Vince Deagler

hi out there.  got a lot of feedback from my last blog so i thought i would stir the pot again by talking about the big oil spill in the gulf.  but first let me mention one thought that carries over from last weeks topic.  several of you mentioned to me a concern due to the fact this new law in arizona would require people to carry identification to prove they were here legally.  it could lead to racial profiling.  do you realize this has been the law of the USA since the 1940’s.  and if it has been the law since the 1940’s why did all this controversy just start when arizona passed this law.  perhaps it is due to several facts:  1. the federal gov’t has chosen to largely ignore their enforcement responsibility.  2. this is coupled with the reality arizona intends to enforce their new law (which is not new, it mirrors federal law that already exists, carrying identification going back to FDR during WWII).  3. so the reality just might be that those who oppose this law more than likely oppose all immigration law in general, they want open borders.  enough said.  we will either have law and order in the area of immigration or not.  i support law and order, if the federal gov’t will not enforce its law, i understand why arizona has made this choice. 

now, lets talk about the oil spill.  or more specifically what does the bible say about things like pollution, environmentalism, and the utilization of natural resource.  first, let me point out i consider myself to be very concerned with environmental issues.  i hunt, fish, hike, camp, etc.  i value the great outdoors.  but i do not see the earth as a fragile, helpless thing i need to save from the evils of mankind.  i believe the earth is the Lord’s.  he created it.  he created it with all kinds of natural resources.  he put those resources there for the benefit of man.  he told mankind to subdue, dominate, rule over his creation.  i do not believe every living creature is created equally. man and only man bears god’s image.  man and only man was given the responsibility to rule over creation.  so what does all this practically mean?

for me it means eat the animals, same for the fish, they are called food, whether wild or domesticated.  for me that means work the ground, plant, fertilize, irrigate, harvest.  again its called food.  produce energy, drill for oil, drill for gas, mine the coal, build the nuclear plants, refineries, power plants, dams needed to power our society.  cut down trees, manage the forest, they are a renewable resource.  mine for minerals, etc.  does that mean i’m pro pollution?  anti earth?  no.

it means i’m pro mankind, and it means i’m confident in god.  in fact i will go so far as to say earth will last as long as god intends it to.  not one second more, not one second less.  we didn’t create the earth, we don’t sustain its existence, that is god’s job.  and i for one trust him.  does that mean i want us to remove all regulation?  no.  man is depraved and could very easily destroy the resource entrusted to him w/o regulation.  our early history as a nation verifies this.  we need regulation in energy production, mining, farming, hunting, fishing, etc.  but there is a difference between regulating an area to manage the resource and regulation designed to prohibit the development of the resource b/c we see life through a humanistic lens.  humanism says there is no god.  humanism says man is just a highly evolved animal.  humanism says there is no afterlife, only the here and now.  humanism says man is in charge.  a humanist is compelled to save the whales, spotted owls, and baby seals.  to protect mother earth.  she has to be saved b/c without her we can not live.  i’m sorry, i disagree.  in fact when i look at scripture i read “seeing then that all these things will be dissolved…”, does that not mean no matter what, the earth will not last forever?  doesn’t the bible say god is gonna create a new earth.  again, let me say it clearly.  I AM NOT ADVOCATING POLLUTION OR DESTRUCTION OF THE PLANET.

but i am saying the earth is the lords, he has given it to us to subdue, dominate, rule over.  it is not a fragile baby we must care for so it will not die.  it is a resource to be used for the advancement of human civilization.  b/c i believe this, let me ask some questions.  my attempt at application.

would the oil still be leaking from this spill if the oil well were on dry ground or in shallow water?  i think not.  so why then is it still leaking?  b/c it is in 5000 feet of water.  why is it in 5000 feet of water?  b/c some official decided…if we must drill, this is where we will allow it, all to protect the environment.  how’s that working out?   i am pro development of our natural resources.  so here is an alternate thought.  do it where it is most safe, not least safe.  where the resource is most easily managed, not where it is more difficult.  where it is most cost effective, not less.  and have all the safety measures in place in case of emergency.  afterall, we do live in a broken world and development can get messy.

seems like we have a choice.  some are gonna cry for a ban on drilling, using this spill as the reason.  many of these people, if you look at what they actually believe, are humanists.  as i said, i am not.  if the only place our leaders allow us to drill is in 5000 feet of water, then i say drill away.  but maybe it would be better to start drilling on land or shallow water.  that way we are utilizing the resource in the safest, most cost effective way.  we might call it good stewardship…something the bible calls us to as christ followers.

i know these thoughts may be slightly different…extremely different than your own.  i am not trying to imply this is the only way to go or that its god’s way to the exclusioin of all other points of view.  this is what i think based on how i understand scripture.  so, let’s talk about it.  maybe as we speak the truth in love we can grow up in christ to be the men and women he wants us to be.  thanks for reading and i value your thoughts.  blessings.  vince