I began this train of thought before I attended Pristine Harmony this weekend, (September 23, 2006) which was encouraging and inspiring.. it brought a renewed passion for USING the knowledge I have. It needs to be shared... or what use does it have? So here are some thoughts on the Loving dispute of caring for creation...
"There are some people who think: 'It's our duty to destroy the earth so that we can be saved. We are instruments of God's will when we go through the drive-through, to make the world uninhabitable so that He will return.'" Hearing himself say this, Roberts shakes his head, as if to dispute it."
I dispute it also. But Mr. Roberts, founder of Legacy chocolates and profiled in this delicious article, is getting those ideas from somewhere. I am realizing I am beginning to have an apathy for this argument and becoming more impassioned with the core issue-- the gospel. God reconciling humanity to himself through His son IS the hope for the earth. God created the earth and everything in it, and cares so deeply about the wayward hostile people (or, as in the Hebrew, the COSMOS.. think about that) on it that He sent Jesus Christ as flesh to die for our sins, that we may now have right standing before God and live to glorify Him.
Some ideas on why the gospel is at stake in caring for creation:
1. Loving your neighbor
The tangible effects of selfishness on the land are seen in a country like Kenya. Say a wealthy landowner cuts down 20,000 acres of trees that once shaded a creek that feed the village well. Now there is serious erosion entering the stream, fish deaths due to temperature change, air pollution due to increased carbon dioxide, etc. etc. Taking Jesus' words seriously means asking "who is not my neighbor?" umm.. silence. Well, is no one, or conversely, is it everyone? Might loving my neighbor in China mean buying products and clothes that I know have been manufactured under safe conditions and with fair wages? It might mean buying less and giving more, and it might mean asking the Holy Spirit to guide and convict you in these issues...
2. Praying for those who persecute you
I have seen the anger from liberals and conservatives over environmental and social issues. There is a difference, in my mind, between politics and truth. There is a distinction between loving a brother and sister in Christ regardless of their identification with elephants, donkeys or greens. There is a difference between essential and non-essential issues. May the faithful take serious heed to ways in which their speech and actions demonstrate so clearly how they are not loving their "enemies." Christ commanded this.
3. Loving mercy
Micah 6:8 says: and what does the Lord your God require of you, but to seek justice and love mercy and walk humbly with your God. Justice, mercy, and walking humbly reek of going against the world order.
4. Love is patient
This is one of the most annoying misconceptions for me personally: the Christian's duty to speed up Jesus' coming. (the only way I know is through Matthew 9:27!! Amen). It's not our duty to destroy the earth anymore than it is our duty to destroy our bodies so we die and go to heaven! If your child is sick you bring them to the doctor to treat their illness-- you don't deny it so the end comes quicker! Jesus taught us to pray "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done." Perhaps our emphasis could be less on Maranatha and more on ushering in HIS kingdom.
Oh, let the church and its members wake up to the light of the glorious gospel-- how it leads us to care for our neighbors and his creation. After all, if God created it, how can't we care about it?
