No one argues that continuing depredation of our environment threatens our planet and our existence on it, but conflict arises in finding a solution to the problem. BGEA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. To get to that answer, let me share a truth that’s made a huge difference in my life and the lives of my family members. After careful reading of the Bible, I found relevant ve… He is the author of many books, including The Real God, Culture Shock and The Real Heaven. After God created Adam, the first human, the Bible says He “took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15). But does God care about the environment and how we take care of the earth? Local: 704-401-2432 The weather, plants, and animals are all part of the environment God created on the Earth. It is a rather different reading of the biblical tradition to that often (lazily) assumed to be the orthodoxy of Judeo-Christian belief. One such belief is founded on God’s promise for our future. A preacher…, Feel like you need a makeover? My prayer is that during our time together we’ll discover the power of bringing God’s light – not heat – to the core issues of today. Privacy I feel ashamed that I have allowed myself to get so caught up in the world's concern about the environment. God and the Human Environment: Catholic Principles of Environmental Stewardship as a Template for Action in Nigeria brings into conversation the Churchs theological reflection on the mandate to care for Gods creation and the circumstances of the environment in Nigeria. We hear regularly that this tradition authorises the exploitation of the earth through the language in Genesis about "having dominion" over the non-human creation. However, all religions agree that the creation is an act of God and should be treated as such. Exactly how you and your family should apply this principle is something we can’t possibly prescribe. By I confess that I haven’t always been the most sensitive when it came to living a “green” lifestyle, and I’ve often just glossed over the issue. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The Quran and the Prophetic Traditions [sayings and actions of Muhammad] make it clear that the environment is a blessing and a sign of the divine. For if this is not done, humanity will decline, human conflict will escalate and human deprivation and suffering will increase dramatically. The Bible says that they are as much a part of God's creation as mankind itself: Isaiah 43:20-21 "The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may … A scriptural perspective of nature needs to include the fact that today's balance of nature, even in those "pristine" areas, has lost the harmony of its original state. Learn More >>, Copyright © Living on the Edge. This week, we’re starting the series Culture Shock. God asked all humans to be stewards of the environment in Genesis 1:28, when he said to Adam and Eve, “Be fruitful and … Let us look at the paragraphs that deal with this. There are few topics that I’ve ever encountered that cause as much controversy and polarizing opinions as the environment. When God created the world it was perfect—but then sin, like a deadly sickness, invaded the universe, and with it came every type of evil and natural disaster. Part of the problem is that the world is no longer the way God intended it to be. More particularly, human beings are understood as part of an increasingly interconnected global community. This means that we are to use the earth, but not abuse it. The Bible says that those who destroy God's creation will be judged and destroyed themselves. God ‘Making All Things New’ Doesn’t Mean Christians Can Ignore the Environment by Nancy Sleeth. This isn’t a trick question: What’s the second most important thing about you? When I consult my NRSV Bible, I’m reading a translation of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Koine Greek. Read what Billy Graham once said about this. While protecting the environment is certainly a worthwhile endeavor, the Bible makes it clear that nature, as we know it, has changed considerably since it was given to us in Eden. The environment is his creation, a precious and holy resource with which he entrusted all humans the loving care and wise use of. "Community" and "relationship" are "in words" in current environmental and creational discussions. An extreme makeover, perhaps? All of creation belongs to Jesus (Col. 1:16; Ps. This answer explains. Are we in danger of destroying the world? Certainly, God did not give man the authority to degrade and destroy His earth. God made oxygen, plants, and the creatures all for our benefit and also to reflect who He is. We can start by focusing on the main issues such as clean air, water, productivity and progress with constraints for conservation, eliminating waste and recycling, with each person doing their own part. When God created the world it was perfect—but then sin, like a deadly sickness, invaded the universe, and with it came every type of evil and natural disaster. The genus name, Diospyros, is often translated as “food of the gods”, but due to its high tannin content, the unripe fruit is mouth-puckeringly astringent and bitter. God & the Environment Environmentalists and their politically progressive allies have long dismissed conservative evangelical Christians as repressive moralists and industry apologists. Understanding this difference will shape a Christian’s view of environmentalism. Perhaps you can relate. The original “Extreme Makeover” has over the last decade spawned countless spinoffs and copy-cats—some you probably don’t…, Living on the Edge exists to help Christians live like Christians. Since the days of the early church, followers of Jesus Christ have known this remarkable teaching of Colossians 1:15-20, and for centuries prior to the Incarnation, God had also been affirmed as Creator. Earth Day: Does God Care About the Environment? The Bible says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23). Read Next. The Quran refers to natural phenomena numerous times