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3
Church
The Green Church
by
Tri Robinson
As we have seen the earth abused and misused, those same questions are being asked about the environment, sometimes with much regret by the same people who unknowingly failed to think about the future of the earth. It’s why Jesus did what He did; he came to earth to live and die for the sake of mankind—and indeed, the entire cosmos—for eternity. Failure to adopt this future-driven element in our thinking—and subsequently, our actions—may result in a missed opportunity to experience a revolution in our own hearts as well as in the world around us.
One powerful example of a leader in the Bible who failed to think about the future was King Hezekiah. In Second Kings chapter 20, we find him confronted by the prophet Isaiah, who informs the king that some of his descendants are going to be exiled to Babylon. And Hezekiah’s short-sighted reaction was this: “At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime” (vs. 19). He was more concerned about his current popularity than his eventual legacy.
Our dream is to see churches across the country and around the world join us in this noble effort. We know there are many churches that have already been doing this work, but we want to connect likeminded and like-hearted partners. If enough churches join together, I believe environmental stewardship will be re-established as a normal value of Christianity. If this happens we would surely begin to see changes in our world. Polluted water would be cleaned up, helping 80 percent of the world’s diuretic disease to decline. Soil would be rejuvenated and starvation in the developing countries would begin to turn around. Church missions programs would develop discipleship programs made up of thousands of young people who could form agencies much like the Peace Corps but no longer secular. These new agencies would go into the world not only with proclamation of the Gospel, but with physical demonstration of care, compassion and mercy. Young people today are crying out to see the church embrace programs of social justice that provide something tangible to participate in.
Together, the body of Christ could do what no other single independent organization could possibly hope to accomplish. With God’s blessing and the power of His Holy Spirit, the Church could join hands in the 21st Century and be the very first truly effective international workforce of environmental stewardship around this globe.
The moment is right for the church to reverse its wrongs in the area of environmental stewardship. By abandoning our short-sighted thinking and returning long-term vision to the church, Christians can change things. It won’t be easy. Many people from both liberal and conservative camps alike are likely to cast a suspicious eye on such a sudden reversal of position. But if the statistics are true and one-third of the world is comprised of Christians, what would happen if one-third of the world became serious about upholding the value of environmental stewardship? This would make a difference. This would change the world. Now
that
would be unexpected.
EPILOGUE: WHAT I’VE LEARNED
After more than two years of walking this value out with our church, I could almost write another book just on the things I’ve learned in the process. It has been an incredible education for me about not only the issue of the environment but also our culture.
For example, I’ve learned there is a secular world that is not hostile toward the church but is encouraged to see Christianity embracing cultural shaping issues. Before embarking on bringing this value to our church, I would have suggested that a number of people outside the church would never lend me their ears. But now it is happening with increasing frequency simply because we have found common ground on which to care for humanity.
I’ve also learned there is an unbelievable opportunity for a demonstration of the love of God to go out into a suffering humanity across the globe through environmental stewardship. After experiencing this firsthand, I believe it should be part of every missions program. The church has never had a problem with Christians going out and taking the Gospel accompanied with medical help into developing nations. But to me it now seems more logical to go and help rectify the things that are causing the diseases in the first place.
As a result, we’ve rethought our missions philosophy in the church and are now developing bases in Africa and Asia to help with water purification and sanitation, soil reclamation, reforestation, and other environmental concerns that are causing the poor to become poorer and helpless. We’ve discovered that governments are welcoming us with open arms as we discover solutions to these environmental problems.
I’ve also learned that Christians are just waiting for Christian leaders to say something about this and give them the green light to care about creation. I gave the people in our church a license to do this. It is the responsibility of Christian leaders to release Christians for this work and set up pathways for them to take action.
Every environmentalist will agree with me that environmental stewardship is a moral issue. It’s immoral to destroy God’s creation. When we can show that this morality is solidly placed in biblical values, it challenges people. It can be the turning point in changing their perspective. If biblical values are the key to the reformation of the environment, maybe biblical values have something to say about the rest of life as well.
Many environmentalists have been fighting for years for reformation and haven’t seen any progress. But I believe the environment really is a means to changing our culture. These environmentalists have tried hard but have been unable to change people’s thinking. But we’re doing it in Boise, Idaho—and we’re changing the culture because we have become relevant by connecting with something the world cares about dearly. When people see the church successfully championing this issue, it will awaken the world.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Tri Robinson uses the word stewardship to describe why and how Christians should care for the environment. Have you ever considered creation care as a stewardship issue? How does this change your perspective on the environment?
What keeps you from pursuing environmental stewardship personally or in your organization? What would help you overcome those obstacles?
On a scale of 1-10, how comfortable do you feel talking about environmentalism from a Biblical perspective with Christians and non- Christians? What are some key points that would help you be more confident discussing this issue?
‘Passing it down’ is a principle that Tri Robinson and his church have exemplified as an important element of environmental stewardship. How are you passing these principles down to new generations?
END NOTES
1 Genesis 2; Revelation 22
2 Genesis 2:15 (NLT)
3 Genesis 9:13-15 (NIV)
4 Romans 1:20
5 Deuteronomy 22:6-7
6 “One the Front Lines of Climate Change”, by Mark Hertsgaard, Time magazine, April 9, 2007. http://www.time.com/time/magazine article/0,9171,1604879-2,00.html
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Comments
Wes Widner
There is a great danger with Christians jumping on the popular environmental or green bandwagon. The danger is not that we will start taking care of the environment like we have for thousands of years as members of the environment, but that we will start to see men as a virus or scourge on the environment. The danger is that we will stop focusing on ways to save our fellow human beings from the plight of poverty and real injustice as opposed to the imagined social injustices of environmentalism instead of advocating and teaching time-tested principles of wisdom that have helped lift whole nations out of poverty and greatly improve the lives of millions.
As Michael Creighton rightly pointed out, environmentalism is a religion, and God help us if we think that we can mix foreign contaminants with Christianity with no ill effects.
waseem yousaf
Dear Brother,
Greetings
I am Waseem Yousaf from Pakistan. I have studied your web site, and
have found it to be one of many wonderful sites offered on the
internet which gets to the Truth of the Word of God. As is the case
with others whom I have contacted, you have created material which is
full of knowledge concerning development of religious faith. Living in
Pakistan, weChristians face many obstacles in getting access to God's Word. Most
people in Pakistan speak Urdu, and are not capable of understanding the
English language. Because of limited access in our native tongue, my
people have a true hunger for fresh Christian Perspectives.
Proficient in both English and my native languages, I would like to
offer my services as a translator to you. Presenting your material in
both Urdu and Punjabi would be a true blessing to the Pakistani and
Indian people. For a nominal fee, I will enable you to bring the message
of Salvation to a most deserving people.
Blessing you in advance for your consideration,
In Him,
Waseem Yousaf
Email: wygodblessyou2@gmail.com
P Bjorling
Those who have the least power in the world, those who are already the victims of poverty and injustices of all kinds, are usually the ones that will suffer most from the effects of environmental degradation wrought by humankind. Who lives in the shadow of dirty power plants? Not those who control wealth. Not the powerful. Who lives in the lands being devastated by mountaintop removal? Not the corporate mine owners. Who will have to endure the long-term effects of poisoned water from proprietary fracking chemicals that leak into water systems (and ask folks in North Dakota, where they now have to have potable water trucked in...this isn't mythology). Social injustices resulting from environmental damage caused by those who have no moral compass are not simply figments of people's imaginations. If Christians say nothing and do nothing, we are complicit.
Comments are now closed
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