Loving Your Neighbor

Dr. Katharine Hayhoe is an atmospheric scientist at Texas Tech and chief scientist for the Nature Conservancy. She’s also an Evangelical Chistian. She was interviewed back in August for the Texas Monthly and had this to say about climate change and being Christian:

There’s a verse in the book of James that says, “For anyone who hears that word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at himself in the mirror and then goes away and forgets who he is.” I just feel like so many have lost their way and forgotten who they are. They’ve forgotten that they are loving, caring people. They’ve forgotten that they are parents and grandparents. They’ve forgotten that we’re all called to love our neighbor as ourselves. And that’s what climate change is about, too.

When I give talks on climate change to Christian audiences, as I often do, my title is “Loving Your Global Neighbor.” That’s what my title is because that’s what climate action is. Climate change disproportionately affects the most marginalized and poorest and vulnerable people right here in Texas, as well as on the other side of the world. And if we truly believe that we are called to love others, as God loved us, then that includes caring for their physical needs. And I truly believe it’s an expression of God’s love, and it’s an expression of who God has made us to be.

You can find out more about Katherine Hayhoe at katharinehayhoe.com and read the complete article — highly recommended — in the Texas Monthly at tinyurl.com/lsia-hayhoe. Working together, we can help take care of our common home. 

Paul Litwin