Dear friends:

"Be on guard!" Paul warned us.

"I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard!" (Acts 20:29-31, NIV)

This morning I was reading a newspaper article about a prominent pastor (I shall not name) who is a national leader of the so-called "religious left." 
 
This pastor actively promotes environmentalism, global warming politics, and other social issues.  To make it more acceptable, he cleverly substitutes the term "creation care" for environmentalism.  Instead of a course on how to witness, Bible prophecy and Jesus’ soon return, or the gifts of the Spirit, he teaches a special class each week on “environmentalism.”  He is extremely popular.  There are seven weekend services to handle the crowds.  He has drawn many disciples, reminding me of Paul's words.

Not surprisingly, the article says that in this pastor’s church, “there is no fire and brimstone.”  I assume that means the people are not exhorted about the realities of heaven and hell, and the narrow path to avoid the latter, according to Jesus' own words.  This is characteristic of the religious left. 
 
Oddly, he and similar pastors are referred to as “evangelical left.”  In reality, that term is probably an oxymoron, with the two words mutually exclusive.  A definition of evangelical is: "a designation for Christians who hold to basic conservative interpretations of the Bible, including the belief in the literal supernatural conception (virgin birth) of Jesus, his resurrection from the dead, and the proclamation of the "evangel" or "good news" of salvation through Christ. This term arises out of the Greek word euangelion, meaning "good news."
 
Paradoxically, this pastor and others in his corner strongly criticize what they call the “religious right” for being “political” and taking a biblical position on the issues, yet, hypocritically, they are probably more political on their side of the issues.
 
As to environmentalism, I believe the religious left would be better served if they would tell what God Himself says about the future of the environment and exhort people how to avoid it.  Here is what God says will happen, and maybe soon:

The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water -- the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.

The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.

As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels! (Revelation 8:7-13, NIV).

Be on guard against left-wing clerics masquerading as evangelicals.
 
Jim