Friday, April 24, 2009
Green for God Daily Tip
Turn off the TV, computer, videogames and cell phones and go outside! Spend some time in God's creation!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Green for God Daily Tip
Help your church hold a "Creation Sunday" worship service. For tips and suggestions, go to www.creationcare.org.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Happy Creation Day!
Earth Day is here! And while one day a day the world remembers their responsibilties to the earth, Christians are responsible for the earth and the people in it 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, every year of their life.
For Christians, we are redeemed and restored for God's glory. Read the following passages, and you can see for yourself God's promises to restore and redeem the earth as part of the new heaven and new earth.
Isaiah 11:1-9
Isaiah 65:17-25
Joel 2:18-27
Revelation 21:1-5
Revelation 22:1-5
The reason I'm having you, the reader, study these passages for yourself, is because the journey to go green for God is now up to you. You need to find out how you are to proceed and take steps to protect the planet. The most important thing I can tell you is pray to God and seek His guidance. Read his Word. Then, once you've made an impact in your personal life for the earth, find ways within your church family to take action.
From now on, I will post ideas and websites on how to go green for God, and prehaps next Creation Day, I might actually post for the entire month. But in conclusion for this year, I thank anyone who has followed this blog and I leave you with this thought. Imagine the beauty of creation as you know it, then imagine the world as it will look upon God's ultimate redemption. It will simply not compare.
God bless and Happy Creation Day!
For Christians, we are redeemed and restored for God's glory. Read the following passages, and you can see for yourself God's promises to restore and redeem the earth as part of the new heaven and new earth.
Isaiah 11:1-9
Isaiah 65:17-25
Joel 2:18-27
Revelation 21:1-5
Revelation 22:1-5
The reason I'm having you, the reader, study these passages for yourself, is because the journey to go green for God is now up to you. You need to find out how you are to proceed and take steps to protect the planet. The most important thing I can tell you is pray to God and seek His guidance. Read his Word. Then, once you've made an impact in your personal life for the earth, find ways within your church family to take action.
From now on, I will post ideas and websites on how to go green for God, and prehaps next Creation Day, I might actually post for the entire month. But in conclusion for this year, I thank anyone who has followed this blog and I leave you with this thought. Imagine the beauty of creation as you know it, then imagine the world as it will look upon God's ultimate redemption. It will simply not compare.
God bless and Happy Creation Day!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Greed
Didn't Henry Ford once answered when asked, "How much wealth would be enough?" "Just a little bit more"? Right there is the definition of greed. Wanting more even though you already have all that you need.
I've already mentioned how Eve's selfishness and Adam's indifference as the root of all our problems. Combine these with the desire for more than what one needs and one gets greed.
Greed helps cause poverty because those who are rich often do so at the expense of the poor. Like clothing manufactures who ship clothes from overseas made from long hours, little pay and little rights for the workers.
Greed keeps people who are ill from getting help by hospitals and doctors charging too much or when land containing plants for medicine is being used up for development.
Greed for a new spouse, alcohol, drugs or abuse or even just independence causes broken families, and greed for more land to a country's boundaries helps cause war.
Now development, the owning of land and even charging money for hospital services are not bad things by themselves. It is only greed and the lack of thought for the environment and how actions affect the environment and in turn the affect on people that makes these things a problem.
Romans 12:1 Paul writes
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." (NRSV)
A call for holiness means we must separate oneself from the world. I know of no other way that to stop being greedy with my time, my money, my job and my impact on the earth. That means I have to sacrifice time for myself, money for tithe to help my church, not working Sundays and being aware of what I reduce, reuse, recycle and rejoice. It's so easy to just buy new things and throw old things away with little thought to the earth. It is so easy to say, "Just a little bit more" won't hurt the earth. As Christians, we are called to be stewards. Part of stewardship is knowing when enough is enough. Greed is saying, "Just a little bit more."
I've already mentioned how Eve's selfishness and Adam's indifference as the root of all our problems. Combine these with the desire for more than what one needs and one gets greed.
Greed helps cause poverty because those who are rich often do so at the expense of the poor. Like clothing manufactures who ship clothes from overseas made from long hours, little pay and little rights for the workers.
Greed keeps people who are ill from getting help by hospitals and doctors charging too much or when land containing plants for medicine is being used up for development.
Greed for a new spouse, alcohol, drugs or abuse or even just independence causes broken families, and greed for more land to a country's boundaries helps cause war.
Now development, the owning of land and even charging money for hospital services are not bad things by themselves. It is only greed and the lack of thought for the environment and how actions affect the environment and in turn the affect on people that makes these things a problem.
Romans 12:1 Paul writes
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." (NRSV)
A call for holiness means we must separate oneself from the world. I know of no other way that to stop being greedy with my time, my money, my job and my impact on the earth. That means I have to sacrifice time for myself, money for tithe to help my church, not working Sundays and being aware of what I reduce, reuse, recycle and rejoice. It's so easy to just buy new things and throw old things away with little thought to the earth. It is so easy to say, "Just a little bit more" won't hurt the earth. As Christians, we are called to be stewards. Part of stewardship is knowing when enough is enough. Greed is saying, "Just a little bit more."
Monday, April 20, 2009
What I should have wrote on April 17th, 18th, 19th and Today...
Again, I apologize for my slacker ways. Procrastination is something I'm working on. Which is kind of ironic if you think about it. So today I will focus on what I should have been talking about over the last few days, the problems of the world that affect the environment and how the Christian Environmentalist should respond.
Poverty
Since the beginning of the human race, people have divided themselves into the haves, and the have nots. And although right now people the world over feel that gap is getter larger and larger, true poverty is a true nightmare. For example, I have a large debt thanks to student loans and car payments. I would love to live in my own apartment and just pay rent. To work at the design career I want to do rather than the job I have to do to pay the bills. But the sheer fact that I went to college and that I own a car (or at least I will in a few years) and that I can afford to buy a few DVDs a month (my one guilty pleasure) I am not poor. There are malnourished, desperate people even right here in our own country. They do not have homes, jobs, they cannot afford any medicine they need and they do not know where their next meal is coming from. It is accompained by feelings of hopelessness, bitterness, mistrust, and worthlessness. This is what true poverty looks like.
God hates poverty. To Him it is as deplorable as murder. God is a loving God who hates to see his creation suffer. Especially at the hands of someone who does not help the poor.
In 1 John chapter 3, John explains how righteousness and sin reveal one to be a child of God or a child of the devil and how Christians are commanded to love one another. In v. 15-17 he writes, 'All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you that that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them. We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us--and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses to help?'
The envionment ties into all this, because a poor environment causes poverty. For example, a village in Africa might not get the crops they need to survive because the soil has been polluted or strip mining has caused runoff to ruin the soil that had been there. With no food, they are forced out of their homes, wandering until they find an odd job or someone who would give them a hot meal. The hunt for food bypasses the hunt for medicine and people end up getting sick. Imagine what could happen, if Christians decided to help the poor by making their environment a better place to live? Stewardship isn't just caring for God's creation, but for His people. And if Ezekial 22: 29-31 tells us anything, it says that people who don't care for other people or the land will feel God's wrath and they will recieve the same treatment they gave. And Amos 8:v4,
"Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land," If you keep reading, God promises a famine. See how serious He is about this?
War
Humans have been fighting since Cain and Abel. But when we fight over land or beliefs, that is when it becomes war. But when we start killing people, who is left to take care of the land? To protects the animals? To proclaim the good news that Jesus lives? To live to hear the message? While at war, humans get careless about the environment. In fact destroying an enemy's homeland seems to be a battle stragedy. After all how can they fight if they cannot live? And although God does and has let His people go to war, it is only when it's for His name, His Glory does he think of war as just. Deuteronomy 16:v19-20 says that 'Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, so that you may live and occupy the land that the Lord your God is giving you. ' (Hey that rhymes!)
But humans have made war not about God's justice but about land and ownership. We even throw beliefs in there just to give an excuse to justify war. Just remember Leviticus 25 : v 23-24,
'The land shall shot be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine; with me you are but aliens and tenants. Throughout the land that you hold, you shall provide for the redemption of the land."
Broken Families
In America, we have a fifty perfect divorce rate. Children grow up not knowing a father, or a mother. And it is no coincidence that single parent homes are often the poorest homes as well. God designed families to be a mother and father working as partners to raise their children as to the glory of God. But when sin entered the world, Adam and Eve's sin got passed down to Cain and Abel who became the first murderer and the first victim.
