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As spring comes into full bloom I am reminded of what the Bible says about God's creation. Psalm 19:1-4 (niv) says, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world." In the letter to the Romans, Paul wrote, "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made..." (Romans 1:20 niv). Psalm 104 is another beautiful poem that expresses the wonder of all God's creation. The book of Genesis tells us that the earth and everything that inhabits it was created by God (Genesis 1-2). Genesis also tells us that seven times God declared what he created was good. (As a side note: in the Bible the number seven represents completion and/or perfection. Thus, God declared creation completely and perfectly good.) Genesis also tells us God's intended purpose for humanity. Genesis 2:15 (niv) states, "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it."
Earlier in Genesis we are given further significant details about humanity's relationship to nature. We are told that God made the first man from the ground (Genesis 2:7). Genesis also tells us that all the land animals were made from the ground (Genesis 1:24). These details have profound implications for our understanding of the connection we as human beings have with the natural world. Not only does the Bible tell us that we are made from the same material as other land animals; it also tells us that we are to be the caretakers of God's creation—His garden. (I could also make an argument that God intended humans to be vegetarians when he instructed Adam and Eve to eat plants and fruits only, not the animals... but that article is for another day...) Many Evangelicals are beginning to understand our mandate as proclaimed by God himself to be good stewards and caretakers of His magnificent creation. The Evangelical Covenant Church adopted a resolution on creation care in 2007 and began printing a section in the Covenant Companion on creation care. Almost 350 Evangelical pastors and leaders, including Bill Hybels and Rick Warren, have signed a statement, Climate Change: An Evangelical Call to Action. I do not want to offer support or criticism of global warming or the sighed statement just mentioned. What I do want to say is that as Christians our concern for the earth should not be based on it being a popular political or social issue. Nor should our concern for the earth be based on a fear that humanity is destroying the earth and subsequently ourselves because of our carbon emissions. Likewise, any lack of concern for the earth should not be based on an alliance with any political or social group. Any lack of concern for the earth should not be based on fear of being labeled liberal. Any lack of concern for the earth should not be based on a theological view that this place is not our home and we are just passing through. As Christians, who believe in the centrality of God's word in our lives, we should understand that we have a responsibility to care for the earth because it is our purpose. If one wants to live a purpose-driven life, let it be one that is based on God's intentions for humanity back at the beginning of creation. It seems like a silly debate to ask whether or not God is green. Did He create everything around us? Then He is green. At First Covenant, the facilities commission has started a recycling program in the office and intends to expand it further. If there are any suggestions from those who are members and friends here at First Covenant we welcome them. We should not only do our part as a collective but I challenge each of us to think about what can be done as individuals. Does each of us effectively think about how to reduce waste, reuse stuff and recycle? How often do we think about how to be better stewards of God's creation? I hope we start because that is what we are purposed to do.
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