God Please Save Your Planet...from us.

Chapter Twelve- Nihilism Now!

Imagine a world where Animists, Atheists, Agnostic Buddhists, Christians, Deists, Hindus, Jews, and Muslims put aside their differences for a common goal of survival. Just picture Capitalists, (Democrat and Republican) Communists, and Socialists working towards a common goal of zero emissions. What a brave new world that would be!

Do you remember what happened back in the year 1912, in the northern waters of the Atlantic Ocean?
Few people have not heard of the infamous sinking of the world famous luxury liner R.M.S Titanic. Why did it sink? That is a question for the history books. Like the world war that would begin just two years later, there was not just one reason.

The best minds inspired its construction. Science, Capitalism, Industry, and let's be honest, hubris, brought a dream into reality. It was said that God himself could not sink that ship. Well, as far as we know, God didn't have to. An iceberg would suffice. But it wasn't the iceberg that sunk Titanic, was it?

Ironically, it was the very thing that contributed to its construction that ultimately led to its demise, and the deaths of 1500 souls. Scientific minds will say it was because the rudder was too small to make the turn. Perhaps, if the watchmen had seen the danger just a little sooner on that clear night.. At least, if there had been enough life-boats, more people could have survived.

There are so many reasons why Titanic sank on that April morning in 1912. But there really is only one reason why it was so catastrophic. Hubris! Even as it was happening, no one really believed it was happening. It was sinking just slow enough for no one to notice. It's true, the Captain and his crew knew. The Designer, and the financier also knew. Even many of the passengers were informed, but everyone's knowledge of the water tight compartments that were designed to prevent it from sinking, was enough to lull everyone into a sense of security, on that fateful night.

The belief that 'it can't be', is enough to blind us to looming danger even now. We do not see, because we do not wish to see. Even if we do see, it simply can't be. The Nihilist knows it is pointless to try, because nothing really matters anyway. But here is a conundrum for you. There were no Animists, Atheists, Agnostics, Buddhists, Hindus, or even Muslims on Titanic that night.

They all professed in one way or another to be either Christians or Jews. What I find most disturbing is, there was another group of believers on the ship that night as well. Denialists. Denialism at its core is not all that different from Nihilism. They are spelled differently, and Nihilists are at least self-aware.

Not everyone on Titanic held this bleak outlook. Many who survived were of a different nature. They wanted to survive. They even prayed to God for help. Others just scurried their way onto the few lifeboats available to save themselves. Some were noble, giving first consideration to the women and children of the elite class. There were both hero's and villains who survived that night.

That tragedy was not the result of opperator error, or poor construction, or bad timing, or a greed for speed, by breaking records. It was plain for all to see. Human ingenuity had been uncovered. The true villain that night was not one individual. It was a collective delusion that blinded nearly everyone on that ship to seeing the danger until it was too late.

Now it's not a sinking cruise ship. It's our entire planet that may drown us. Experts warn us that our time to turn this proverbial ship is running out. Perhaps, it already has. There are two ways this can go. Either, it's every man for himself, or we work together. Some people are like Molly Brown, who helped others survive on that fateful night in 1912. Others are like the captain, and orchestra who did their duty until the bitter end.

It's time for Christians to stop behaving like Nihilists. Or should I say Denialists. Stop praying for your own salvation, and start praying for our earth. Pray for the wildlife, and the insects (especially the bees). Pray for the secularists, and the environmentalists, who already are trying to turn the ship. Pray to God like the Israelites in the Book of Judges did every time their choices led to their suffering. Stop merely praying for yourself and your fellow believers. Pray for the one thing you may never have thought of. God please save Your Planet... from us.

We have a long way to go. This is no time to jump ship. We need to collectively change the narrative. If Christians are meant to spread the gospel, perhaps we should try to remember what the gospel was really supposed to be about. Let's talk about this on the next page.