I mentioned earlier on this week that among all the things covered in church life, one that rarely gets a proper look is the responsibility of man to God’s creation.
Whether you buy into the reasons for climate change, it’s not unrealistic to acknowledge that many of the way’s God’s creation is treated by man is appalling. It’s bade enough we cannot treat each other right, it’s worse that we apply that same mismanagement to relations with the environment. It is no surprise, then, that at some level that abuse is having its consequences whether in the extinction of certain breeds of animal or the places that are being rendered uninhabitable.
For all the advances of modern technology, it remains a shame that it has not reflected in advances in engaging with the environment in a friendlier manner. It is a pity that the phrase ‘have dominion’ has become a domination to destruction for many, with a lot of us keeping a closed eye to the things going on around us.
So what does that have to do with the gospel of peace? After all Jesus came to save people, not animal or plant life. It doesn’t matter, then, does it?
The image of the new heaven and the new earth with the old heaven and earth passing, also lends credence to not be too fussed with the current state of things as it is all going up in smoke, anyway.
I am in no way suggesting an eco-extremist agenda where we place everything around us to the same level and deify nature. There is certainly a temptation to be subtly influenced by some New Age ideologies that touch on Mother Earth and all that stuff, and if you’re not careful you can spend more of your time caring about the plight of a bird than you do about your next door neighbour.
Somehow, however, I don’t think that will be the current concern for many in Christian circles. The concern remains the opposite. The concern remains that we fail to see that God still expects us to be good stewards over what He has given us – and one of those blessings is the very environment we live in.
Man’s first responsibility of tending to a garden remains for intents and purposes man’s responsibility, except the garden is a lot bigger and comes with a greater variety than Adam had to cope with.
It is the vision of the new heave and new earth where all things have culminated in the shalom of God, that should motivate a more caring attitude to God’s creation now. The rise of the sons of God sees followers of Christ being far more considerate for what they want to do and how they want to do it than they were previously. Even as we’re happy to share resources, so we’re delighted to show ourselves good stewards of God’s glorious creation.
To some extent, then, there is a Mandate of Creation Responsibility that brings a suitable completion to the peace that God gives between man and Him, then the crucial inner peace and then peace with others.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
dmcd
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