Greenday Post

As always, Wednesday is Greenday. i've been reading a lot of interesting articles and literature lately on environmentalism and Christianity. Christians who are unwilling to self-identify as environmentalists, tree huggers or greenies have two major arguments. One argument is that the end of the world is eventually coming and there will be a new one, so why bother so very much with this one. i recently read an article that argued that Christians should refrain from being environmentalists. i was outraged. The essential premise is that an "environmentalist" is a person who believes we should try to preserve the world forever and since Jesus is returning some day, we would be foolish to believe the world will last forever.

Well, frankly, even a secular scientist will tell you that the world won't last forever. We'll either be swallowed by the sun in a few million years or be hit by an asteroid that will wipe us out. However, if we're to take seriously that the hour and dates for JC's big comeback tour are unknown (Mt 24:36), then we must plan for forever. Whether you're a Christian or an atheist, you gotta believe the world won't last forever, but it could be tomorrow, could be in a million years. And you don't plan to take care of your planet only through the end of the week any more than you plan to take care of your car through the end of the work day just in case the world ends.

Many believers take a different approach. This is the second argument. They're convinced that God made this world solely for the use and enjoyment of humankind. Therefore, if we need to cut down every tree in the world for houses, well, that's what they're there for. If we need to completely obliterate a species of birds or fish or whales in order to eat and/or have fun, well, that's what God made 'em for, right? It's an interesting argument and these believers point to Genesis, when God tells Adam it's his job to have dominion over all of nature.

Interesting.

If this was the only scripture or even the only book that references the relationship God intends for humans to have with creation, we could argue the point, but it might very well indicate nature was God's gift to humans and nothing more. However, even the creation story isn't that simple. God doesn't create a blank planet, set people on it and then create plants and animals and rain and sunshine to keep them happy. No, God creates a lavish world and delights in it before he ever even starts in with the play dough. The question many ask is, "Do animals exist to sustain people?" This is the wrong question. Even if the answer is yes (and i'll wager it is), the more thoughtful and faithful question is, "Do animals exist for any other reason than to sustain people?" This question seeks God's will more than human desire.

Creation exists as more than a comfort to humankind. First of all, nature exists for God's delight. Much of scripture, especially Psalms and Job indicate that God delights in creation. It makes God happy! Now, mere mortal that i am, i'm gonna go with this being more important than my comfort and sustenance. But that's just me. Heck, Job 41 indicates that God provides water and shelter for animals. It doesn't indicate that God does this so we can eat those animals. In fact, many of those animals would have been impossible for them to capture or kill and others were forbidden by God. Why take care of them so diligently if they are of no use to humans?

Nature was certainly made with human needs in mind, but not with them as the sole concern. Nature also exists to create in humankind the kind of awe that is the faithful and true worshipful response we ought to have for God. What else could create in us the sort of awe and inspiration than nature itself, whether the heavenly bodies or waterfalls or sunsets or an eagle soaring or a snowy vista from Pike's Peak? Nature evokes that in us which God desires, the response of glorifying the creator.

And lastly, creation, nature requires our cooperation. God commanded the birds and all creatures of the sea to go forth and multiply. It's a solidly grounded Biblical principal that we are responsible for not actively causing others to be disobedient to God. It is better even for a millstone to put around our necks as we're thrown in the ocean than to lead a child astray. How horrible is it then for us to eradicate the dodo or hunt whales to extinction? If we prevent the obedience of an entire species through our own carelessness or greed, will we not be held accountable?

Nature exists for our sustenance, certainly. It was created with humans in mind and we were given the responsibility to make use of it and care for it. However, God's creation exists for more than our benefit. We have been given domain, but it belongs to God. In Job 41:11b God says, “Everything under heaven belongs to me.” Not us. It exists for God's delight and to evoke the deepest sense of awe for our creator and we have a great gift and burden in proper stewardship and coexistence, whether it's until this weekend or until the Browns win the Super bowl.