CARING FOR THIS GOOD WORLD
I am confused and concerned about those who follow Jesus saying things like, “Environmentalists drive me crazy.” Or “I cannot believe our country is buying into the ‘green’ fad!” Or "Environmentalism is for lefties." In speaking about environmental issues once I was told by an angry brother, “You are a lousy tree hugger!” Those who champion caring for our environment have been referred to in an antagonistic way as “Climate Control Zealots.”
Why all the malice toward people trying to care for our earth, the earth that God calls good? I really do not understand why there is such vehement disagreement and debate about this issue, especially from those who follow Jesus, and believe in the Scripture. Since I have been asked repeatedly about this, I thought I would simply take the time to talk a little about why I am a tree hugger (I will let you determine if I am lousy).
In Genesis 1 we see the first call to care for the earth ever recorded in the history of mankind. The writer tells us God said,
"' ... fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.' Then God said, 'I give you every seed bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move on the ground - everything that has the breath of life in it - I give every green plant for food.' And it was so."
From the start, the first thing God tells humanity is to care for his earth.
In Genesis 2, the writer tells us,
"The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. "
Scholars refer to this verse as "The Creation Mandate". The word for "work" in that in this verse is abad. The idea of working and caring in the garden carries with it the idea that we are called to continue to create alongside of God. Caring for the earth was not simply for practical reasons.
It was God entrusting what he created to us - to humanity. He was giving us a way to interact with the earth - the dirt from which we were created - in worship to him. Humanity is made in God's image so when we co-create, care for and work his creation we are identifying with him. God invites us to participate with him in the ongoing process of creation.
In Genesis 3 the first man and woman go against God’s intentions for humanity. It is interesting to note what the punishment is for them.
The writer of Genesis records,
"To Adam [God] said, 'Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, "You must not eat of it," 'Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.'"
One of the immediate results of sin is the cursing of the dirt. God puts a barrier between man and the earth because of sin. At creation he gave humanity a charge to care for it and to work it. However, the work has now changed to toil. The word "toil" is atsav. It means more than work - it is sorrow, anxiety, devoid of joy.
Suddenly the relationship God instituted between man and the earth is broken. The work which Adam once was given was ultimately a vehicle for worship. That all changed and now has become joy-less labor.
However, God in his love of humanity did not abandon us. He pursued humanity to bring restoration, redemption, and reconciliation. In this redemption, God included the restoration our relationship to this earth. It is interesting to note how many times God brings the land or earth (The Hebrew word for land eretz is translated both as land, ground, and earth) into the promises he makes to humanity.
We often say that a rainbows are God's sign of his promise to us never to destroy the earth again by a flood. However Genesis 9.13 God says, " I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth." Which raises the question: "God made a covenant with the earth?"
Some object and say, “Why care for the earth, wait until you see what God is going to do to it!!” They say this in reference to 2 Peter 3.10-13 where Peter seems to say the earth is going to burn up. However, scholars have found older and more reliable manuscripts that give new meaning to the words in those verses. Rather than say the earth will be burned up, Peter wrote that the earth will be cleansed and purified. [1]
This is why the end of the book is so beautiful. John has a vision in Revelation of the new heaven and new earth. The earth has been restored, and humanity is living on a renovated planet. It seems that each time God reaches toward humanity he is redeeming an initial relationship he ordained from the beginning - our relationship with the earth. The Bible constantly speaks about God caring for his creation. Which makes sense. God creates the heavens and the earth, and calls it good. It does not make much sense to think that he would just stop caring about it.
The reality is that today we are no longer living in an unblemished creation. Creation, like humanity is experiencing the effects of sin. But we are headed for a renewed creation. As a result we believe we are to live in light of that future hope now. In direct relation to the earth then, we have a responsibility to care for creation. This responsibility was given in Genesis 1 and 2, and God never rescinded his command.
We should have a deep concern for the environment and ask how can we be more earth friendly. God called this place good and we should treat it as such.
[1] Michael Wittmer, Heaven Is a Place on Earth, p201,202
a prayer for all of us
While President Obama’s speech was no doubt memorable. While many will discuss, praise, or argue over Rick Warren. An 87 year-old preacher took the stage, and it is his prayer that I will remember about today.
With a face worn by years of struggle, he spoke words delivered from a heart strengthened by hope, renewal, and living out the realization of Dr. King’s dream. He began his prayer quoting the words of the Negro National Anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing, and finished by quoting the prophets Micah and Amos.
Here is a transcript of his prayer … may it be ours too.
“God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, thou who has brought us thus far along the way, thou who has by thy might led us into the light, keep us forever in the path, we pray, lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee, lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee. Shadowed beneath thy hand may we forever stand -- true to thee, O God, and true to our native land.
We truly give thanks for the glorious experience we've shared this day. We pray now, O Lord, for your blessing upon thy servant, Barack Obama, the 44th president of these United States, his family and his administration. He has come to this high office at a low moment in the national and, indeed, the global fiscal climate. But because we know you got the whole world in your hand, we pray for not only our nation, but for the community of nations. Our faith does not shrink, though pressed by the flood of mortal ills.
For we know that, Lord, you're able and you're willing to work through faithful leadership to restore stability, mend our brokenness, heal our wounds and deliver us from the exploitation of the poor or the least of these and from favoritism toward the rich, the elite of these.
We thank you for the empowering of thy servant, our 44th president, to inspire our nation to believe that, yes, we can work together to achieve a more perfect union. And while we have sown the seeds of greed -- the wind of greed and corruption, and even as we reap the whirlwind of social and economic disruption, we seek forgiveness and we come in a spirit of unity and solidarity to commit our support to our president by our willingness to make sacrifices, to respect your creation, to turn to each other and not on each other.
And now, Lord, in the complex arena of human relations, help us to make choices on the side of love, not hate; on the side of inclusion, not exclusion; tolerance, not intolerance.
And as we leave this mountaintop, help us to hold on to the spirit of fellowship and the oneness of our family. Let us take that power back to our homes, our workplaces, our churches, our temples, our mosques, or wherever we seek your will.
Bless President Barack, First Lady Michelle. Look over our little, angelic Sasha and Malia.
Help us then, now, Lord, to work for that day when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, when tanks will be beaten into tractors, when every man and every woman shall sit under his or her own vine and fig tree, and none shall be afraid; when justice will roll down like waters and righteousness as a mighty stream.
Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man, and when white will embrace what is right.
Let all those who do justice and love mercy say, Amen."