Environment

29th August 2010

Mark Broadbent

*We can have an opinion on the environment issues but we need to know what you're talking about

2 Spectrum
*Human activity
Contribute towards climate change <-------------- > Human activity contribute little or nothing about
*Are Christians called to look after the environment?
*What is the responsibility of a Christian?
*Lynn White, 1967
*Christians world view lead us to exploiting the environment

The case for christians destroying the environment
1. People are more important
eg: People in starvation vs the environment
*Therefore the environment is not important and we could exploit the environment
*Genesis 1:26-30: Then the Lord said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground--everything that has the breath of life in it--I give every green plant for food." And it was so.



2. God's covenant with Noah
= rainbow
*God's covenant with Abraham - to be father of all nations = the act of circumcision
*Genesis 9:8-11: Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: "I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you--the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you--every living creature on earth. I establish my covenant with you: Never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.

Does it really matter that we have to take care of the Land God could take care of it Himself?

3. New heaven and new earth
*Revelation 21:1-4: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

*Won't be separated by sea, physically separated spiritually
*If we can get society together where we can be united to take care of the earth or wait until the new heaven and earth appears, which choice would you pick?
*there will be no guilt, no shame, no mourning, and we will get there eventually so we don't have to take care of the environment

Thus, we can hear people saying that Christians will not care for the environment.

*We need to hear a topic like environment in a church sermon because not many people realise that the God can actually relate to the environment

However, on the other end ...

1. Creation belongs to God
*We have taken something that does not belong to us
*Psalm 24:1: The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the wold, and all who live in it;
*Psalm 50: 10-11: for every animal of the forest is mine. and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine.
*Colossians 1:15-17: He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 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. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

*Your career, husband, wife and everything in your life belongs to God

2. We are to honour God's creation
*We are not call to abuse it, it is not ours, we are entrusted from God to take care of the environment
*We are servants of God's environment
*Proverbs 12:10: A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.
*Exodus 23:10-12: "For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.

"Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the slave born in your household, and the alien as well, may be refreshed.

(Every 7 years, give the land a rest, so that the poor will get some food- this is one of God's ways to take care of the poor) and let the wild animals have what is left over).
The coolest thing was that i JUST read this passage!


*Don't work on the seventh day so that not only you but your oxes and animals get some rest from the field!:)
*Deuteronomy 25:4: Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading on the grain.


3. God's creation points people to God
*Creation is whispering about God
General Revelation
*Look at creation (birds, rocks, land) and a sense where it whispers for you
*Most people of the world are not atheist

Special Revelation
*When creation is whispering, you need to respond
*We need to come and put their faith in Jesus
*Psalm 19:1:The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
*Romans 1:20: For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.


*God is for us not against us

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**