Today, broken families cause a ripple effect for other sins. A father abuses a son, that son one day abuses his son. A mother abandones her family, her child turns to drugs. Because of fear that they can't raise a child because of the possibility of a broken home, women abort their children. Homosexuality is accepted because why limit the chances of people finding "happiness"? And if our family is broken, why would we care if the world is broken too?
God is the Father. He can fix any problem if we turn to Him. 1 John 4:19 says, 'We love because He first loved us."
Loving God causes a ripple effect that counters the ripple effect of broken families and sin. We just need to open our hearts to it.
Sickness
Sadly, our human bodies become ill. God did not meant for it to be this way. Adam wasn't suppose to turn to dust before sin. That was his punishment. And sickness can cause and be affected by all that I have spoken of already. Poverty means no means for medicine. Medical bills can break families and in turn cause poverty. And people have developed biological weapons to kill and weaken an enemy with sickness.
Thankfully, God provided medicine in the form of plants that grow in the earth. But most of those life saving plants and yet undiscovered cures are dying out because of the dissappearing forests and trees around the world. The land need time to heal it self, but because of development and 'progress' we aren't giving the land the time it needs. God even instructed the Isrealites to let the land rest every seven years in Exodus 23:v10-11. God knows that if you use the land too much, you will lose what is important.
Many times over, Jesus cured disease and sickness. He used his power as the Son of God to help restore creation (people) to how God wanted them to be. First with their health and then with their hearts. In Luke 17: 11-19, Jesus healed ten lepers, but only one, a Samaritan came back to thank him and give glory to God. Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they?" I think the Lord was wanting all of the men to proclaim God's glory with their testimony of being healed. I believe that is why he healed anyone. So that their faith would give glory to God. He was being a steward of God's creation. Is it too much to ask us of the same?
Poverty
Since the beginning of the human race, people have divided themselves into the haves, and the have nots. And although right now people the world over feel that gap is getter larger and larger, true poverty is a true nightmare. For example, I have a large debt thanks to student loans and car payments. I would love to live in my own apartment and just pay rent. To work at the design career I want to do rather than the job I have to do to pay the bills. But the sheer fact that I went to college and that I own a car (or at least I will in a few years) and that I can afford to buy a few DVDs a month (my one guilty pleasure) I am not poor. There are malnourished, desperate people even right here in our own country. They do not have homes, jobs, they cannot afford any medicine they need and they do not know where their next meal is coming from. It is accompained by feelings of hopelessness, bitterness, mistrust, and worthlessness. This is what true poverty looks like.
God hates poverty. To Him it is as deplorable as murder. God is a loving God who hates to see his creation suffer. Especially at the hands of someone who does not help the poor.
In 1 John chapter 3, John explains how righteousness and sin reveal one to be a child of God or a child of the devil and how Christians are commanded to love one another. In v. 15-17 he writes, 'All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you that that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them. We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us--and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses to help?'
The envionment ties into all this, because a poor environment causes poverty. For example, a village in Africa might not get the crops they need to survive because the soil has been polluted or strip mining has caused runoff to ruin the soil that had been there. With no food, they are forced out of their homes, wandering until they find an odd job or someone who would give them a hot meal. The hunt for food bypasses the hunt for medicine and people end up getting sick. Imagine what could happen, if Christians decided to help the poor by making their environment a better place to live? Stewardship isn't just caring for God's creation, but for His people. And if Ezekial 22: 29-31 tells us anything, it says that people who don't care for other people or the land will feel God's wrath and they will recieve the same treatment they gave. And Amos 8:v4,
"Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land," If you keep reading, God promises a famine. See how serious He is about this?
War
Humans have been fighting since Cain and Abel. But when we fight over land or beliefs, that is when it becomes war. But when we start killing people, who is left to take care of the land? To protects the animals? To proclaim the good news that Jesus lives? To live to hear the message? While at war, humans get careless about the environment. In fact destroying an enemy's homeland seems to be a battle stragedy. After all how can they fight if they cannot live? And although God does and has let His people go to war, it is only when it's for His name, His Glory does he think of war as just. Deuteronomy 16:v19-20 says that 'Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, so that you may live and occupy the land that the Lord your God is giving you. ' (Hey that rhymes!)
But humans have made war not about God's justice but about land and ownership. We even throw beliefs in there just to give an excuse to justify war. Just remember Leviticus 25 : v 23-24,
'The land shall shot be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine; with me you are but aliens and tenants. Throughout the land that you hold, you shall provide for the redemption of the land."
Broken Families
In America, we have a fifty perfect divorce rate. Children grow up not knowing a father, or a mother. And it is no coincidence that single parent homes are often the poorest homes as well. God designed families to be a mother and father working as partners to raise their children as to the glory of God. But when sin entered the world, Adam and Eve's sin got passed down to Cain and Abel who became the first murderer and the first victim.
Today, broken families cause a ripple effect for other sins. A father abuses a son, that son one day abuses his son. A mother abandones her family, her child turns to drugs. Because of fear that they can't raise a child because of the possibility of a broken home, women abort their children. Homosexuality is accepted because why limit the chances of people finding "happiness"? And if our family is broken, why would we care if the world is broken too?
God is the Father. He can fix any problem if we turn to Him. 1 John 4:19 says, 'We love because He first loved us."
Loving God causes a ripple effect that counters the ripple effect of broken families and sin. We just need to open our hearts to it.
Sickness
Sadly, our human bodies become ill. God did not meant for it to be this way. Adam wasn't suppose to turn to dust before sin. That was his punishment. And sickness can cause and be affected by all that I have spoken of already. Poverty means no means for medicine. Medical bills can break families and in turn cause poverty. And people have developed biological weapons to kill and weaken an enemy with sickness.
Thankfully, God provided medicine in the form of plants that grow in the earth. But most of those life saving plants and yet undiscovered cures are dying out because of the dissappearing forests and trees around the world. The land need time to heal it self, but because of development and 'progress' we aren't giving the land the time it needs. God even instructed the Isrealites to let the land rest every seven years in Exodus 23:v10-11. God knows that if you use the land too much, you will lose what is important.
Many times over, Jesus cured disease and sickness. He used his power as the Son of God to help restore creation (people) to how God wanted them to be. First with their health and then with their hearts. In Luke 17: 11-19, Jesus healed ten lepers, but only one, a Samaritan came back to thank him and give glory to God. Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they?" I think the Lord was wanting all of the men to proclaim God's glory with their testimony of being healed. I believe that is why he healed anyone. So that their faith would give glory to God. He was being a steward of God's creation. Is it too much to ask us of the same?
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Rejoice
Reduce, reuse and recycle. This has been the battlecry for environmentalists. Now as Christian environmentalists, I suggest we add one more 'R' word to that slogan.
Reduce, reuse, recycle...and rejoice.
Today, rejoice in creation. God's glory is revealed in nature. He is witnessing about Himself in every leaf, every cloud, every flower, every tree, every animal and every insect. God created Nature because it pleases him. That is why nature is so beautiful. No simple and yet so complex all at once. Just take a walk outside at least once today. Notice how green the grass is. There is even beauty in a cloudy, rainy day. Or in a violent storm. Or in the still pure snow. (At least in some parts of the country still)
And when you go out to rejoice in creation, remember what it says in Psalm 46:10 (NRSV)
"Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth."
And if you'd like something to futher help you rejoice about God's creation, keep this canticle of Saint Francis of Assisi close to your heart (or in your wallet).
"Most high, all powerful, all good Lord!All praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing.
To you, alone, Most High, do they belong.No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.
Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures,especially through my lord Brother Sun,who brings the day; and you give light through him.And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor!Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars;in the heavens you have made them bright, precious and beautiful.
Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,and clouds and storms, and all the weather,through which you give your creatures sustenance.
Be praised, My Lord, through Sister Water;she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.
Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire,through whom you brighten the night.He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.
Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth,who feeds us and rules us,and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of you;through those who endure sickness and trial.
Happy those who endure in peace,for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.
Be praised, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death,from whose embrace no living person can escape.Woe to those who die in mortal sin!Happy those she finds doing your most holy will.The second death can do no harm to them.
Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks,and serve him with great humility."
