The Earth Charter

The Earth Charter, though fictionally talked about in this fictional story, is a very real document. (See: www.earthchater.org) It was drafted it as part of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as part of the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development. (UNCED)

This Earth Charter document is a sort of moral code for humanity. It was created to: “establish a sound ethical foundation for the emerging global society and to help building a sustainable world based on respect for nature, universal human rights, economic justice, and a culture of peace.” It also makes demands upon those countries that adopt it and it speak to them spiritually about this heart as it tells them they must "demilitarize national security systems" (i.e., eliminate their armed services and their weapons), and proclaims to it;s readership that "the Way Forward" requires "a change of mind and heart" as we move toward "global interdependence and universal responsibility."

The Earth Charter is a bit of a spiritual document. Just like so many other people on the planet are telling our churches and businessmen, the framers of the Charter believe that we need a "paradigm shift" in our thinking, a “change of mind and heart.” Christians believe Jesus is the WAY, but framers of the Earth Charter believe globalism and a love for the world in which we live is the only "Way Forward” for humanity. Unfortunately, it is a spirituality without the true light from heaven... with no hope in the end except the grave. As the Preamble itself states clearly, ” To move forward we must recognize that in the midst of a magnificent diversity of cultures and life forms we are one human family and one Earth community with a common destiny. "

It’s a little bit like the Magna Carta, considered to be one of the most important documents in the establishment of what is commonly understood as "democracy." And while their are works of art depicting the "signing" of the document, it has no signatures upon it. King John never signed it. The Magna Carta was authenticated by King John, with his royal seal.

It was 1215 when the Magna Carta was sealed as a legal document. It's purpose was to help settle disputes between King John of England, and his Barons, Bishops, Abbots, and the Pope. The King, since he was king, apparently thought that he should rule with absolute authority, sometimes even thought he was above the law. Of course the Pope, (who considered himself the head over all living things ever since the Papal Bull was made declaring that all souls were “subject to the Roman Pontiff,”) felt he should have the final say and not the King.

No doubt, this set all the kings men and all the kings horses into a quandary as to who was to be Humpty Dumpty in it all.

As they scratched their heads wondering who they wanted to win the argument, they put their minds together and came up with a simple solution, that of binding the absolute power of the king to his own rules of law. The Magna Carta was drawn and put into use.

This was a significant move towards what today is called Constitutional Law. It not only set a precedence for our modern ideal of democracy where everyone had rights, but made monarchy into more common folk.

Sadly, civil war eventually broke out in England, after years of war, King John was defeated and executed and with his death the fervor for the Magna Charta died out. It seems, the law restricting the rights of the king was a little unnecessary at this point, and the document became obsolete.

Like the leaders who signed the Magna Carta long ago, many prominent world leaders today are leaders, and as "leaders" they want to be the ones to make the important decisions, they do not want to be ruled by someone, anyone, who might be thought to have absolute rule and power, with the exception of perhaps themselves. They strive for fairness, and things are fair as long as they get their fair share. Everyone in such a system simply believes that fairness and justice for everyone, under the law that they make is a peaceful solution to the political problem of deciding who should rule the land sea and sky of planet earth.

When it comes to religion, leaders have their politics too. They want God, but want to make their own equitable religion, and most of all they do not want to have to be subject to anyone who is sovereign over their affairs. It's simply not democratic. Just as there was once in Bethlehem no room for the birth of a child at the inn, there’s no room in the human heart for the rule of a King. They want a government of their own and a government, if not a king, subject to the demands of the crowd.

They crucified the true king, ruler of heaven and earth.

No authorities, no governors, rulers, or religious men upon the earth, could find fault in Jesus. They just didn’t like him because his words and his deeds put them to shame and made them feel like dirt. His teachings were so full of authority it made the ill, just to think about it. HE was no ordinary man, in fact, he appeared to be so wise and wonderful, anyone would follow him in an instant and he was drawing quite a following too. The biggest problem was that he was not a team player and made them feel like sinners, sometimes even fools. When Pontius Pilot asked their approval for his release, they had no mercy, only indignation. He was punished to the fullest extent of human law, and this even though they knew full well that Jesus was not guilty of any crime.

Was it legal? Certainly; it had the approval of the head of state and religious leaders too. It was, after all as democratic process and even though it went unnoticed, the people saw the justice of a loving and holy God fulfilled that day.

God is not a tyrant King. He is not an oppressor but a deliverer with laws that give life and freedom from bondage and from sin. This is the kind of King that rules the Christians heart, the God a Christian serves. He is a king, a ruler, creator and sustainer of all life, and he is wise and noble, perfect, deserving of our praise and thanks. Yet this is how we treat him when he visits us on earth.

The Earth Charter paves the way for every great leader of the world, leaders who do not believe in absolute truth, but believe wholeheartedly in the democratic process and practices of men, to swear their allegiance to a new global kingdom, where everyone is fair and just and equal. It also paves the way for men to “exchange the truth of God for the lie, and worship and serve the creature rather than the Creator.” (Romans 1:25) Bound together in a common future, without truth or any understanding of absolutes, they will enter into this agreement because they choose to simply lay aside the commandments of God and teach instead their own cleverly devised doctrines, and traditions. Their law will be simply the commandments of men.