In The Beginning: Creation Appreciation #7

So, if we believe that we, as Christians, ought to be stewards of God's creation, how are we doing? Do Christians have a voice in the environmental conversation or green movement? Are we speaking for God's interests on behalf of His creation? Do we even have enough influence in the world to have a voice?

The next three sessions of this class will be a discussion entitled, "How do Christians engage the green movement?" We'll break this discussion into three parts:
1. Our Sphere of Influence
2. The Disease of Consumption
3. Energy and Resources

In order to evaluate Our Sphere of Influence, let's look at the historical growth of Christianity:



According to Mission Frontiers, of the world's population:


There is much data to show that the world is seeing a shift in the geographical center of Christianity (that is, England is already "postChristian" and the U.S. is quickly following, while Africa and Asia are seeing exponential growth in Jesus followers). Already, African nations are preparing to send Christian missionaries to Western countries. There are more Presbyterians in South Korea than in the U.S. Even this month, many underground churches in China are becoming legally sanctioned and moving into the mainstream, thanks in large part to the Olympics pushing China into the world's focus. Still, even with this large shift, Christianity is growing globally. Our influence mirrors that growth.

In 1967, Lynn White published an article that has served well to bring Christians into the conversation of stewarding creation. The Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis suggests that the fault of our current ecological situation lies on the shoulders of hundreds of years of Christians promoting a theology that we have dominion over the earth and can consume its resources according to our wants and desires. Moreover, being made in the image of God, we are superior to the remainder of creation and therefore creation exists to serve us.

If you are at all serious about this subject, you need to read his article. It provides great insight into the history of this issue.

I agree with White on a couple of points. First, he is right that Christians have such an influence over the world that our ideals, good or misguided, can have global effects. This, of course, is all the more reason that we need to have strong theology on creation and make sure we are taking care of it. Second, he is right to some degree that Christians can find some level of arrogance in being made in God's image. Sometimes we can forget that we do not own the land. Rather we are a part of God's creation.

In his conclusion, White states,

No new set of basic values has been accepted in our society to displace those of Christianity. Hence we shall continue to have a worsening ecologic crisis until we reject the Christian axiom that nature has no reason for existence save to serve man.

His statement is true, though it has a false premise. More than anything else, Christianity does influence the world, however, not all Christians believe the false axiom that nature serves man. Some of us realize that nature, in fact, serves to glorify its supernatural Creator.

If you find yourself feeling above the rest of creation, or arrogant in any way regarding your place in creation, read God's response to Job in Job 38-41. Not only does God humble Job, but His words can serve to remind us of our place in creation as well.

I'll share one comment from the class that I thought was interesting. Jeff, received the text from Job differently. Since today's man has achieved most of the things the Creator lists to humble Job, Jeff sees this text as an even bigger responsibility we have to steward the earth. That is, since we can feed the lions and catch the whales of the deep, we have all the more reason to be sure we are being responsible guarders of God's creation. I thought that was a pretty fresh hearing of this text as well.

...if you didn't already, scroll back up and read White's article...