Reduce, reuse, recycle...and rejoice.
Today, rejoice in creation. God's glory is revealed in nature. He is witnessing about Himself in every leaf, every cloud, every flower, every tree, every animal and every insect. God created Nature because it pleases him. That is why nature is so beautiful. No simple and yet so complex all at once. Just take a walk outside at least once today. Notice how green the grass is. There is even beauty in a cloudy, rainy day. Or in a violent storm. Or in the still pure snow. (At least in some parts of the country still)
And when you go out to rejoice in creation, remember what it says in Psalm 46:10 (NRSV)
"Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth."
And if you'd like something to futher help you rejoice about God's creation, keep this canticle of Saint Francis of Assisi close to your heart (or in your wallet).
"Most high, all powerful, all good Lord!All praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing.
To you, alone, Most High, do they belong.No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.
Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures,especially through my lord Brother Sun,who brings the day; and you give light through him.And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor!Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars;in the heavens you have made them bright, precious and beautiful.
Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,and clouds and storms, and all the weather,through which you give your creatures sustenance.
Be praised, My Lord, through Sister Water;she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.
Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire,through whom you brighten the night.He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.
Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth,who feeds us and rules us,and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of you;through those who endure sickness and trial.
Happy those who endure in peace,for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.
Be praised, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death,from whose embrace no living person can escape.Woe to those who die in mortal sin!Happy those she finds doing your most holy will.The second death can do no harm to them.
Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks,and serve him with great humility."
April 15th's Blog : Recycle as an Ilustration for New Life
I did it again! I do apologize for my slacker ways... Enjoy!
When you no longer can reuse something, the time comes when you have to trash recycled. Paper, plastic, aluminum cans usually have to be sent off to be recycled. It's still debatable if recycling these products is just as wasteful as throwing them away because of the water used in the process and the gas used in the transport. But considering most of our product packaging nowadays is made from recycled materials, I think the effort is worth it.
Some things have to be recycled with a little creativity. I for instance, use old clothes and reconstruct them into new fashions. Some people get really creative. Like turning old cassette tapes into purse or old game pieces into jewelry. Esty.com is full of recycled goods.
But for the Christian, the concept of recycling is obviously a practice meant to help us be good stewards of the earth. But to find biblical content, you have to think of recycling as not just a practical way to be a good steward. It has to become a symbol for the new life we have in Christ.
In Isaiah 35:1-2 (NRSV) for example, God promises that creation will rejoice at the glory of the Lord.
Isaiah 65:17 promises that God will create a new heaven and earth and the former earth will be forgotten.
Isaiah 66:22 God promises that the new heaven and earth shall remain as shall God's children.
In response to this promise, creation groans for redemption in Romans 8: 18-23.
Thankfully, 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 Redemption and new creation is given to anyone who receives Christ.
But be warned Christian! For acts or good deeds or being a good person (or saving the environment) are not enough to be a new creation. For Galatians 6: 15 says the new creation is everything, and 'circumcision' (the act or good deed Paul was addressing at the time) or uncircumcision is nothing.
And now that we are new creations in Christ, we wait for the second coming so God can fulfill His promise to restore all of creation as it states in 2 Peter 3: 13.
And once again, God promises there will be a new Jerusalem on earth in Revelation 21:1.
So when you recycle, be aware that you are being armed with a powerful metaphor for the Gospel and our hope in Christ.
When you no longer can reuse something, the time comes when you have to trash recycled. Paper, plastic, aluminum cans usually have to be sent off to be recycled. It's still debatable if recycling these products is just as wasteful as throwing them away because of the water used in the process and the gas used in the transport. But considering most of our product packaging nowadays is made from recycled materials, I think the effort is worth it.
Some things have to be recycled with a little creativity. I for instance, use old clothes and reconstruct them into new fashions. Some people get really creative. Like turning old cassette tapes into purse or old game pieces into jewelry. Esty.com is full of recycled goods.
But for the Christian, the concept of recycling is obviously a practice meant to help us be good stewards of the earth. But to find biblical content, you have to think of recycling as not just a practical way to be a good steward. It has to become a symbol for the new life we have in Christ.
In Isaiah 35:1-2 (NRSV) for example, God promises that creation will rejoice at the glory of the Lord.
Isaiah 65:17 promises that God will create a new heaven and earth and the former earth will be forgotten.
Isaiah 66:22 God promises that the new heaven and earth shall remain as shall God's children.
In response to this promise, creation groans for redemption in Romans 8: 18-23.
Thankfully, 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 Redemption and new creation is given to anyone who receives Christ.
But be warned Christian! For acts or good deeds or being a good person (or saving the environment) are not enough to be a new creation. For Galatians 6: 15 says the new creation is everything, and 'circumcision' (the act or good deed Paul was addressing at the time) or uncircumcision is nothing.
And now that we are new creations in Christ, we wait for the second coming so God can fulfill His promise to restore all of creation as it states in 2 Peter 3: 13.
And once again, God promises there will be a new Jerusalem on earth in Revelation 21:1.
So when you recycle, be aware that you are being armed with a powerful metaphor for the Gospel and our hope in Christ.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Reuse:Don't Waste God's Blessings
The principle of reuse, is where we take what we already have, and use them over and over again. For the Christian, I believe this teaches us not to waste God's blessings. We already know God is a provider who sends us what we need (food, water, clothing,shelter,a Messiah). But when we carelessly reject God's blessings, we find ourselves rejecting God's will for our lives.
Look at Esau in Genesis 25: 29-34 (NRSV)
'Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the feild, and he was famished. Esau said to Jacod, "Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!" (Therefore he was called Edom.) Jacob said, "First sell me your birthright." Esau said, I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?" Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright."
Did you read that? He dispised his birthright. As the oldest son, he was suppose to be the favored son and hereit greatly. But because he only thought of his own temporary pleasure, (Do you guys think he was really straving to death? Come on...)He threw away that which God would have given him. And he doesn't really realize what he's done until later, when Jacob steals his blessing from their father.
Genesis 27: 36a'Esau said, "Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times."
Rejecting God's blessings in his life, lead Esau to hate and plot against his brother. It drove his brother away. Thankfully, time seemed to heal Esau's wounds and he realized his mistake.
Genesis 33: 4 'But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.'
Genesis 33:9 'But Esau said, "I have enough my brother; keep what you have for yourself."
Esau learned not to waste God's blessings. We can do the same in our practical lives by not wasting paper or plastic products or clothes. By growing our own food to use again and again. By turning off the electronic devices and lights when we leave a room and buying a surge protector to help save energy. By not running water while we brush our teeth. These little acts of not wasting God's blessings prepares our hearts to do His will when He calls us. By acknowledging God in the little things, we become ready to acknowledge the big blessings He has for us. Like wisdom, forgiveness, faith, hope and a Savior.
Look at Esau in Genesis 25: 29-34 (NRSV)
'Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the feild, and he was famished. Esau said to Jacod, "Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!" (Therefore he was called Edom.) Jacob said, "First sell me your birthright." Esau said, I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?" Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright."
Did you read that? He dispised his birthright. As the oldest son, he was suppose to be the favored son and hereit greatly. But because he only thought of his own temporary pleasure, (Do you guys think he was really straving to death? Come on...)He threw away that which God would have given him. And he doesn't really realize what he's done until later, when Jacob steals his blessing from their father.
Genesis 27: 36a'Esau said, "Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times."
Rejecting God's blessings in his life, lead Esau to hate and plot against his brother. It drove his brother away. Thankfully, time seemed to heal Esau's wounds and he realized his mistake.
Genesis 33: 4 'But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.'
Genesis 33:9 'But Esau said, "I have enough my brother; keep what you have for yourself."
Esau learned not to waste God's blessings. We can do the same in our practical lives by not wasting paper or plastic products or clothes. By growing our own food to use again and again. By turning off the electronic devices and lights when we leave a room and buying a surge protector to help save energy. By not running water while we brush our teeth. These little acts of not wasting God's blessings prepares our hearts to do His will when He calls us. By acknowledging God in the little things, we become ready to acknowledge the big blessings He has for us. Like wisdom, forgiveness, faith, hope and a Savior.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Reduce: Dependance on God's Provision
Reduce, reuse, recycle. This has been the battle cry for environmentalists since the nineties. But are such ideas bibical? If we think about what they involve. Let's focus on reduce first.
