The title of this post borrows from Gary Haugen's path-breaking book, Good News About Injustice (one of 3 or 4 books that set the course of my life). At bottom, the good news about injustice is that God is against it - and calls us to join him in His efforts. I am coming to believe there is something similar going on with our care for creation as well. The good news about environmental abuse and poor stewardship of the creation is that God is against it, and we should be too.
This past year, I left a law firm job to join with some friends to launch a "green" company. (More on that another time). It is fascinating how this can change people's perspective of you (entrepreneur, environmentalist, lawyer?). I am also finding many people have a desired access point to the conversation on the environment, as well as certain triggers on which the walls immediately go up. For some, it’s okay to be in this space to bring to market cool new technologies (and they will associate with you on this ground), as long as you are not using apocalyptic language (at which they will tune you out). For others, it's good that you want to "save the world," but when you approach it as a "business" they get a sour taste. I'll be honest, I am still learning some of the nuances in this space, and I am sure there are more land mines to come.
So how do you step into the conversation on environmental stewardship? (1) It's about time. (2) What's the big deal? (3) This is the greatest issue facing our generation, and we need to stop climate change before we pass the tipping point. (4) Environmental stewardship = Al Gore / global warming / ice caps melting / scare tactics / media frenzy / the latest fad doomsday scenario. No matter your present opinion, I want to challenge you: this is an issue with which we, as believers, need to do business in our generation. To treat it as a superficial conversation is unwise, ignorant, and abandons the field to differently motivated actors. And I am just as guilty of all these. It also ignores a great issue on which to find common cause.
But why do we need to do business with this issue in our generation? I am not going to begin with an apocalyptic premise. Rather, as a believer, I think the beginning of this conversation is the following: the good news about environmental abuse / poor stewardship of the creation is that God is against it. God cares about His creation. And so should we.
1. First, God cares about His creation.
Genesis 1: At least 6 times, before creating humanity, God looks at his creation and finds it good, celebrating what He has made. In creating people, he entrusts his precious creation to our care and calls it very good.
Genesis 1:22: God blesses the creatures of the sea and the sky and tells them to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.
Genesis 9: 8-17: After the flood, God establishes His covenant with Noah and his sons and every living creature that was with them (which we are told are representatives for purposes of the covenant of every living creature on earth). Of note, (1) God entered into covenant with His creation (not just with people); (2) the covenant is "everlasting," (3) the covenant is one-sided, with no counter-obligation (God will never again have the waters become a flood to destroy all life, and the rainbow is His reminder of this covenant with His creation).
Psalm 8, Psalm 24: God's glory is made known in creation; the earth is the Lord's.
Colossians 1:16 (of Jesus): "For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him."
2. Second, if God cares about his creation, as His image-bearers, so should we. In fact, it is even stronger than this – we were made for this purpose, and the destiny of creation has been linked with our own.
Genesis 1:28: Humanity is commissioned to fill the earth and govern it.
Romans 8:18-21: "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God."
As N.T. Wright says of this passage: "Humans were made to take care of God’s wonderful world, and it is not too strong to say that the reason God saves humans is not simply that he loves them for themselves but that he loves them for what they truly are – his pro-creators, his stewards, his vice regents over creation." Justification: God's Plan and Paul's Vision at p.234
Or, as Jonathan Edwards preached (a bit more darkly), "God’s creatures are good, and were made for men to serve God with, and do not willingly subserve to any other purpose, and groan when they are abused to purposes so directly contrary to their nature and end. And the world would spew you out, were it not for the sovereign hand of him who hath subjected it in hope." ("Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," Enfield, CT, July 8, 1741).
Or as St. Basil the Great preached: "I want creation to penetrate you with so much admiration that everywhere, wherever you may be, the least plant may bring to you the clear remembrance of the Creator." (Hexaemeron, Homily V).
Let me say in closing, the challenge and calling here is not in conflict with our call as believers to be about sharing the Good News and seeing people reconciled to God; it is not in conflict with being about issues of social justice and mercy (caring for the poor, standing against injustice and human exploitation) -- the issues often overlap. We are not flat stock characters with bit roles; instead we are called to three dimensional roles in the unfolding drama of what God is doing. I am still learning how this area of my character will be fleshed out -- but I no longer have the option of sitting on the sidelines. Because God cares about His creation, and so should we. Thoughts?
Comments