And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt. - Sylvia Plath
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Thursday, March 01, 2007,9:16 AM
Creation Care
I recently came across a short article by N.T. Wright that explores why Christians should care for God's creation. Read it here.
I like how he acknowledges that how we view the environment is often wrapt up in our eschatology. Of course political and economic leanings play a big role as well, but its easier to trash the world if the point is to leave it for the pie in the sky when we die. But Wright questions that excuse by comparing it to a view of sin. He says, "If I said, well, I find it difficult to struggle against sin – but one day God will save me and make me totally his, so why bother in the present? – if I said something like that, every pastor worth their salt would tell me that what God intends to do with me in the future must be anticipated, as best I can in the power of the Spirit, by me in the present."
As was stated over and over again at the recent Academy Awards, caring for the environment - caring for God's creation - is a moral, not political, issue. It is an act of worship to God, a way to show our love to him. That's why I really don't get the people who accuse (and hence write off) environmentalists of loving the creation more than the creator. Showing love for the creation is a way of loving the creator. Do we accuse Mother Teresa of loving the poor more than she loved God and therefore say what she did was wrong?
When our theology (be it opinions about end times or the date of creation), or politics, or our consumerism become an excuse to hurt God and his creation there is something seriously wrong.
I like how he acknowledges that how we view the environment is often wrapt up in our eschatology. Of course political and economic leanings play a big role as well, but its easier to trash the world if the point is to leave it for the pie in the sky when we die. But Wright questions that excuse by comparing it to a view of sin. He says, "If I said, well, I find it difficult to struggle against sin – but one day God will save me and make me totally his, so why bother in the present? – if I said something like that, every pastor worth their salt would tell me that what God intends to do with me in the future must be anticipated, as best I can in the power of the Spirit, by me in the present."
As was stated over and over again at the recent Academy Awards, caring for the environment - caring for God's creation - is a moral, not political, issue. It is an act of worship to God, a way to show our love to him. That's why I really don't get the people who accuse (and hence write off) environmentalists of loving the creation more than the creator. Showing love for the creation is a way of loving the creator. Do we accuse Mother Teresa of loving the poor more than she loved God and therefore say what she did was wrong?
When our theology (be it opinions about end times or the date of creation), or politics, or our consumerism become an excuse to hurt God and his creation there is something seriously wrong.
Labels: Social Justice, Theology
posted by Julie at 9:16 AM
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8 Comments:
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At 3/01/2007 02:54:00 PM,
kentIf I remember correctly we were called to be stewards of the earth long before we called to do anything else (evangelism included). I do not see anything in the biblical record that tells us that what God intended in Genesis 2 has be revoked. If our stewardship of this world and its riches are going to be examined we have some explaining to do. A "use and toss" mentality has never been biblical.
Uh-oh - you'd better be careful what you post or Jerry Falwell will also be calling you a "proselytizer for Satan" for distracting us from our real job - evangelism. Enviromentalism be damned. Cuz you know in 100 years no one will care anyway....
And, Oh, God will make sure the earth's resources are sufficient for all of us until his return. So there is no need to be environmental. Wasting time we would better be using witnessing...
Environmentalism. Global Warming.
They're a ploy. A distraction. A Myth.
Buy an SUV. :)
Gotta love this guy......;)