Our climate crisis is the backdrop for a crisis of faith. Despite the overwhelming evidence and life-or-death consequences of climate change, many Christians remain confused about how their beliefs relate to one of the greatest moral challenges of our time.

Could Christian music be part of the solution?

The June 3rd release of a major new album, called Climate Vigil Songs, offers an enthusiastic “Yes.”

Renowned Christian music collective, The Porter’s Gate Worship Project, created the album in partnership with several Christian nonprofits involved in the Climate Vigil movement.

This coalition is calling on Christians and people of goodwill to gather in their local communities to bear witness to our climate crisis – and take action to end it.

Climate Vigil Songs is available online and on major streaming platforms.

The music features top artists, including: Fernando Ortega, Molly Parden, Jonathan Ogden, Page CXVI, Terrian, Josh Garrels, Paul Zach, Audrey Assad, Jon Guerra, Taylor Leonhardt, Jessica Fox, Matt Maher, Jason Upton, Sara Groves, Liz Vice, and Nick Chambers. Songwriters include many of the artists above, plus Kate Bluett, Isaac Wardell, Latifah Alattas, Leslie Jordan, Wendell Kimbrough, Andy Squyres, Tenielle Neda, Lucas Morton, and Nan Macmillan.

These songs are meant to be sung in church during worship services. Lyrics are derived from the Scriptures and a deep well of time-tested Christian teachings.

Diverse artists and musical styles represented on the album span different Christian traditions, so there is a song on the album for almost every church in America.

The following Christian leaders had this to say in response to the release of Climate Vigil Songs:

-- Isaac Wardell, creative director for The Porter’s Gate Worship Project: “Theologically speaking, we wanted this album to do three different things.

“First, we wanted to sing songs that celebrate the beauty and wonder of God’s creation, with a particular emphasis on God as an actor in the world. But we couldn’t stop there.

“The second thing we had to do was pause and say, ‘Something bad has happened here, and we are all responsible.’ We need to feel sorrow for what has been lost, so we wrote songs that give the church words to lament the devastation of God’s good earth. These are deep spiritual and Biblical expressions, not just political positions.

“Thirdly, we wanted to help people do something with these convictions, so we wrote songs for action and mobilization – music for the movement – where we say ‘yes’ to the work we are called to do. God is restoring all things, and He gives us hands & feet to help build His kingdom, on earth as it is in heaven.”

-- Rev. Kyle Meyaard-Schaap, vice president of the Evangelical Environmental Network: “Christians should be on the front lines of climate action. Yet so many of us, especially here in the U.S., remain silent. We have not been formed to see how climate action is an expression of our Christian faith, hope, and love. It’s time to change that, and music like this can help.”

-- Peter Fargo, co-founder of the Climate Vigil movement: “For too long, climate change has been the provenance of politicians, scientists, corporations, and economists. They each hold a piece of the puzzle, but Christians want to see the bigger picture.

“As stated in Psalm 24, we believe ‘the earth is the LORD’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it.’ This album creates space to wrestle with the climate crisis in our hearts and souls, which is where we find the courage to act.”

-- Tori Goebel, national organizer and spokesperson for Young Evangelicals for Climate Action: “Taking action can be an act of worship as worthy as lifting our hands in praise. To quote Micah 6:8, ‘What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?’”

-- Dr. Chris Elisara, co-director of the World Evangelical Alliance Sustainability Center: “Climate Vigil Songs reminds us that Christ’s disciples don’t hide from the pain of this world. We don’t turn away from people harmed by droughts, floods, and heat waves. No, we step into the mess, even if it’s risky and uncomfortable.

“The truth of Easter is that through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection God doesn’t give up on all he created and loves, so we’re not going to give up either–on ourselves and our neighbors suffering from climate change, or helping to fix our climate crisis.”

-- Jason Fileta, vice president of Tearfund USA: “Tearfund is a global relief and development organization working with communities to overcome poverty and injustice. The current hunger crisis in East Africa is just one of many examples showing how climate change has pushed people further into poverty.

“We have seen first hand how climate change is fueling the hunger and refugee crisis in our world. So many of our brothers and sisters in the global south have felt the sting of climate change, and have been calling on the global church to act. It's time for the U.S. church to believe them.”

-- Lynne Marian, marketing and communications director for Plant With Purpose, a Christian environmental organization: “The global crises of poverty and environmental damage are interconnected. We can’t say we love our global neighbor and not care about the climate crisis that is deepening extreme rural poverty.

“We’ve planted 50 million trees because they help restore degraded ecosystems while providing food and shade. For us and our supporting partners, that is true faith in action. That is loving our neighbor.

“Climate Vigil Songs calls us to worship God by tending His garden, like in Genesis 2:15. I hope you’ll join me in getting your hands dirty by caring for God’s creation and all who depend on it.”

Climate Vigil calls on Christians and people of goodwill to gather in their local communities to bear witness to our climate crisis – and take action to end it.

Current partners include the Evangelical Environmental Network, Young Evangelicals for Climate Action, World Evangelical Alliance, Tearfund USA, Plant With Purpose, World Renew, Climate Witness Project, and The Porter’s Gate Worship Project.

Related Article:

-- Evangelical Environmental Network Applauds Congressional House Republican Energy, Climate, Conservation Task Force Plan, ‘Stepping Into The Arena’  [PaEN]

[Posted: June 3, 2022]

6/6/2022