TBC: One of the hallmarks of the Last Days is deception. With such a climate
of deception all about us, it is not surprising that many Christians may get
"taken for a ride" by the world.

Evangelicals misled on climate change

Feb 28, 2006

Do you remember the day you found out one of your role models was
imperfect? Perhaps you saw your mom punish the wrong sibling for
breaking a vase, or you heard your kindergarten teacher swear. I'm
finding myself just as disillusioned right now with several of our
nation's prominent Christians.

An impressive list of evangelical Christian leaders has recently signed
onto the "Evangelical Climate Initiative" (ECI), a statement calling for
Americans to do what they can to combat climate change.

Some of the statement seems reasonable and biblical. Yes, Christians are
called to be stewards of the earth. Yes, we're charged with caring for
the poor. Yes, we want to stand for what is right, and even get involved
politically when an opportunity arises. These assertions are agreed upon
by nearly all evangelical Christians.

However, these Christian leaders step outside of their areas of
expertise when they take on the issue of climate change. They assert,
"Over the last several years many of us have engaged in study,
reflection, and prayer related to the issue of climate change," but the
majority of them are not scientists. They are also not economists, so
they seem to be totally unaware of the economic ramifications of the
ideas they are proposing.

In 2004, a group of leading economists from around the world gathered
for the Copenhagen Consensus to prioritize world problems and to put
together economic estimates of possible solutions. They ranked each of
seventeen potential solutions according to a cost-benefit analysis of
each one. The three proposed climate change solutions received the three
worst rankings. The top-ranked solutions -- in other words, the solutions
that could do the most good at the best cost -- included combating
HIV/AIDS, providing micronutrients to those suffering from malnutrition,
liberalizing trade, and controlling malaria.

You see, even if all scientists agreed that climate change is a threat,
there's no good solution in sight. The Kyoto treaty, for instance, would
reduce climate change only minimally while imposing economy-crushing
regulations on businesses and individuals around the world.

A forthcoming press release from The National Center for Public Policy
Research explains:

Mandatory emission controls would result in more costly and less
accessible energy. The Clinton Administration's Department of Energy
estimated that the Kyoto Protocol's mandatory emissions reductions would
raise gasoline prices by 66 cents and increase electricity prices by up
to 86 percent by 2010. Driving up energy prices would have a
disproportionate impact on the poor, who may be forced to choose between
buying food or heating their home.

I bet the folks behind the ECI didn't bother telling the evangelical
leaders some of these little-publicized facts. In fact, we've recently
discovered one group that's behind this Initiative: the William and
Flora Hewlett Foundation, one of the primary funding sources of abortion
programs around the world.

In addition, The National Center for Public Policy Research has formally
requested the last three years of tax returns of the ECI's sponsor, the
Evangelical Environment Network. The National Center's Amy Ridenour says the
funders of ECI and EEN seem to have less to do with Christianity
than with liberal causes:

What we are finding so far is what we expected to find: the group is a
far-left environmental project funded by leftists with an interest in
environmental issues and no track record of promoting or supporting
Christianity, evangelical or otherwise. We are seeking, among other
things, evidence that donors also fund explicitly anti-Christian
activities. This would demonstrate that their interest here is
definitely not the promotion of Christianity, but the hijacking of
Christianity for political purposes.

The signatories of the ECI need to know who has duped them. They also
need to know the truth behind so-called "global warming." If you are
associated with any of the signatories, please let them know that the
policies they are supporting are dangerous, especially to those they
really want to help. Some of the bigger surprises on the list of
signatories include:

Dr. Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life
Dr. Jack Hayford, television/radio evangelist
David Neff, editor of Christianity Today
Dr. Peter Borgdorff, executive director of the Christian Reformed Church
Clive Calver, former president of World Relief
Richard Stearns, president of World Vision
Commissioner W. Todd Bassett of the Salvation Army
Michael Nyenhuis, president of MAP International
Dr. Timothy George, well-known author
Countless Christian college and university presidents, including those
heading up Wheaton College (IL), Calvin College (MI), and Gordon College
(MA)

http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/JenniferBiddison/2006/02/28/188045.html