About Us Quarterly Magazine Foreword: Western Guilt
Foreword: Western Guilt Print E-mail
Saturday, 16 January 2010 12:17
By Rick Postma

Global warming is a topic which often leads to heated debate. Is the world truly warming up? If so, is it due to carbon dioxide emissions or are we just experiencing ‘normal’ climate cycles? Even those of us not too interested in following the latest political drama, can’t help but notice that policy decisions being contemplated on the national level as well as the international level will very likely have a large impact on our lives. Decisions made in remote places could result in entire industries being drastically curtailed or even completely eliminated – especially those industries which are notorious for high carbon emissions.

How does global warming relate to Word & Deed? While the Kyoto Accord had an undercurrent of financial transfer from the first to the third world, the imminent Copenhagan Accord makes no bones about it – trillions of dollars in wealth will be transferred from the first to the third world to repay “climate debt”. Since first world nations are presumed guilty for causing global warming, they can expect their feet to be held to the fire while the poorer nations (including China and India), innocent victims of first world grandiose lifestyles, will not. Has the first world been guilty of exploitation in the past? Certainly. Do we have a responsibility to assist developing world nations in overcoming their problems? Yes. However, the question is not about whether we need assist the developing world, but how. Gutting the first world to send trillions of dollars to the developing world is a recipe for disaster – for both parties.

What is really happening here? I believe there are many in the western world who feel guilty about having a relatively good life in the west. Having cast off their Christian moorings, they have nowhere to go with their guilt leaving them (and us) disarmed in front of every enemy. Many are willing to sacrifice their nations to get rid of the guilt. How else to explain the many well educated people, including professors, who applaud the latest rise of militant Islam and who welcome the massive transfers of wealth to nations where tyrants are in power?

German philosopher Jurgen Habermas, not usually known as a Christian sympathizer, has this to say, “Christianity, and nothing else, is the ultimate foundation of liberty, conscience, human rights, and democracy, the benchmarks of Western civilization. To this day, we have no other options [than Christianity]. We continue to nourish ourselves from this source. Everything else is postmodern chatter."

Christianity offers a wonderful solution for guilt. Sin is first and foremost against God and then against our neighbor. The Lord Jesus Christ came to die for sinners and out of thankfulness, believers are called to love God and their neighbor. Neighbors including HIV/AIDS patients in South Africa, orphans in Malawi, impoverished children in Colombia. As we celebrate the birth of the Savior during this season, let us find meaningful ways to show love to our neighbor not by showering untold billions on their governments but by coming near to them with assistance for daily needs, and most importantly, by bringing the good news of a Savior who died for needy sinners.

Rick Postma is director of public relations for Word & Deed Ministries.
 
Website by Pronk Graphics