If God Is In Control, Why Worry About Climate Change?

Episode Two: If God Is In Control, Why Worry About Climate Change?

As followers of Jesus, we’re called to love God, love our neighbours, and care for God’s good creation. But what does that look like in a world experiencing more frequent fires, floods, heatwaves, biodiversity loss, and other impacts of the climate crisis? In this four-part podcast series, we’ll explore what it means to live faithfully in a changing climate. We’ll wrestle with the theological questions climate change raises, make space for hope, grief and climate anxiety, and consider practical ways the Church can respond.

In our second episode, we explore some of the big theological questions climate change raises: If God is in control, why worry about climate change? Does trusting God mean simply leaving things in God's hands or are we invited to participate in God's good work in the world? And what does faithful action look like in the face of a crisis we can’t solve on our own? 

Common Grace partnered with the National Church Life Survey to hear from Australian Christians about their perspectives on climate change and climate action. This Climate Action Survey found strong agreement from respondents that God wants us to care for the earth, and that this is part of loving our neighbours and future generations. At the same time, respondents held a range of views about what responding to climate change should look like and what role the Church should play.

First up, we'll hear Dr Byron Smith, ecological ethicist, Jane Kelly, part of the Common Grace Creation and Climate Justice team, and Phil Walker-Harding, Common Grace supporter and volunteer, discuss these Climate Action Survey findings and explore what the Bible has to say about God’s sovereignty, human responsibility and faithful action in times of crisis.

Next, Jane Kelly talks with Jo Knight, CEO of Anglican Overseas Aid, whose new book Called to Care invites Christians to see creation care as an essential part of discipleship. Drawing on two decades of work with the Australian and global Church on poverty, climate justice and advocacy, Jo shares a hopeful, practical vision for caring for both people and planet, including insights and stories from Christians in the majority world.

The climate crisis raises difficult questions about what we can change, what we can’t control, and what faithfulness looks like when the future feels uncertain. This episode invites us to wrestle with those questions and consider what it means to trust God while still taking seriously our responsibility to care for creation, our neighbours and generations to come

You can also download the episode via this Google Drive link.

A transcript of this conversation can be downloaded here. 

	Jane Kelly is Common Grace’s Climate Community Organiser. She is also part of Australian Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRCC) - a multi-faith network committed to action on climate change. Based in Western Sydney on the lands of the Toongagal people of the Dharug nation, Jane has studied theology, ministry, ethics, and legal studies. She is passionate about connecting with people, hearing their stories, and seeking a better future for all of God’s creation.
	Jo Knight is passionate about bringing people together to create positive social change. For more than two decades, she has helped shape Christian responses to poverty and climate justice across Australia and around the world. A lawyer by training, Jo began her career working with refugees and supporting community-led responses to poverty. She has been deeply involved in movements such as Renew Our World and the Australian Micah coalition, and currently serves as CEO of Anglican Overseas Aid.
	Dr Byron Smith is an ecological ethicist helping churches connect the care of creation with Christian discipleship. He holds a PhD in theological ethics, exploring emotional responses to climate disruption and their relationship to faith and identity.
	Phil Walker-Harding is board and card game designer living and working on Gadigal land. With a Masters of Theology, he has worked in a number of local church and creative arts ministries, as well as volunteering with Common Grace. Phil and his wife Meredith run Joey Games where they make board games about Australia for kids and adults to play together.