To reduce means that you use less disposable materials in your daily life. Less packedging in the products you buy, not using paper or plastic cups and plates but glass instead. Using fabric towels instead of paper towels. Basically, reducing how much trash you produce.
To understand how much reducing trash is nessecary look at these statistics from solidwastedistrict.com.
About 22 percent of the 10.9 million tons of glass was recovered for recycling.
In 2001, Americans discarded about 2.4 million tons of aluminum in MSW after recovery—1.5 percent of total MSW discards.
Americans generated nearly 82 million tons of paper products in the MSW stream in 2001,nearly a three-fold increase from 1960.
The amount of plastics generation in MSW has increased from less than 1 percent in 1960 to 11.1 percent in 2001.
2.5 billion pounds of postconsumer textile waste represents 10 pounds for every person in the United States.
The effort to reduce waste for a Christian, requires a dependance on God's provision. That is because to reduce means you go without. You stop accumilating. You trust God will give you what you need to live.
One example of God provision in the bible was when Moses was leading the Isrealites out of Egypt. First, he changed the bitter waters of Marah to be sweet, then gave them twelve springs of water to camp beside. (Exodus 15:22-27 NRSV). But soon the Isrealites complained again when they ran low on bread and meat. So God gave them bread in the morning and quails in the evening. (Exodus 16:1-30) But he had given them specific instrucstions to only take what they need. But some still gathered more. But God had it worked out so that those who had gathered more had gotten less. And those who had gathered less got more. God also told Moses that they shouldn't leave some overnight for the next day. That God would give them what they'd need the next day. But again, some didn't listen and the bread got moldy and full of worms. On the sixth day, God told them to gather twice as much and to rest on the seventh day. But again, some people didn't listen and went out to gather the next day. God told them,
"See! The Lord has given you the sabbath, therefore, on the sixth day he gives you food for two days; each of you stay where you are; do not leave your place on the seventh day." (v. 29)
We can apply this for our lives, when we think about how cluttered and distracted we get when we accumliate more stuff. The Isrealites became so that they tried to work on the sabbath, a day meant to be holy and honoring God. They forgot what God wanted them to do. We do the same thing when we buy the newest fashions, but neglect to empty our closets of our old clothing. We get more than one TV, the newest cell phone with a camera, ipod and a internet access. Then we also get an ipod. Do you see where I'm going with this? We should only have what we need. Even to entertain ourselves.
And then, when what we accumliate causes us to take up land for garbage dumps, put a strain on natural resources and more importantly neglect reading God's word, or worship, or prayer because we are thinking about getting more and more stuff, we are not being the stewards of creation God has called us to be.
So reduce. God will give you what you need.
To reduce means that you use less disposable materials in your daily life. Less packedging in the products you buy, not using paper or plastic cups and plates but glass instead. Using fabric towels instead of paper towels. Basically, reducing how much trash you produce.
To understand how much reducing trash is nessecary look at these statistics from solidwastedistrict.com.
About 22 percent of the 10.9 million tons of glass was recovered for recycling.
In 2001, Americans discarded about 2.4 million tons of aluminum in MSW after recovery—1.5 percent of total MSW discards.
Americans generated nearly 82 million tons of paper products in the MSW stream in 2001,nearly a three-fold increase from 1960.
The amount of plastics generation in MSW has increased from less than 1 percent in 1960 to 11.1 percent in 2001.
2.5 billion pounds of postconsumer textile waste represents 10 pounds for every person in the United States.
The effort to reduce waste for a Christian, requires a dependance on God's provision. That is because to reduce means you go without. You stop accumilating. You trust God will give you what you need to live.
One example of God provision in the bible was when Moses was leading the Isrealites out of Egypt. First, he changed the bitter waters of Marah to be sweet, then gave them twelve springs of water to camp beside. (Exodus 15:22-27 NRSV). But soon the Isrealites complained again when they ran low on bread and meat. So God gave them bread in the morning and quails in the evening. (Exodus 16:1-30) But he had given them specific instrucstions to only take what they need. But some still gathered more. But God had it worked out so that those who had gathered more had gotten less. And those who had gathered less got more. God also told Moses that they shouldn't leave some overnight for the next day. That God would give them what they'd need the next day. But again, some didn't listen and the bread got moldy and full of worms. On the sixth day, God told them to gather twice as much and to rest on the seventh day. But again, some people didn't listen and went out to gather the next day. God told them,
"See! The Lord has given you the sabbath, therefore, on the sixth day he gives you food for two days; each of you stay where you are; do not leave your place on the seventh day." (v. 29)
We can apply this for our lives, when we think about how cluttered and distracted we get when we accumliate more stuff. The Isrealites became so that they tried to work on the sabbath, a day meant to be holy and honoring God. They forgot what God wanted them to do. We do the same thing when we buy the newest fashions, but neglect to empty our closets of our old clothing. We get more than one TV, the newest cell phone with a camera, ipod and a internet access. Then we also get an ipod. Do you see where I'm going with this? We should only have what we need. Even to entertain ourselves.
And then, when what we accumliate causes us to take up land for garbage dumps, put a strain on natural resources and more importantly neglect reading God's word, or worship, or prayer because we are thinking about getting more and more stuff, we are not being the stewards of creation God has called us to be.
So reduce. God will give you what you need.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Easter, Spring and The Resurrection
Happy Easter!
As I'm writing this blog, I'm watching a Veggietales video, An Easter Carol. A semi-spoof (as all Veggietales are) of Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol, where a mean old miser with a plastic Easter egg factory misses the point of Easter altogether. Before he tears down a church to build a Easter themed theme park, he's visited by an angel who takes him through his past, present and future to help him understand what Easter is really about.
The disciples weren't visited by an angel, but on the third day after Jesus death, Mary and Mary Madgalene, Joanna and other women did see an angel outside the empty tomb.
Luke 24:2-5 'They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzeling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.'
And on the road to Emmaus, two of Jesus followers met Jesus themselves and did not recognize him until he gave a blessing. (Luke 24: 13-35)
And the disciples finally saw Him themselves, when he appeared to them in a locked house. He asked them to see the marks in his hands in feet, and he did the same to a doubting Thomas a week later. (John 20:19-29)
Yesterday I speculated on how the disciples' feelings and how they had no faith but still the radical teachings of Jesus. Can you imagine the joy the very next day when they saw Jesus was alive? When they finally got it? Faith is when we have hope in the things we do not see, and believe with certainty God's promises will and have been kept. God kept His promise. Jesus did rise from the grave.
Why did Jesus have to die in order to rise? Because God wanted to reconcile His creation from death and sin, but He also wanted to serve justice for death and sin, He sent His Son to become a substitute for us and take our punishment upon Himself. But then He rose from the grave to conquer death. When you believe that Jesus did die for your sins, and that He rose back to life three days later, and that belief in all of this and repentance of sins, God will give you eternal life.
Or, as the folks at Veggietales puts it, 'He died for us...to give us life...And to give us hope...He rose...'
And it is no coincidence that Easter is celebrated in Springtime. So this Easter, as you look at the new life in nature, remember the new life we have in Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Annointed One...The Savior who is alive!
As I'm writing this blog, I'm watching a Veggietales video, An Easter Carol. A semi-spoof (as all Veggietales are) of Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol, where a mean old miser with a plastic Easter egg factory misses the point of Easter altogether. Before he tears down a church to build a Easter themed theme park, he's visited by an angel who takes him through his past, present and future to help him understand what Easter is really about.
The disciples weren't visited by an angel, but on the third day after Jesus death, Mary and Mary Madgalene, Joanna and other women did see an angel outside the empty tomb.
Luke 24:2-5 'They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzeling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.'
And on the road to Emmaus, two of Jesus followers met Jesus themselves and did not recognize him until he gave a blessing. (Luke 24: 13-35)
And the disciples finally saw Him themselves, when he appeared to them in a locked house. He asked them to see the marks in his hands in feet, and he did the same to a doubting Thomas a week later. (John 20:19-29)
Yesterday I speculated on how the disciples' feelings and how they had no faith but still the radical teachings of Jesus. Can you imagine the joy the very next day when they saw Jesus was alive? When they finally got it? Faith is when we have hope in the things we do not see, and believe with certainty God's promises will and have been kept. God kept His promise. Jesus did rise from the grave.
