Tree-hugging Christians
Tree-hugging Christians
“I’m no greenie but…” Have you ever heard someone start a sentence this way? As if having an environmental conscience suddenly makes you a pot-smoking, dread-locked, left-thinking feral just looking for the next bulldozer to chain yourself to. What do you think about the environment? When I started writing this article I was planning to critique other people’s points of view of the environment but a few good conversations with friends helped me realise that what I needed to do was clearly lay out the theological basis for environmental protection. Of course this all happened 48 hours before ‘The Page’ was to go to print – so I’m feeling a little shaky on what is written below this introduction – have a read and if it prompts thought and/or discussion the goal has been achieved!
Before we conclude to what extent our involvement in environmental issues should be need to get our theology of the creation right. Firstly, our universal rejection of God as ruler is the reason the world is in a sorry state. Though we can see directly that the sinful desires of humans causes environmental disasters (companies that make money without care for sustainability or factories that pollute waterways because it is cheaper), ultimately it is our decision to rule the world without God in the picture that has caused the problem. The environmental problems we see are really only the flesh wounds of our major problem – we have turned away from the very one who created the earth.
But it didn’t stay that way. God’s plan was for a man to rule over the earth. That Man is Jesus. His death and resurrection has restored the problem.
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible... all things were created though him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the firstborn from among the dead, that in everything he may be pre-eminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and though him reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of the cross.” Colossians 1:15-20 (ESV)
There is a lot to take in there but the point is clear. ‘All things’ were reconciled though Jesus’ death. His resurrection means that he is pre-eminent or supreme over all things now as ruler of the earth. In the same way, Jesus speaking in the vision of Revelation 3:14 calls himself “the beginning (or ‘ruler’ NIV) of God’s creation”. That is, Jesus rules over the creation now and has paid the price to reconcile it on the cross. Jesus is the ultimate conservationist.
So why don’t we see redeemed creation now? It still looks pretty stuffed and getting worse to me. Creation has been redeemed but the full restoration hasn’t yet come about. In Romans 8 we read that the “whole creation has been groaning” (v22) for the final day “to be set free from its bondage to decay” (v21). In the same way, we too are redeemed people but “groan inwardly” as we wait for our bodies to be transformed on the last day (v23).
So how do we act towards the environment and live with a redeemed (but not yet) creation? As redeemed (but not yet) people we live in a way that pleases God (1 Peter 1:13-18). That is, in light of the resurrection, we see Jesus as Lord now over creation and ourselves and we need to act in ways that reflect this truth. Our attitude towards the environment should be the same as we have towards other issues in the world. We look to see what God intended and we push towards that ideal.
Christians believe that God is a just god, they see perversion of justice as ungodly and in various ways they push social justice within the community. Likewise, Christians see that disease and sicknesses is part of the fallen world and in response Christians throughout history have been at the forefront of medical care and cure. So, a Christian should not say “hey its cool, sit back relax, don’t worry that that person swindled a whole heap of money out of the investors, we believe God is just. It will catch up with them on the last day” or for the second example “don’t worry about your (insert random illness here) mate, yes you have it because we live in a fallen world, but in the last day your body will be restored, sit back and let’s see what happens”. Though both these responses include true statements they don’t reflect how we are to live now in the end times in our reaction to the effects of sin. In the same way, now that we are aware that environmental destruction is the result of human sin, how can we continue contributing to it? We should be doing what we can to care for the environment and ensure that our lifestyles contribute as little as possible to its further demise.
Well, I realise that I made a few quick jumps there, and I know that there may be a case to argue out my examples further, certainly I think there is scope to argue that human care is on a different level to environmental care. But hopefully this article has given you some food for thought. Writing this all down has definitely made me re-think the basis for a few things I was thinking. If you get any thoughts send me an email.
A final point that I will leave with you regarding talking to your hippy friends. The truth is, there is very little reason to consider the environment as worth caring for or conserving without a creator god in the picture. Having worked as an environmental scientist for the last three years, I can tell you that there are a plethora of opportunities to talk with environmentally minded people about God. They have seen the evidence of God’s invisible attributes and responded to it (Romans 1:20). Christians and environmentalists have the first step in common – they perceive creation as impressive and something of value. The questions quickly lead to ‘who made it and why?’ On the other side, how hypocritical are we as Christians when the first point we try to make with a non-believer is “God made the world and it was good” but then treat it as little worth and disregard it in our day-to-day lives?
[Phill Birtles]
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