The Whitworthian

Issue date: 10/9/07 Last Updated: 10/11/07

Media Credit: Nate Chute Richard Cizik, a Whitworth alum and current Vice President of Governmental Affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals, lets the audience know about more information available to them at the end of his lecture on Oct 4.

A Whitworth political science alumnus gave a lecture on environmental stewardship in the face of global warming Thursday in the Robinson Teaching Center.

Reverend Richard Cizik is the vice president of governmental affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals.

"[Cizik] has made the greatest impact coming out of that program,” said John Yoder, professor of political science and department chair of the history and political science departments.

Cizik lectured on "For God's Sake: An Evangelical's Call to Care for Creation" as a part of homecoming week. Cizik is one of four alumni who will receive the Distinguished Alumnus Award at the George F. Whitworth Honors Banquet tonight.  

“When presented with the big issues, as Americans we are the people who roll up our sleeves, dig in, and ignore them,” Cizik said.

Evangelical Christians are traditionally known for their lack of concern for environmental issues and downright denial of global warming, Cizik said. 

Cizik said he has used his position to bring awareness about how evangelicals can approach environmental issues.

“It’s not a political issue, it’s a theological issue,” Cizik said, “The issue that will determine the fate of the planet.”

Environmental issues are theological issues because God commanded humans to take care of the planet, Cizik said.

Fifty percent of God’s creatures will be dead by the end of the century, Cizik said, quoting scientist E.O. Wilson.

Cizik said climate change will control our lives. People like fundamentalist Baptist minister Jerry Falwell have been discouraging Christians from preserving the planet by condemning conservation efforts as “the devil’s work,” Cizik said.

“We are at a unique point in all of human history,” Cizik said, emphasizing the importance of faith communities in preserving the planet.

Cizik said scientists and evangelicals need to come together on issues they agree on.

“Collaborate to do what is in the common good,” Cizik said.

He concluded with a call to action.

“When you die, when I die, God won’t ask us how old the earth is, or any of those questions, but ‘what did you do with what I created?’” Cizik said.

Contact Grady Locklear at grady.locklear@whitworthian.com

 

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