I recently heard the opinion expressed that the United Methodist Church should not be involved in any action or advocacy to address the climate crisis because “the science is not settled” and because “it has nothing to do with bringing people to Christ.” (Living in Oklahoma, I hear this a lot.) Given that the person who expressed this sentiment did not give me a chance to respond, here is my response:

No science is “settled.” That is not the nature of science. However, the consensus of climate scientists is overwhelming that climate change is real, human activity is the most significant contributor to climate change, and urgent action is needed to decrease emissions that are contributing to the crisis we are facing. I refer the reader to NOAA, NASA, the IPCC, and a number other organizations the show how overwhelming the evidence and data are for confirming the scientific consensus.

In relation to the concerns that the climate crisis “has nothing to do with bringing people to Christ,” it is important to note that preserving a livable climate has the potential of saving billions of human lives and preserving the context in which human persons can survive and flourish, and these are the very people that evangelical Christians say they want to bring to Christ. One would think they would want more people not to die so that more people can know Jesus.

Of course Jesus is portrayed in the gospels as being concerned about many other things in addition to “bringing people to Christ.” He begins his public ministry by reading from the prophet Isaiah and proclaiming that he was bringing good news to the poor and liberation for the oppressed. Jesus is also portrayed as blessing peacemakers and calling for all who follow Jesus to welcome the stranger, bring healing for the sick, provide drink for the thirsty and food for the hungry, and to be present to and care for the most vulnerable among us as if we are doing it for Jesus himself.

If we don’t address the climate crisis, there will be more poverty, more war, more oppression, more sickness and disease, more droughts leading to lack of water in many areas, more difficulty growing food for a hungry world, and more suffering for the most vulnerable among us. So, it looks like addressing the climate crisis would be an excellent way for United Methodists, all Christians, and all people to follow the way of Jesus in world and also to simply be decent, loving, and just human beings.

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