Why did Jesus have to die in order to rise? Because God wanted to reconcile His creation from death and sin, but He also wanted to serve justice for death and sin, He sent His Son to become a substitute for us and take our punishment upon Himself. But then He rose from the grave to conquer death. When you believe that Jesus did die for your sins, and that He rose back to life three days later, and that belief in all of this and repentance of sins, God will give you eternal life.
Or, as the folks at Veggietales puts it, 'He died for us...to give us life...And to give us hope...He rose...'
And it is no coincidence that Easter is celebrated in Springtime. So this Easter, as you look at the new life in nature, remember the new life we have in Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Annointed One...The Savior who is alive!
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Why the Day In Between Matters
Luke 23:56 'Then they retired and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.'
Mark 16:14 'Later he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were sitting at the table; and he upbraided them for their lack of faith and stubbornness; because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.'
A few days ago, I read an editorial in the metro section about a man raised in a Christian home, who did not share their faith. He called the Resurrection "symbolic" and said the celebration of Easter took away from the teachings of this radical rabbi. Sure if its celebrated the worldly way. But this man is rather like the disciples themselves on the Sabbath. No faith but left with radical teachings.
The world celebrates Easter with baskets of candy and toys. The Easter Bunny hippity hopping down the bunny trail. Everyone gets new clothes and most goes to church for maybe the second time that year (Christmas being the first). The world places the emphasis on Jesus death. The so called "experts" call him a martyr. I still think The Passion of the Christ needs a sequel. This is because the world see Jesus and his teachings and his death and call him a a good prophet who died. But it takes faith in God and his promises to restore Himself with His creation do we believe he rose on Easter Sunday.
Can you imagine the disciples on that second day? They were probably bitter. Angry with God that they had allowed themselves to trust this man that claimed to be the Messiah. That claimed hope. They were scared.
John 20: 19a 'When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week and doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews.'
They were afraid of retribution since they had followed this Jesus. That they would be next. Peter was probably feeling guilty because he had been the one to deny Jesus three times as predicted (John 18:15-27)
They were probably angry at Judas because A) he had betrayed Jesus (John 18: 2-3) and B) he had hung himself before they could vent their anger (Matt. 27: 3-10).
And they were probably thinking. Thinking of all Jesus had said and did. The miracles he had performed. All the good he did. How he had helped people and changed their lives. What were they suppose to do now? Return to their families and old jobs after three years? What was the point of following Jesus and listening to him if he didn't claim his power as Messiah and let himself be killed?
The writer of the article was essentially asking the same question. He said why if we have the salvation of Christ do we need to spend a life of sacrifice in His name? The guy didn't get it. The disciples wouldn't get it until the next day. The day when God's promise was revealed.
How often do we not get it? When we ask ourselves why do we have to do these things for God is we're saved? The answered revealed...tomorrow.
Mark 16:14 'Later he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were sitting at the table; and he upbraided them for their lack of faith and stubbornness; because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.'
A few days ago, I read an editorial in the metro section about a man raised in a Christian home, who did not share their faith. He called the Resurrection "symbolic" and said the celebration of Easter took away from the teachings of this radical rabbi. Sure if its celebrated the worldly way. But this man is rather like the disciples themselves on the Sabbath. No faith but left with radical teachings.
The world celebrates Easter with baskets of candy and toys. The Easter Bunny hippity hopping down the bunny trail. Everyone gets new clothes and most goes to church for maybe the second time that year (Christmas being the first). The world places the emphasis on Jesus death. The so called "experts" call him a martyr. I still think The Passion of the Christ needs a sequel. This is because the world see Jesus and his teachings and his death and call him a a good prophet who died. But it takes faith in God and his promises to restore Himself with His creation do we believe he rose on Easter Sunday.
Can you imagine the disciples on that second day? They were probably bitter. Angry with God that they had allowed themselves to trust this man that claimed to be the Messiah. That claimed hope. They were scared.
John 20: 19a 'When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week and doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews.'
They were afraid of retribution since they had followed this Jesus. That they would be next. Peter was probably feeling guilty because he had been the one to deny Jesus three times as predicted (John 18:15-27)
They were probably angry at Judas because A) he had betrayed Jesus (John 18: 2-3) and B) he had hung himself before they could vent their anger (Matt. 27: 3-10).
And they were probably thinking. Thinking of all Jesus had said and did. The miracles he had performed. All the good he did. How he had helped people and changed their lives. What were they suppose to do now? Return to their families and old jobs after three years? What was the point of following Jesus and listening to him if he didn't claim his power as Messiah and let himself be killed?
The writer of the article was essentially asking the same question. He said why if we have the salvation of Christ do we need to spend a life of sacrifice in His name? The guy didn't get it. The disciples wouldn't get it until the next day. The day when God's promise was revealed.
How often do we not get it? When we ask ourselves why do we have to do these things for God is we're saved? The answered revealed...tomorrow.
April 10th's blog:Sorryfor the Delay! Psalm 22
Mark 15:33-39
'When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o'clock, Jesus cried out with a loud voice "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabach thani?" which means, "My God, my god, why have you forsaken me?" When some of the bystanders heard it, they said "Listen, he is calling for Elijah." And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine; put it on a stick; and gave it to him to drink saying, "Wait, let us see weither Elijah will care to take him down." Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple tore in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said,
"Truly this man was God's Son!" (NRSV)
I never understood why Jesus would shout 'My God, My God! Why have you forsaken me?" He was the Son of God. He rose from the grave two days later. Surely saying such a thing would make it seem like he doubted his own claim as death came to claim him. For years I prayed God would tell me why Jesus said this. I knew he had a reason. I just never knew why. Finally, last Sunday, Palm Sunday, I got my answer.
My sunday school class has been studying Isaiah and when Isaiah spoke of a suffering servant, he predicted Christ. (Isaiah 52:13 - 53:1-12) One of the reference my teacher used was Psalms 22 written by David. It begins,
"My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?"
Sound familiar?
Psalm 22 was originally written by King David. Possibly as he was escaping Saul again. But the language is a mirror of the cross.
Psalm 22:7 'All who see me mock at me; they shall make mouths at me, they shake their heads, "Commit your cause to the Lord; let him deliver-let him rescue the one in whom he delights!"
Luke 23:35-37
"And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him saying, "He saved others, let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, His Chosen One!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, "If you are the King of Jews, save yourself!"
'Psalm 22:18 They devide my clothes amoung themselves; and for my clothing they cast lots.'
Mark 15:24 'And they crucified him, casting lots to decide what each should take.'
Psalm 22:16 ' For dogs are all around me; a company of evil doers encircles me. My hands and feet have shriveled.'
Luke 24: 39 'Look at my hands and feet, see that it is I myself. Touch me and see, for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.'
I think when Jesus cried out to heaven, he was pointing out Psalm 22. Not only does it speak about his being a decendant of David, it truly vocalizes his pain...and his joy. For there are three parts where the Psalm praises God and claims God's salvation. But it is the last few verses really speak to us.
Psalm 22:27-31 'All the ends of the earth shall remember, and turn to the Lord; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him. For dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations. To him indeed shall all who sleep in the earth bow down, before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, and I shall live for him. Posterity will serve him; future generation will be told about the Lord, and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying he has done it.'
Luke 23:46 Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Having said this, he breathed his last.'
So read Psalm 22, and you will know what Jesus was thinking when he died on the cross.
'When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o'clock, Jesus cried out with a loud voice "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabach thani?" which means, "My God, my god, why have you forsaken me?" When some of the bystanders heard it, they said "Listen, he is calling for Elijah." And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine; put it on a stick; and gave it to him to drink saying, "Wait, let us see weither Elijah will care to take him down." Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple tore in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said,
"Truly this man was God's Son!" (NRSV)
I never understood why Jesus would shout 'My God, My God! Why have you forsaken me?" He was the Son of God. He rose from the grave two days later. Surely saying such a thing would make it seem like he doubted his own claim as death came to claim him. For years I prayed God would tell me why Jesus said this. I knew he had a reason. I just never knew why. Finally, last Sunday, Palm Sunday, I got my answer.
My sunday school class has been studying Isaiah and when Isaiah spoke of a suffering servant, he predicted Christ. (Isaiah 52:13 - 53:1-12) One of the reference my teacher used was Psalms 22 written by David. It begins,
"My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?"
Sound familiar?
