Oct
16
The effect of human activity on God’s creation has been a growing concern for years in our society. Recently, we have been bombarded by advertisements promoting “green” products, detailing the pro-environmental policies of companies and declarations by energy and oil companies about what they are doing to promote alternative sources of energy. Nowhere has a shift in awareness been more evident than in the attitudes of Christians.
More and more, Christians are beginning to see caring for creation as a Biblical mandate from God. Scripture affirms the beauty of creation and God’s love for all creation – both human and non-human. God, in infinite wisdom, ordered the planet so that it all works together in harmony relentlessly praising God. When we disrupt that harmony, it is the least of these who most often experience the greatest suffering. Christ’s command to love our neighbor as ourselves is linked with our responsibility to protect and care for the entire creation. Being stewards of God’s resources means careful consideration of how our actions impact the planet and all its inhabitants.
A recent survey by the Barna Group found “Three-quarters of self-identified Christians (78%) agree they would like to see their fellow Christians take a more active role in caring for God’s creation in a way that is both informed and biblical. Among evangelicals, 90% would like Christians to take a more active role in caring for creation,”
The change has not just been in attitude. Thankfully, most of us are beginning to live in a more environmentally responsible way. The same survey found that “One out of every two adults say they have made specific changes to their lifestyle in the last 12 months because they are aware of the environmental impact.”
David Kinnaman, who directed the research, notes that "the Christian community is in tension about environmental engagement, being surprisingly active and engaged, but unsure about what to do next or whom to believe.” Kinnaman also found there to be “a void in Christian leadership on environmental issues, as well as an inability to articulate clearly and confidently a biblical understanding of creation care.” Since climate change in particular is very controversial, “many churches have simply avoided dealing with the subject, ceding the conversation to other voices.” While it may not be an easy arena for most churches or Christian leaders to venture into, Kinnaman believes that “the Christian community is ready for balanced, thoughtful, non-partisan and engaged leadership on this crucial issue."
The Christian Life Commission stands ready to help churches discuss the critical issue of creation care from both a theological and practical perspective. Moreover, the CLC has resources to help churches and Christians act out their convictions. A great place to learn about the issues from a Christian perspective is our website.
In November of 2006 the CLC published our annual report to the convention entitled Therefore: Environmental Justice. In response, the BGCT approved the following resolution:
Whereas the Bible affirms that "the earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it" (Psa : 24:1) and
Whereas the pronouncement, " And God saw it was good" reverberates throughout the creation account in Genesis 1; and
Whereas we are called by God to honor the goodness of creation and secure its well being (Genesis 1 and 2); and
Whereas the earth’s air, water, soil, and inhabitants are increasingly threatened by environmental degradation; and
Whereas our failure to address adequately environmental degradation threatens generations present and future;
Therefore be it resolved that the messengers to the Annual Meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Texas in Dallas, November 13 – 14, 2006 affirm the biblical call to creation care and
Be it finally resolved that we practice faithful stewardship of the environment in concrete ways in our churches and in our everyday lives and that we advocate for sound environmental policies in the public square.
The Christian Life Commission is committed, now more than ever, to promote faithful stewardship and advocate for sound environmental policies in Austin.
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2 Responses to “Living the Christian Life- Caring For God’s Creation”
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This represents great work- thoughtful, considerate and committed to Gods powerful presence and activity in the world. Let all creation praise the forward flow of divine grace and love.
Thanks for sharing these various Creation Care resources. Floresta (www.floresta.org), a partnering organization of the the Upland Holistic Development Project (a Thailand-based beneficiary of the CLC)engages in Creation Care activities around the world. In addition, they offer an excellent Creation Care Bible study guide which can be found at
http://floresta.org/resources/Floresta%20Creation%20Care%20Study.doc. One other Creation Care resource I’d like to suggest is the Deep Green Conversation blog (http://deepgreenconversation.org/)that‘s affiliated with Creation Care magazine.