he does.
23. Cathy | March 12th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
Ah, I miss so much by not being able to sit in your class!
24. Brent Steeno | March 12th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
Kyle,
Your sort of right. I still disagree GREATLY with the idea that global warming is happening and that it is man made.
I have made some of the points sliker has made in the past. Just not as clearly. Im still learning how to become a better writer.
25. Josh Motlong | March 12th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Dave, that was a fascinatingly good post.
26. Blast You « This is&hellip | March 12th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
[…] been reading Dave’s fabulous poston global warming (and now the HIV/AIDS epidemic), I de-lurked myself to make a comment. So I went […]
27. bretmavrich | March 12th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
Dave–
That was remarkably clear. Regardless of the issue–HIV, Global Warming– the movement of the human heart in false urgency is the real issue, the real epidemic. When Hollywood and Government mingle, private agendas are converted into wholesale public sentiment, and few are asking . I eagerly await part two.
28. anita hensley | March 12th, 2007 at 8:40 pm
i think that a wordcast could be written about christian “pop-culture mentality” that jumps on a band wagon just to stand against something that the “left” is doing without taking time to examine if they are aligning themselves up with biblical values. say standing against global warming for the sake of hating Al Gore or the freedom to consume as we please.
b.t.w. yes, many people have died of AIDS and it is a tragedy, and over 1 BILLION babies have been aborted worldwide since 1980. (alan guttmacher institute stats) and the outcry in the christian community is fading…
29. David | March 13th, 2007 at 7:51 am
Anita - I agree; the issues themselves should be the issue and not the personalities behind them. Kristen just posted a really good thought related to that concept. If one stands “against” global warming on the basis of their opinion of Al Gore than they would indeed be irresponsible. If they stand against global warming as an apologetic for personal comfort than they are gravely missing the point.
For me the personalities matter not because I hold allegiance to a political party but because I study the scriptures with intensity related to the end of the age and where history is going.
I disagree that the outcry over abortion in the Christian community over abortion is fading, but I would say that the issue of justice runs deeper in regards to the grave unrighteousness that is prevailing throughout society for the widow, the orphan, and the oppressed.
30. tomcole | March 13th, 2007 at 7:54 am
I’m not really saying that Bono is “the” modern day Wilberforce; only history will tell that story, but the belief that we can’t use political means to further causes on God’s heart is frustrating to me. In fact, the current issue of Christianity Today’s cover story is on how Christianity is modern day slavery’s worst nightmare. We are using the systems in place, and very often through political means to end horrifying abuses of the human soul.
Daniel comes to mind as one who worked within a corrupt political system to further God’s purposes. Esther, Nehemiah, Joseph and many others worked within the systems of this world to accomplish God’s will. Just some thoughts!
31. David | March 13th, 2007 at 8:03 am
Tom - I agree with you 100%. In fact, I think we need to be praying for true Daniels and Josephs to emerge at the end of the age. I would go so far as to say I think that these types of leaders emerging out of the end-time church is what emboldens wicked kings to resist the Antichrist for a time.
Again, if Bono wasn’t driving the “coexist” ship than I would be one his biggest proponents. The New York Times, by the way, ran a similar article related to slavery and human trafficking.
32. Shawn Blanc | March 13th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
Poor Brent. You called is blog a wilderness. And I am looking forward to your second point in your next post.
33. David | March 13th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
hahaha - I didn’t even think about that. I was thinking more in terms of how folks have been grumbling to him that he needs to change topics.
34. Matthew Smith | March 20th, 2007 at 6:32 am
hi, I am not a current member of IHOP, though I have visited the Prayer Room and spent a weekend in Kansas City during the Signs and Wonders conference. I just wanted to remark briefly on this whole debate about Bono…
the parable of the rich man and lazarus comes to mind when thinking about the epidemic of AIDS in Africa. I don’t think we should ever forget, no matter how faithful we believe ourselves to be to Christ, that we are the wealthy, and they are the utterly poor. on our best days we are blessed. all of us will be judged one day for how we did or didn’t respond to this and many other crisis. it seems to me that Bono has found one way (and one that is very effective) to find this complex demonic problem. not all demons can be cast out with a mere rebuke. there are complex demonic systems and principalities that require complex courses of action. Dr. Lance Walnau says that not all are called to lay hands on the sick and see them healed, but some are called “to cast out demons of a more complex nature”. I believe Bono is doing that…yes, he must use rhetoric with wicked politicians and leaders to work on his behalf. Bono isn’t Paul. Bono is Bono. it seems clear that he is fulfilling God’s mission and purpose in this generation. he is a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. whether or not he dabbled in thoughts of self-righteousness or “humanism” is irrelevant. the fact is that he is doing SOMETHING to cast out this very complex demon.
35. Matthew Smith | March 20th, 2007 at 6:40 am
“on our best days we are blessed” should read “on our WORST days we are blessed”.
I am not saying it is bad to be blessed! God doesn’t want ANYONE to be poor or sick…which is why Africa is such a tragedy…yet at times I find myself a bit envious of the reports coming from Mozambique and Uganda where revival takes place. Heidi Baker says that the Church in Africa is so much happier than the Church in America! that’s a sobering thought.
36. David | March 20th, 2007 at 6:40 am
Matthew -
I couldn’t disagree with you more vehemently on that point. The rhetoric of “coexist” and the dabbling in the thoughts of humanism do matter - the end does not justify the means in the word (or the ways) of God. In fact, the most wicked of sin is not “inactivity” but much activity in your own name - Jesus called this an abomination in Luke 16:15.
37. My Obnoxious Thoughts on &hellip | March 22nd, 2007 at 7:10 pm
[…] March 22nd, 2007 · No Comments OK, I can’t stand it anymore, all this blogging about global warming! [See the following blogs for some additional perspectives: Mont-ster Report, Steeno, Sliker ] […]
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