Psalm 22 was originally written by King David. Possibly as he was escaping Saul again. But the language is a mirror of the cross.
Psalm 22:7 'All who see me mock at me; they shall make mouths at me, they shake their heads, "Commit your cause to the Lord; let him deliver-let him rescue the one in whom he delights!"
Luke 23:35-37
"And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him saying, "He saved others, let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, His Chosen One!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, "If you are the King of Jews, save yourself!"
'Psalm 22:18 They devide my clothes amoung themselves; and for my clothing they cast lots.'
Mark 15:24 'And they crucified him, casting lots to decide what each should take.'
Psalm 22:16 ' For dogs are all around me; a company of evil doers encircles me. My hands and feet have shriveled.'
Luke 24: 39 'Look at my hands and feet, see that it is I myself. Touch me and see, for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.'
I think when Jesus cried out to heaven, he was pointing out Psalm 22. Not only does it speak about his being a decendant of David, it truly vocalizes his pain...and his joy. For there are three parts where the Psalm praises God and claims God's salvation. But it is the last few verses really speak to us.
Psalm 22:27-31 'All the ends of the earth shall remember, and turn to the Lord; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him. For dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations. To him indeed shall all who sleep in the earth bow down, before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, and I shall live for him. Posterity will serve him; future generation will be told about the Lord, and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying he has done it.'
Luke 23:46 Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Having said this, he breathed his last.'
So read Psalm 22, and you will know what Jesus was thinking when he died on the cross.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
True Environmentalism is NOT nature worship!
When I began this journey to share what God says about creation, one of my friends, (who happens to be attending seminary for his Master's) wrote to me about his concerns when it comes to environmentalism. Before, I wasn't sure what I would say. Now using his email as a guide, I will explain how environmentalism is NOT nature worship.
Concern #1 Christians should be wary of anything the world gets excited about.
Even something as good as protecting the natural world can be twisted when something bad becomes an means to an end. For example, everyone in the world, even atheists will admit abortion is a bad thing. Even those that do not believe life begins in the womb can concede abortion should not exist. But when abortion is used as 'population control' in third world or developing countries, it's suppose to environmentally responsible. Instead, Christian environmentalists should teach abstinence. Clean up water supplies and responsible ways to use the land. Make these third world countries easier to live so that children won't be an issue. But our world scoffs at such suggestions opting for the easy way out.
That's why I have my concerns about the 'green' movement. It's why I started this blog. If God sent me to college to study fashion for any reason, I did learn about trends and fads. I hate to say it, but I believe that if we Christians leave environmentalism to the world, it will be nothing but a fad. To the world, green is the new black. Tomorrow it may very well be all about excess. What do you think the eighties were about? People will tire of the effort. That is why Christians should rise up and become the stewards of creation God wants us to be. What better way to show the world God's love and present the living gospel?
Concern #2 The Alarmist Theories
When I was a kid, I watched 'Captain Planet and the Planeteers'. I loved that show. It was all about five kids with rings containing the powers of the earth, saving the earth from greedy 'eco-villains' and an awesome superhero they could summon when their powers combined and who was only weaken by pollution. And it did help me learn about protecting the planet from pollution. When I heard it was in reruns on Cartoon Network, I began to watch it again. Now that I'm an adult, I'm struck by two things. One...the show was really corny at first and was only good the very last few years and during the five minutes Captain Planet got airtime. Two, the animators shoved a lot of alarmist theories down kids throats. A lot of shows dealt with time travel and alternate realities and what would happen if this animal would die out or if that land was bulldozed or if we got another Chenobel. Most of the time the picture was bleak.
The problem is that Christians are promised eternity.
John 3:16-17 (NRSV)
'For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but they have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.'
Everyone knows verse 16. They hold it up at professional wrestling after all. But verse 17 is often overlooked. It shuts down alarmists because it is God's promise to save the earth. And God keeps His promises. Yes Revelations predicts the earth will be a fireball after Jesus' second coming, but it also talks about God restoring creation to what He had in mind when He first created the world. Can you imagine living in the creation God originated? We may get to see creatures that have since become extinct. And in Matt. 6: 25-33, Jesus tells us not to worry. That He sustains His creation. Isn't that awe inspiring?
Concern #3 Naturalism
'1: action, inclination, or thought based only on natural desires and instincts 2: a theory denying that an event or object has a supernatural significance ; specifically : the doctrine that scientific laws are adequate to account for all phenomena' (Webster's Dictionary)
Science has given us many wonderful things. But when the wonder of creation is explained away by scientific theory, and faith is ridiculed, the whole concept of protecting our planet loses meaning. How can some people not see the Creator in nature? They are not taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. That's why I think Environmentalists are prime and ready to hear about Jesus. The people who spend their lives trying to save the earth know something is special about it. They try to save it for their children. Why? If there is no Creator why worry if your children will live with pollution? We're all going to die anyway. By acknowledging a Savior, we acknowledge this world and all that is in it is God's. To try to explain it with science alone, it is denying God's power. It is a rejection of Him. Pure and simple. Christians are turned off to environmentalism because it is so often associated with naturalism which is tied with alarmism. But we have the Almighty God on our side. We should fight fire with fire and declare to the world that taking care of the planet is a calling from the Creator.
Concern #4 Idolism
Ever since the fall of man, humans have denied God by worshiping idols. In the bible it was statues of gold and wood. Today, it is TV and celebrities and presidents and...animals? Yes since the 'green' movement, protecting animals seems to be of major concern. That is another reason Christians are so reserved when it comes to environmentalism. Animals have become so overvalued in our society, people give up eating animal products, throw blood on the runways that use real fur and Pamela Anderson threw on a bikini made out of lettuce leaves. Christians claim dominion, the world claims animal rights. Yes, we should not make coats out of critters since it is no longer a necessity to keep warm, but we do have dominion over animals thanks to Gen 1:28. God gave us animals so that we may use them as we need them. Everything else is over kill. I know I won't be giving up Kentucky Fried Chicken anytime soon.
So in conclusion, to be a Christian environmentalist, you have to find the balance between dominion and stewardship. We have to respect nature because God created it. But we can't worship nature. We have to worship God.
Concern #1 Christians should be wary of anything the world gets excited about.
Even something as good as protecting the natural world can be twisted when something bad becomes an means to an end. For example, everyone in the world, even atheists will admit abortion is a bad thing. Even those that do not believe life begins in the womb can concede abortion should not exist. But when abortion is used as 'population control' in third world or developing countries, it's suppose to environmentally responsible. Instead, Christian environmentalists should teach abstinence. Clean up water supplies and responsible ways to use the land. Make these third world countries easier to live so that children won't be an issue. But our world scoffs at such suggestions opting for the easy way out.
That's why I have my concerns about the 'green' movement. It's why I started this blog. If God sent me to college to study fashion for any reason, I did learn about trends and fads. I hate to say it, but I believe that if we Christians leave environmentalism to the world, it will be nothing but a fad. To the world, green is the new black. Tomorrow it may very well be all about excess. What do you think the eighties were about? People will tire of the effort. That is why Christians should rise up and become the stewards of creation God wants us to be. What better way to show the world God's love and present the living gospel?
Concern #2 The Alarmist Theories
When I was a kid, I watched 'Captain Planet and the Planeteers'. I loved that show. It was all about five kids with rings containing the powers of the earth, saving the earth from greedy 'eco-villains' and an awesome superhero they could summon when their powers combined and who was only weaken by pollution. And it did help me learn about protecting the planet from pollution. When I heard it was in reruns on Cartoon Network, I began to watch it again. Now that I'm an adult, I'm struck by two things. One...the show was really corny at first and was only good the very last few years and during the five minutes Captain Planet got airtime. Two, the animators shoved a lot of alarmist theories down kids throats. A lot of shows dealt with time travel and alternate realities and what would happen if this animal would die out or if that land was bulldozed or if we got another Chenobel. Most of the time the picture was bleak.
The problem is that Christians are promised eternity.
John 3:16-17 (NRSV)
'For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but they have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.'
Everyone knows verse 16. They hold it up at professional wrestling after all. But verse 17 is often overlooked. It shuts down alarmists because it is God's promise to save the earth. And God keeps His promises. Yes Revelations predicts the earth will be a fireball after Jesus' second coming, but it also talks about God restoring creation to what He had in mind when He first created the world. Can you imagine living in the creation God originated? We may get to see creatures that have since become extinct. And in Matt. 6: 25-33, Jesus tells us not to worry. That He sustains His creation. Isn't that awe inspiring?
