There is at least a five-part response.
To begin, as we saw in our reasons for addressing the issue of climate change, at stake is the truth of the biblical/Christian worldview itself, as well as the physical and eternal well-being of humans in our world. To quote Caleb Rossiter of the CO2 Coalition: “We are trying to save the people of the planet from the people ‘saving the plant.’”[1] In other words, what is at stake is very important. Thus, we should be motivated to speak truth no matter the outcome.
Additionally, whenever followers of the true God seek to communicate his truth (even his good news) to a lost world, often the result is a form of persecution that includes mocking and scorn. We see this even in the Old Testament. For example, when Judah’s King Hezekiah was instituting reforms and calling people back to God by establishing the celebration of Passover again (see 2 Chronicles 30:1-5), he sent couriers or runners throughout the land to announce the good news. The response of people is seen in 2 Chronicles 30:10 (NLT): “The runners went from town to town throughout Ephraim and Manasseh and as far as the territory of Zebulun. But most of the people just laughed at the runners and made fun of them.”
This is the same kind of response that happens to heralds of the good news of Jesus Christ. Jesus himself affirmed this when he taught, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18-19). Paul also reiterated this when he wrote: “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…” (2 Tim. 3:12).
We should not be surprised at push back, scorn, or even all-out persecution.
What is more, we must understand that communicating the truth of the Bible and the gospel are the only way that people can see their need for God’s salvation in Jesus Christ and receive that free gift (Rom. 10:13-17). Such communication is enhanced by affirming the biblical worldview, which is what we are doing in the refutation of climate change. The rest of the story for the runners in 2 Chronicles 30 is that God used them to bring revival to Judah as he miraculously changed hearts after interacting with the message (see 2 Chron. 30:11-12ff.). The same has been true of the Church of Jesus Christ as she has faithfully and boldly given her testimony to Christ before the world (Rev. 12:11).
Something else that is important to remember is that Jesus Christ promised happiness to those who are part of his kingdom, who follow him, and who are willing to give testimony to him, even if it means persecution (Mt. 5:10-12).
Finally, we can remember that Jesus has promised his ongoing presence with his followers as they engage in proclaiming him and teaching his truth (cf. Mt. 28:19-20). We therefore can be strong in him and in the strength that comes from his might and his very armor that he has purchased for and given to us to protect us from the evil one and from his minions who seek to stop and hurt us (Eph. 6:10-18). The result is that even though many are the afflictions of the righteous (including scorn, ridicule, and even death in some cases), the Lord will ultimately deliver us out of them all (Ps. 34:19) through resurrection (1 Cor. 15; Rev. 21:3-7).
Therefore, as the Apostle Peter has exhorted us (1 Peter 4:16): “Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.”
Joyfully Following Christ In Proclaiming Truth With You,
Tom
[1] Rossiter, a climate statistician, made this comment
during a congressional hearing on climate change. This was cited in
“Quotables,” in World, May 25, 2019: 16.
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