If it's raining this morning, that means, hopefully, the heat wave has broken, and we'll be heading into more normal temperatures for this time of year in Northwest Arkansas. It has been hot this September -- hotter than average. According to Dan Skoff, meteorologist on KNWA/Fox 24, the weather has been averaging about 10 degrees above normal temperatures most days this month.
But what is normal weather these days? Climatologists have accepted as fact what scientists have been saying for years: We humans have impacted our environment in such negative ways as to effect real climate change. There are more extremes of weather, more violent weather more often. Hurricanes are stronger. Heat waves more intense. Flooding more dangerous.
After what I thought was a pretty mild summer, it's been as hot as hell deep into September. And it's a hell we've created. We can't blame God for this one. In fact, it is my belief that, humans create hell through their sinfulness. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth -- not hell. Hell didn't exist until humans made a mess of this earth -- and then there was hell.
Hell exists in the deep recesses of one's mind where evil lurks. Hell exists in the no-man's land between enemy troops bombing each other. Hell exists in the refugee camps of those fleeing persecution and genocide with no hope of finding home in the nations that are safe. Hell exists in the inflated bellies of malnourished children. Hell exists in the cancerous cells that invade one's body.
Oh, I certainly believe in hell, but not as a place God created to punish us. I believe we are punished in hell, many deserve hall and many choose hell because they turn their backs on loving God and neighbor as much as self. I also believe hell is a place created out of human selfishness and sinfulness, where many undeserving suffer because of the sins of others -- whether that sinfulness is intentional or unintentional.
I do not mean to cause my sister harm by my careless over consumption of the world's natural resources -- I just didn't turn out the light when I left the room. I didn't mean to bring suffering to my brother when I voted -- I just didn't pay attention to the candidate's position on issues that don't personally affect me. I do not mean to sin. But I do sin, and in doing so, I contribute to others' living hell.
It will be cool soon, and hopefully cold enough that this winter to kill some of the bugs with a good hard freeze. Most of us can keep ignoring the damage we continue to inflict on our environment because the consequences to us, personally, aren't grave -- yet. In fact, we can pretty much ignore the many ways we contribute to hell on earth because the hell we're creating isn't necessarily one in which we live. And yet, as followers of Jesus Christ, those of us who claim the name "Christian" are called to love our neighbors as ourselves. We are called to accountability for the hell we create for others.
Is there a hell that we'll experience as a consequence? I certainly hope not. But God only knows.
NAN Religion on 09/22/2018