Concern #3 Naturalism
'1: action, inclination, or thought based only on natural desires and instincts 2: a theory denying that an event or object has a supernatural significance ; specifically : the doctrine that scientific laws are adequate to account for all phenomena' (Webster's Dictionary)
Science has given us many wonderful things. But when the wonder of creation is explained away by scientific theory, and faith is ridiculed, the whole concept of protecting our planet loses meaning. How can some people not see the Creator in nature? They are not taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. That's why I think Environmentalists are prime and ready to hear about Jesus. The people who spend their lives trying to save the earth know something is special about it. They try to save it for their children. Why? If there is no Creator why worry if your children will live with pollution? We're all going to die anyway. By acknowledging a Savior, we acknowledge this world and all that is in it is God's. To try to explain it with science alone, it is denying God's power. It is a rejection of Him. Pure and simple. Christians are turned off to environmentalism because it is so often associated with naturalism which is tied with alarmism. But we have the Almighty God on our side. We should fight fire with fire and declare to the world that taking care of the planet is a calling from the Creator.
Concern #4 Idolism
Ever since the fall of man, humans have denied God by worshiping idols. In the bible it was statues of gold and wood. Today, it is TV and celebrities and presidents and...animals? Yes since the 'green' movement, protecting animals seems to be of major concern. That is another reason Christians are so reserved when it comes to environmentalism. Animals have become so overvalued in our society, people give up eating animal products, throw blood on the runways that use real fur and Pamela Anderson threw on a bikini made out of lettuce leaves. Christians claim dominion, the world claims animal rights. Yes, we should not make coats out of critters since it is no longer a necessity to keep warm, but we do have dominion over animals thanks to Gen 1:28. God gave us animals so that we may use them as we need them. Everything else is over kill. I know I won't be giving up Kentucky Fried Chicken anytime soon.
So in conclusion, to be a Christian environmentalist, you have to find the balance between dominion and stewardship. We have to respect nature because God created it. But we can't worship nature. We have to worship God.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
How Did We Get Into This Mess? Part 2 Adam's Indifference
Yesterday, I talked about how Eve's selfishness is reflected in how selfish we are with our natural resources. But that is not the only reason our world is groaning from the weight of sin. Adam was indifferent with the way he handled the situation and God held him responsible for both of their sins.
Let's back up a little. To be indifferent means you just let things happen. You neither agree nor disagree with it. You go with the flow. You turn a blind eye. Adam did all of that and all without a serpent telling him he could. In Gen. 3 :v6, right after Eve eats the forbidden fruit, we learn Adam is right there with her. Now the bible doesn't say if he overheard the conversation with Eve and the serpent or not, but it certainly implies he knew where the fruit came from didn't he? He must have watched Eve stand on her tiptoes, pluck the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and walk back over to him and hand him some.
Why didn't he say anything? Why didn't he run and stop Eve from biting into the flesh of that fruit? Why did he just dig in and let the juice dribble on his chin? Did he think God wouldn't really punish him? We Christians probably won't know until we get to ask Adam ourselves on the other side of eternity. All we know is indifference is a lot more trouble than it's worth.
If your heart doesn't break when you hear of dwindling number of an endangered species, or you don't stand in awe at a sunset or you just toss a candy wrapper on the ground figuring that it won't really hurt anything; then you suffer from indifference my friend. Indifference to God's creation and even worst God's commands (including his call to take care of the earth) can be a dangerous thing. Adam learned that the hard way.
In chapter 3 of Revelations, v.15-17 we learn the church of Laodicea is so indifferent, God calls them 'lukewarm'.
'I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of your mouth. For you say, "I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.' You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked." (NRSE)
The church in Laodicea's indifference was such that God would rather they wouldn't even spread the gosple or follow His commands at all. To God, indifference by keeping up the illusion of Christianity but ignoring the needs of His children is a horrible thing. With indifference, we say,
"I need nothing, I've got what I need. Why should I risk losing it for somebody else?' The problem is when we need nothing, we give nothing.
Adam thought he was safe. He was living in paradise. He had a godly wife. He didn't have to till the land for his food. It must have never occured to Adam that God would punish even through He loved him. He thought he had everything and he did. But when indifference let him think he could have just a little bit more, he lost everything. And I think it has to do with the fact that since God had given Adam dominion and responsiblity, indifference is saying to God, "What responsibility? Oh, I'll just let the world alone. It's not bothering me.'
Indifference is a denile of responsibility, and when we deny our responsibilities given to us, we deny God's will. Do you see why God held Adam responsible when we tend to place most of the blame on Eve? Selfishness may have caused Eve to reach her arm up into the tree, but indifference made Adam take a bite.
Let's back up a little. To be indifferent means you just let things happen. You neither agree nor disagree with it. You go with the flow. You turn a blind eye. Adam did all of that and all without a serpent telling him he could. In Gen. 3 :v6, right after Eve eats the forbidden fruit, we learn Adam is right there with her. Now the bible doesn't say if he overheard the conversation with Eve and the serpent or not, but it certainly implies he knew where the fruit came from didn't he? He must have watched Eve stand on her tiptoes, pluck the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and walk back over to him and hand him some.
Why didn't he say anything? Why didn't he run and stop Eve from biting into the flesh of that fruit? Why did he just dig in and let the juice dribble on his chin? Did he think God wouldn't really punish him? We Christians probably won't know until we get to ask Adam ourselves on the other side of eternity. All we know is indifference is a lot more trouble than it's worth.
If your heart doesn't break when you hear of dwindling number of an endangered species, or you don't stand in awe at a sunset or you just toss a candy wrapper on the ground figuring that it won't really hurt anything; then you suffer from indifference my friend. Indifference to God's creation and even worst God's commands (including his call to take care of the earth) can be a dangerous thing. Adam learned that the hard way.
In chapter 3 of Revelations, v.15-17 we learn the church of Laodicea is so indifferent, God calls them 'lukewarm'.
'I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of your mouth. For you say, "I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.' You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked." (NRSE)
The church in Laodicea's indifference was such that God would rather they wouldn't even spread the gosple or follow His commands at all. To God, indifference by keeping up the illusion of Christianity but ignoring the needs of His children is a horrible thing. With indifference, we say,
"I need nothing, I've got what I need. Why should I risk losing it for somebody else?' The problem is when we need nothing, we give nothing.
Adam thought he was safe. He was living in paradise. He had a godly wife. He didn't have to till the land for his food. It must have never occured to Adam that God would punish even through He loved him. He thought he had everything and he did. But when indifference let him think he could have just a little bit more, he lost everything. And I think it has to do with the fact that since God had given Adam dominion and responsiblity, indifference is saying to God, "What responsibility? Oh, I'll just let the world alone. It's not bothering me.'
Indifference is a denile of responsibility, and when we deny our responsibilities given to us, we deny God's will. Do you see why God held Adam responsible when we tend to place most of the blame on Eve? Selfishness may have caused Eve to reach her arm up into the tree, but indifference made Adam take a bite.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
How Did We Get Into This Mess? Part 1 Eve's Selfishness
To begin to understand how creation care is interconnected to the spread of the gospel, we need to go back to the beginning. The very beginning.
Gen. 1:1 'In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.'(NRSV)
Chapter 1 of Genesis goes into detail about how God formed our universe. Point number 1: God is creator. Point number 2: Good thinks of creation as good. He uses the term six times. Point number 3: It God thinks of creation as good, therefore, creation is important to him. Point number 4: He created Human's in his own image. (Gen.1:21)
Point number 5: He gave humans dominion over the earth.
Gen 1: 28-30
v28'God blessed them and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth". v29 God said, "See, I have given you every plant yeilding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with see in its fruit: you shall have them for food. v30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was so.' (NRSV)
And point # 6:
Gen 1:31
'God saw everything that He had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.' (NRSV)
I think a lot of Christians overlook that word 'everything' in that last verse. As humans we tend to be self centered. We are so focused on being called 'very good' in v.31, we forget 'everything'. I guess that is why God calls us 'His children' so much. We want our Father's love and approval, to gain His favor and His love so much we forget our brothers and sisters around us.