and compels readers to ponder over the environment as a reflection of the truth - … Someday God will intervene; Christ will return and all these evils will be destroyed. They are quite wrong, however, to blame God for the earth's ecological problems; He is not responsible for man's destruction of the natural world. Should Christians Work to Protect the Environment? The Bible is clear that it’s our responsibility to care for the Earth the way God would care for it. It was then that I began realize that, first and foremost, we need to look at what God has to say about how we should think, act and respond in regard to the environment. ©2021 BGEA People argue about global warming, the unequal treatment and rights of all species, and even whether the whole environment debate itself is overblown. Each of these cycles helps to provide all that is … In fact, Paul, one of the writers of the New Testament, decl… “ The New Message from God emphasizes that the world’s environment must be preserved and well cared for if humanity is to have a future. Conservation and Stewardship of God's Creation "The Earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof" (Ps 24:1). Sound familiar? But the bottom line is that we need to treat the earth with the same priority that God does – and the earth really matters to God! And I brought you into a plentiful land to enjoy its fruits and … Contact Us. After all, the Bible was written well over 1,000 years ago–and not in English. Policies & Procedures. Go to Wikipedia and type in “makeover TV shows.” You might be amazed. After speaking of God as Creator of heaven and earth and of all that is seen and unseen (325), it then goes on to speak of the angelic order, and finally of the visible world. God created the world, holds everything together, and reconciles all things through Jesus Christ. In vivid terms and with systemic thinking, Fr. "He is before all things, and in … Consider These Thoughts About God, God and Nature: 4 Answers from Billy Graham, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201 It’s no wonder that Christians as a whole have been the slowest to become environmentally responsible. We are to enjoy it but not worship it. So what does it look like to live in light of this truth? Chip Ingram, Teaching Pastor Billy Graham   •   It fulfills the Great Commandments to love God and love what God loves. Tagged Environment, God and the environment Leave a comment Jubilee Church Blog Keep up-to-date with the latest posts and musings from members of Jubilee Church, Coventry. 24:1). He created it, and He has entrusted its care to us. Toll Free: 1-877-247-2426. The planet earth and different environments such as forests, deserts, oceans, lakes and rivers were created by God with natural life-support systems in his mind and design. The Bible is clear that the earth and everything in it was given by God to man to rule over and subdue. Billy Graham’s Answer, Into Science? Just like a painting tells you a lot about its artist, so the earth tells us about its Creator. Some Christians hold beliefs—which appear to be rooted in Scripture—that contribute to an indifferent or exploitive approach to the earth. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal … We must manage the environment not simply for our own benefit but for God′s glory. February 25, 2020 . God has given man the task of caring for and protecting His creation on the earth. If you go to BibleGateway and search the New Revised Standard Version for “environment,” it returns 0 results. But until that day, you and I are called to be good stewards of the world God created. Psalm 19:1-2 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Our interactions with the environment should aim at improving human life and alleviating the sufferings of men, women, and children who have been created in the image of God. Spiritual leaders at all levels are critical to the success of the global solidarity for an ethical, moral and spiritual commitment to protect the environment and God’s creation. A: Yes, God certainly does care about the way we treat the earth. Thank you so much, sir, for reminding me just Who is in charge here. Think of it: someday all the things that are wrong with this world will be reversed! Chip and his wife, Theresa, have four grown children and twelve grandchildren and live in California. The material world matters to God; He sustains it all the time. Then, the Bible says, “the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay” (Romans 8:21). Conservative Christians have long opposed climate science, saying human induced warming goes against God’s omnipotence. April 22, 2020 The earth has intrinsic value and reflects the character and beauty of the creator. Chip Ingram is the CEO and teaching pastor of Living on the Edge, an international teaching and discipleship ministry. God and the Environment (February 1999) February 1999 Volume 8, Number 2 Environmental concerns are a top priority to many people these days, and some environmentalists fell Christians are a chief cause of ecological ruin. God Is Creator! In addition, the world is constantly damaged by the sins of human selfishness and greed. What I discovered is that we as Christians ought to be the most environmentally conscious people in all of the Earth since we believe in the God who created it. God built several major chemical cycles into our planet earth home. In addition, the world is constantly damaged by the sins of human selfishness and greed. Someday God will intervene; Christ will return and all these evils will be destroyed. Get free sermon MP3s, devotionals, blog content and more. Matt Chandler: Here’s Why Lent Still Matters. Home First, God Himself says that His creation is very good. Paragraphs that deal with this world will be destroyed beauty of the environment is His creation the... New Revised Standard Version for “ environment, ” it returns 0 results genti ( 5/3/2010 ) from europe... 8:21 ) certainly does care about the environment this world will be.... 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