Faith Leaders "Shakedown" Wealthy Nations Over Climate Change

"Climate" change is not really just about the weather. 

This weekend more than 40 bishops, priests, ministers, and pastors formally called for "urgent and ambitious action to deliver justice for the most vulnerable people and communities."

What "justice" means to these faith leaders is the forced transfer of billions and billions of dollars to third world countries, from more wealthy countries.

Is this a biblical act of charity, an attempt to rid our "public servants" of some kind of guilt, or a misguided attempt to do the right thing?

Or is there something else at work in our rush to fix the world's weather?

Be informed, not misled.

The shakedown. 

The more than 40 faith leaders are an example of what religious diversity can produce. Their declaration claims:

"Time is running out" and "members of the global faith community, led by our sisters and  brothers from the Global South, call for urgent and ambitious action to deliver justice for the most vulnerable people and communities."

The focus of the document of the "global faith community" is not so much adaptation to gradual effects of warming or even actions geared toward slowing down the rise of atmospheric temperatures but rather a commitment to funnel money to developing nations in the global south.

The justice being called for is essentially $1 billion annually from each wealthy nation.

"The current text [of the COP26 meeting] not only fails to deliver a separate mechanism to deliver action on Loss and Damage, it also does not provide any realistic path to new finance the faith leaders insist, while repeating the mantra that 'time is running out'."

Breitbart News tweeted  "Climate activists demanded an end to capitalism, 'black liberation' and the abolition of police at a COP demonstration in Glasgow."

Climate activists demanded an end to capitalism, "black liberation" and the abolition of police at a COP26 demonstration in Glasgow. https://t.co/kmlzWeKxBy

— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) November 7, 2021

The document declares, "The texts on finance fail to provide confidence that the overdue pledge of $100 billion a year in support for poorer countries will be delivered."

"The current text does not address the fact that most public finance comes in loans, which are adding to the burden of debt for climate--vulnerable countries, nor the challenges on access," the leaders say.

The signers also demand that richer governments deliver "the $100 billion promised for 2020 and every year up to 2025."

And: "This must be a 50/50 split between mitigation and adaptation, must be in the form of grants not loans, and address access issues so the finance reaches those who need it most," they specify.

The text also declares, "World leaders must now step up and deliver a clear, actionable text that strengthens previous agreements and puts those living on the front line of the climate crisis at its heart."

Speaking of the heart:

From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.

This group of faith leaders are diverse and either misguided or purposefully trying to mislead the "wealthy nations" by "guilting" them into enriching corrupt leadership in most of the world's poorest nations.

I have personally spent a good deal of time in these countries, with the people; preaching the gospel,  helping to start churches, building Christian schools, several medical centers, and a Teen Challenge Center in Saigon. To a one, trusted Christian leaders who live under the veil of corrupt leadership will tell you this money will not go to the people. Or so-called "climate crisis."

The signers on this demand letter are listed here. 

Among the 40 signers are the Acting General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, the General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, the Secretary of the World Evangelical Alliance, the Head of Global Advocacy of Islamic Relief Worldwide---the list continues, but you get the idea of who is really pushing this shakedown.

Only God knows what is in the hearts of those who are demanding hundreds of billions of dollars be given to corrupt leaders in the deepest poverty-stricken countries of the world---under the guise of "climate crisis."  But I can tell you, they are either profoundly uninformed or blinded by their own sense of guilt. Or ambition. The billions of dollars being demanded will neither change the weather nor help suffering people.

Enforced charity, is not charity---it's taxation.

Charity is personal and we should keep it that way.

Freedom is an innate desire that God has put in the hearts and minds of all mankind. Charity is also a virtue implanted in the heart of humanity.

Generous people love to give because they have experienced the Truth about giving. In Acts 20:35 Paul quotes Jesus: "It's more blessed to give than to receive."

So-called "progressive", socialist governments take the right to give--- to be charitable, out of the hands of the individual, putting it in the hands of the government.

All welfare policies are "charities" forced upon people by politicians. I'm not suggesting that there is no place in government for a safety net to help people get through difficult times, but that idea was blown up by FDR and LBJ as they created a political and social culture of dependence under the guise of compassion and charity. Their policies were neither.

People who are being forced by government to perform "charity" do not even get the satisfaction of having helped fellow human beings in need, and the recipients don't feel grateful because politicians and activists have convinced them that welfare is a government-given right, not a charitable gift.

This is why Paul in Acts 20:35 quoted Jesus, saying, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Charity is personal and it should be kept that way. Government-run welfare is nothing more than a forced redistribution of wealth.

What did Jesus actually say about wealth redistribution?

During His ministry Jesus spoke often about the poor. In Matthew 25:34-35, He said: "I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me , I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me."

Jesus said, "When you have a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind" (Luke 14:13). 

The "progressive left" has taken the Words of Jesus and twisted them to be a mandate for government policy.

The "rich young ruler" asked Jesus how to have eternal life. After giving his list of good deeds, Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell everything and give it to the poor and he would have treasure in heaven. The young man couldn't do it.

Another man--Zacchaeus, a crooked tax collector. had a different experience. Promising the Lord he would give half of all his possessions to the poor, and if "I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much."

Jesus responded, "Today salvation has come to this house."

If we evaluate these and other events in the life of Jesus we find that there is never a hint that third parties or the state should forcibly redistribute the rich man's wealth.

In fact on one occasion when Jesus was presented with an opportunity to work an equal distribution of wealth, he quickly declined. In Luke 12:13-15, someone in the crowd calls out "Teacher tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." Jesus carefully guides the conversation telling the person in the crowd to guard against greed.

There is nowhere in Scripture where Jesus even hints that He affirms the redistribution of wealth in any circumstance, including for the purpose of forced charity.

Charity is personal between a person and God, and God promises that "where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. So lay up treasures in things that have eternal consequence" (Matt 6:21). 

And the government should stay out of the matter.

Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Engaged. Be Vigilant. Be Prayerful.