And what I think Christians don't understand too often is that the natural environment affects our brothers and sisters in creation. The very people Jesus commands in Matt.28:19,
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
We as Christians can't tell the unsaved that Jesus loves them without showing love. We show love by meeting the needs human need to survive. Good food to eat. Clean water to drink. Animals to tend to. If one species of creature dies out, the entire creation is affected. That is the harmony God wanted for creation.
But there is one little problem. Sin entered the world. So how did we get into this mess? Well let's focus on who Satan focused on first. Eve.
I know...Women always get the blame and men always get away with murder. At least in our secular imperfect world they do. In God's creation, no one gets away with anything. I'll deal with Adam tomorrow. Now what did Eve do wrong? And I'm not talking about the nice little sunday school answer, "She ate from the tree when God told her not to." No, Eve's crime was selfishness.
The serpent knew how to play her. First he got her to put words in God's mouth. God never said they could touch the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. But Eve said he had in Gen. 3:2-3. Then the snake became the charmer. He lied to Eve saying she would be like God. (Gen. 3:5) Selfishly, she wanted to be like God. Walking in the garden with Him wasn't good enough anymore. The fruit looked good to eat and it promised wisdom. So thinking of herself, she took the fruit and ate. (Gen. 3:6) Humans have been thinking of ourselves ever since.
Over the years we began wars over land, take cattle from the poor, shed human life left to right. And when the Industial Revolution came along with it's factorys and mass production, we began to waste the natural resources of creation for our personal gain. For human advancement. Waters became tinted. The air we breath was filled with smoke. Farms became less common. We tear down forests and natural plains to expand our city limits. We take advantage of people in developing or thrid world countries when we buy a product for ourselves but they are paid very little for working very hard.
I'm not saying technology and development is bad. But it's only when we do it our of advancement of self and not others do we suffer from selfishness.
Christians are just as bad. We try to justify our selfishness by misuse of the word 'dominion'. We try to say we can take what we want from the earth because God said we could. We love to point out Gen 1 :28 and 29. (see above) The implication of dominion over the rest of creation is clear. But with true dominon comes responsibility. In v.30 we find God has given every green plant for food to every beast, every bird, everything that creeps, everything that has the breath of life. The implication is we are to make sure it stays that way and take only what we need. Selfishness comes with excuses to take what we want.
Eve thought she should be as wise as God. And even though she had everything she already needed, she took what wasn't hers.
We need to stop taking. We need to start giving. After all Martin Luther wrote,
"God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars."
In short, humans are not God's only creation. So we need to stop acting like we are.
Gen. 1:1 'In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.'(NRSV)
Chapter 1 of Genesis goes into detail about how God formed our universe. Point number 1: God is creator. Point number 2: Good thinks of creation as good. He uses the term six times. Point number 3: It God thinks of creation as good, therefore, creation is important to him. Point number 4: He created Human's in his own image. (Gen.1:21)
Point number 5: He gave humans dominion over the earth.
Gen 1: 28-30
v28'God blessed them and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth". v29 God said, "See, I have given you every plant yeilding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with see in its fruit: you shall have them for food. v30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was so.' (NRSV)
And point # 6:
Gen 1:31
'God saw everything that He had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.' (NRSV)
I think a lot of Christians overlook that word 'everything' in that last verse. As humans we tend to be self centered. We are so focused on being called 'very good' in v.31, we forget 'everything'. I guess that is why God calls us 'His children' so much. We want our Father's love and approval, to gain His favor and His love so much we forget our brothers and sisters around us.
And what I think Christians don't understand too often is that the natural environment affects our brothers and sisters in creation. The very people Jesus commands in Matt.28:19,
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
We as Christians can't tell the unsaved that Jesus loves them without showing love. We show love by meeting the needs human need to survive. Good food to eat. Clean water to drink. Animals to tend to. If one species of creature dies out, the entire creation is affected. That is the harmony God wanted for creation.
But there is one little problem. Sin entered the world. So how did we get into this mess? Well let's focus on who Satan focused on first. Eve.
I know...Women always get the blame and men always get away with murder. At least in our secular imperfect world they do. In God's creation, no one gets away with anything. I'll deal with Adam tomorrow. Now what did Eve do wrong? And I'm not talking about the nice little sunday school answer, "She ate from the tree when God told her not to." No, Eve's crime was selfishness.
The serpent knew how to play her. First he got her to put words in God's mouth. God never said they could touch the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. But Eve said he had in Gen. 3:2-3. Then the snake became the charmer. He lied to Eve saying she would be like God. (Gen. 3:5) Selfishly, she wanted to be like God. Walking in the garden with Him wasn't good enough anymore. The fruit looked good to eat and it promised wisdom. So thinking of herself, she took the fruit and ate. (Gen. 3:6) Humans have been thinking of ourselves ever since.
Over the years we began wars over land, take cattle from the poor, shed human life left to right. And when the Industial Revolution came along with it's factorys and mass production, we began to waste the natural resources of creation for our personal gain. For human advancement. Waters became tinted. The air we breath was filled with smoke. Farms became less common. We tear down forests and natural plains to expand our city limits. We take advantage of people in developing or thrid world countries when we buy a product for ourselves but they are paid very little for working very hard.
I'm not saying technology and development is bad. But it's only when we do it our of advancement of self and not others do we suffer from selfishness.
Christians are just as bad. We try to justify our selfishness by misuse of the word 'dominion'. We try to say we can take what we want from the earth because God said we could. We love to point out Gen 1 :28 and 29. (see above) The implication of dominion over the rest of creation is clear. But with true dominon comes responsibility. In v.30 we find God has given every green plant for food to every beast, every bird, everything that creeps, everything that has the breath of life. The implication is we are to make sure it stays that way and take only what we need. Selfishness comes with excuses to take what we want.
Eve thought she should be as wise as God. And even though she had everything she already needed, she took what wasn't hers.
We need to stop taking. We need to start giving. After all Martin Luther wrote,
"God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars."
In short, humans are not God's only creation. So we need to stop acting like we are.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Why I Go Green for God
In the last year or so, the good ol' USA has rallied behind the whole concept on 'Going Green'. Just in case you've been living under a rock, that lovely little phrase means adapting one's lifestyle to be more mindful of one's affect on our Earth. And I began to wonder. What is the Christian's role to play in this recent fad?
Let me take you back to when God began to lead me on this journey. I had just graduated college with a Bachelor's of Science majoring in Apparel Design and Merchandising. Most people are surprised when I tell them I went to college in my home state Kentucky. Obviously, when people think of fashion, they think Paris, Milan, New York City. And after I tell them I got my fashion degree in Kentucky, the very next question is 'Why don't you go to New York or Paris to advance your career?' The answer? One word. Money.
With bills and a student loan to pay, I had to get a retail job. My schedule is such that when I get home, sewing is often the last thing on my mind. Which was really hard because as crazy as it sounds, I feel as if God has called me to be a fashion designer. I didn't know why. It's an industry based on vanity, greed, and is associated with drug abuse, eating disorders and homosexuality. And then as graduation neared, God was telling me to stay in Kentucky. What?! How am I suppose to be a fashion designer and a Christian and in Kentucky?
But I trusted God would reveal His plan to me. And I think He began when I stumbled across the website threadbanger.com. It's a website dedicated to the craft movement and recycling and DIY fashion. Their webshows kept me in the loop, taught me new techniques,and inspired me to get creative again.
But the site is very secular. So I began to wonder what Christians were doing to 'go green'. Was the entire concept even bibical? Is it God's will?
So I Googled 'Christians and the environment' and found the Environmental Evangelical Network. They explained how 'creation care' is taking care of God's people and nature. All using NIV scripture references. Then I found 'The Green Bible'. Using text printed in green soy based ink, this new revised standard edition highlights scripture pointing to creation care concepts and featured many essays from pastors and priests including the late Pope John Paul II and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
So what are the 'green themes' in the bible? From what I have learned so far, witnessing, stewardship, love, holyness, justice and God's glory. Over the next three weeks, I will be further explain what God has been teaching me and why it is critical for a Christian to also be an environmentalist. For I think that by realizing we Christians need to take care of God's world, we will as Christians be one step closer to God's ultimate purpose for creation. Bringing glory to His name. So let me leave you with a piece of scripture that will help prepare your heart to start 'going green' for God.
Col. 1:15-20: "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. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross."
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