In The Beginning: Creation Appreciation #3
Creation's Role in the Psalms: A Creation That Worships Its Maker
In this class we've had a great deal of conversation about the purposes of God's creation. The Psalms seem to indicate that one of the primary purposes of the creation is to worship the Lord. Consider Psalms 96 and 98:
Also, read the entire 104th Psalm.
Creation is trying to cry out in praise, but is hampered by man's sin.
Another theme of these Psalms is that the earth rejoices at the coming judgment. Most people have fear at the coming judgment. Even the believers who have hope in Christ, know that the day of judgment will be a bittersweet day. So why does the earth rejoice at the approaching day of judgment? And does the earth have any role to play in that day? Is there such a thing as the salvation of the earth?
John 3:16, 17 says: For God so loved the cosmos that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the cosmos to condemn the cosmos, but to save the cosmos through him.
Does that only refer to the people that live within the cosmos?
Maybe salvation of the earth is a setting things right; a return to the Creator’s ideals; a removing of sin and defilement. Sin invites pain and suffering and hampers the full revelation of God’s glory. Salvation will loosen the tongues of God’s creation to sing his praises. Perhaps the earth looks forward to that day when it can more fully echo God's glory.
This conversation can't honestly be held without asking some straightforward eschatological questions as well...
An Allegorical New Heaven and New Earth?
If this world is not my home and I'm just a-passing through, and if this world is just going to get burned up and disappear one day anyway, then should we really care about what happens to the earth? Will the earth be destroyed?
Some passages like 1 John 2.15-17 are misapplied to this sort of discussion. This passage is using "the world" to talk about "sinful desires". Still there are other passages like 2 Peter 3.10-13 that seem to indicate the world will be destroyed.
A good point was made in class that the world was "destroyed" during the flood but did not cease to exist.
A larger theme of Scripture seems to indicate a healing of God's creation.
Consider Jesus' inauguration of the Kingdom of God on earth. He had great concern for healing pain in this world. Jesus wanted us to love our neighbors on earth. His prayer sought the Father's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Lastly, read Revelation 21.1-5. Verse 1 says heaven and earth have passed away and then in the next verse, the New Jerusalem comes down out of heaven... which heaven is that? The one that was just destroyed?
Of course Revelation does rely on metaphors a great deal, but what does this mean? If you read Rev 19-21 you'll notice a lot of language about heaven coming down to earth. It's true that the Jewish worldview consisted of three heavens (first heaven = atmosphere & sky; second heaven = outer space; third heaven = dwelling place of God), but I've wrestled with this a great deal over the last few years and here's my conclusion (which could very well be wrong): earth refers to the dwelling place of humanity and heaven refers to the dwelling place of God. There will be a day when those dwelling places overlap so that we will physically be in God's presence here on earth.
We finished the class with this quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:
What are your thoughts regarding the end of times?
Is investing in the earth a waste of time and energy?
Is our only incentive to steward the earth based on our love for our kids' kids?
In this class we've had a great deal of conversation about the purposes of God's creation. The Psalms seem to indicate that one of the primary purposes of the creation is to worship the Lord. Consider Psalms 96 and 98:
Also, read the entire 104th Psalm.
Creation is trying to cry out in praise, but is hampered by man's sin.
Another theme of these Psalms is that the earth rejoices at the coming judgment. Most people have fear at the coming judgment. Even the believers who have hope in Christ, know that the day of judgment will be a bittersweet day. So why does the earth rejoice at the approaching day of judgment? And does the earth have any role to play in that day? Is there such a thing as the salvation of the earth?
John 3:16, 17 says: For God so loved the cosmos that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the cosmos to condemn the cosmos, but to save the cosmos through him.
Does that only refer to the people that live within the cosmos?
Maybe salvation of the earth is a setting things right; a return to the Creator’s ideals; a removing of sin and defilement. Sin invites pain and suffering and hampers the full revelation of God’s glory. Salvation will loosen the tongues of God’s creation to sing his praises. Perhaps the earth looks forward to that day when it can more fully echo God's glory.
This conversation can't honestly be held without asking some straightforward eschatological questions as well...
An Allegorical New Heaven and New Earth?
If this world is not my home and I'm just a-passing through, and if this world is just going to get burned up and disappear one day anyway, then should we really care about what happens to the earth? Will the earth be destroyed?
Some passages like 1 John 2.15-17 are misapplied to this sort of discussion. This passage is using "the world" to talk about "sinful desires". Still there are other passages like 2 Peter 3.10-13 that seem to indicate the world will be destroyed.
A good point was made in class that the world was "destroyed" during the flood but did not cease to exist.
A larger theme of Scripture seems to indicate a healing of God's creation.
Consider Jesus' inauguration of the Kingdom of God on earth. He had great concern for healing pain in this world. Jesus wanted us to love our neighbors on earth. His prayer sought the Father's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Lastly, read Revelation 21.1-5. Verse 1 says heaven and earth have passed away and then in the next verse, the New Jerusalem comes down out of heaven... which heaven is that? The one that was just destroyed?
Of course Revelation does rely on metaphors a great deal, but what does this mean? If you read Rev 19-21 you'll notice a lot of language about heaven coming down to earth. It's true that the Jewish worldview consisted of three heavens (first heaven = atmosphere & sky; second heaven = outer space; third heaven = dwelling place of God), but I've wrestled with this a great deal over the last few years and here's my conclusion (which could very well be wrong): earth refers to the dwelling place of humanity and heaven refers to the dwelling place of God. There will be a day when those dwelling places overlap so that we will physically be in God's presence here on earth.
We finished the class with this quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:
Thank God for John, who centuries ago out on a lonely, obscure island called Patmos caught vision of a new Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God, who heard a voice saying, "Behold, I make all things new; former things are passed away."
God grant that we will be participants in this newness and this magnificent development. If we will but do it, we will bring about a new day of justice and brotherhood and peace. And that day the morning stars will sing together and the sons of God will shout for joy.
What are your thoughts regarding the end of times?
Is investing in the earth a waste of time and energy?
Is our only incentive to steward the earth based on our love for our kids' kids?
Labels: ecology, environment, in the beginning, religion
posted by Eric Livingston at
6/25/2008
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