Oil Is a Gift From God. Are We Squandering It?

The Bulletin

Christianity Today

News, News Commentary, Religion & Spirituality, Society & Culture, Christianity

4.4 • 586 Ratings

🗓️ 19 May 2026

⏱️ 38 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The national average gas price has increased to $4.50 / gallon, reflecting skyrocketing crude oil prices due to the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz. While sticker shock at the gas pump is our most salient contact point, oil surrounds us from the moment we’re born. In today’s Long Read from the CT archives, writer Ken Baake traces the history of oil from its discovery to the transformation of our world. Have Christians become too accustomed to the luxuries oil provides? Is there a place for moderation in our consumption of oil? Tune in to this 2019 piece, read with updated statistics by James Thompson. READ THE PRINT VERSION: Oil is a Gift From God: Are We Squandering It? - Ken Baake GO DEEPER WITH THE BULLETIN: Join the conversation at our Substack. Find us on YouTube. Rate and review the show in your podcast app of choice. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ken Baake is an associate professor in the English Department of Texas Tech. He studies the art of communication, specifically focusing on “the rhetoric of science” and the language of technical communication. Ken studies art, poems, and songs looking to see people's perception and what is being conveyed through different types of language. James Thompson is an international campus minister based in Thailand. He is a contributing writer to Christianity Today, where his reporting focuses on the global church and missions. His work has also been published in the Christian Standard and Religion Unplugged. Find him at jamescthompson.net. ABOUT THE BULLETIN: The Bulletin is a twice-weekly politics and current events show from Christianity Today moderated by Clarissa Moll, with senior commentary from Russell Moore (Christianity Today’s editor-at-large and columnist) and Mike Cosper (senior contributor). Each week, the show explores current events and breaking news and shares a Christian perspective on issues that are shaping our world. We also offer special one-on-one conversations with writers, artists, and thought leaders whose impact on the world brings important significance to a Christian worldview, like Bono, Sharon McMahon, Harrison Scott Key, Frank Bruni, and more. The Bulletin listeners get 25% off CT. Go to https://orderct.com/THEBULLETIN to learn more. “The Bulletin” is a production of Christianity Today Producer: Clarissa Moll Associate Producer: Alexa Burke Editing and Mix: Kevin Morris Graphic Design: Rick Szuecs Music: Dan Phelps Executive Producers: Erik Petrik and Mike Cosper Senior Producer: Matt Stevens Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This paid message is from Glu.
0:02.0	There are 450,000 organizations across the U.S., churches, non-profits, and mission-driven businesses
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0:14.0	But most are operating in silos.
0:17.0	Glu is a leading technology platform serving this faith and flourishing ecosystem with a values-aligned AI platform that modernizes systems and marketing and donor solutions that expand reach.
0:29.5	Learn how Glu is helping organizations do more at Glu.com.
0:34.3	That's G-L-O-O-O-com.
0:42.1	Thank you. That's g-l-o-o.com. Hi, I'm Clarissa Mall, producer and moderator of the bulletin.
0:46.9	Since the war with Iran began, the national average gas price has increased to $4.50 a gallon,
0:53.3	reflecting skyrocketing oil prices due to the blockade
0:57.0	in the Strait of Hormuz. While sticker shock at the gas pump is our most salient contact point,
1:03.7	oil surrounds us every day. Spandex clothing, soap, furniture, sports equipment, electronics,
1:10.6	basically anything that has plastic in it uses oil
1:13.9	in its production. In today's long read from the CT archives, writer Ken Bocci traces how the
1:20.6	discovery and use of oil transformed our world and has transformed our hearts. In its discovery, Christians considered oil a gift from God.
1:31.3	But today, where is the place for Christian self-control,
1:35.3	love for neighbor, and care for God's creation as it relates to this natural resource?
1:41.3	This piece from 2019 is read today by James Thompson with updated statistics
1:47.4	and data that bring Ken Bocke's timeless words into the present moment. We hope you'll email us
1:53.6	at podcasts at Christianitytoday.com to tell us what you think.
2:18.9	By August 27, 1859, New England Railroad conductor Edwin L. Drake had been spending borrowed money for months,
2:20.3	and it was running out.
	...

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