Caring for the Earth A Christian Spiritual Perspective

What should our attitude be towards God’s creation?

‘ Having dominion over the earth’ does not mean that we should exploit the earth and its resources for our own ends- but we should be responsible stewards accountable to God for our actions and also to recognise our place in the ecosystem.

Our response should be a perception of the heart not just the intellect. The covenant of creation God’s covenant promise to Noah (Genesis 9) with all creation not to destroy the earth ever again. We should look to St Francis’ relationship with the animals and see our inter-relatedness in the web of nature. The priesthood of humanity We should be priests and stewards not masters and possessors. We have the capacity to transform the environment for God’s glory through God’s grace. Our response should be a perception of the heart not just the intellect. The covenant of creation God’s covenant promise to Noah (Genesis 9) with all creation not to destroy the earth ever again. We should look to St Francis’ relationship with the animals and see our inter-relatedness in the web of nature. The priesthood of humanity We should be priests and stewards not masters and possessors. We have the capacity to transform the environment for God’s glory through God’s grace.

Covenant of the Rainbow God promised Noah ever to destroy the earth again in a flood. (Genesis 9)

St Francis of Assisi Living in harmony with the natural world.

Poor stewardship means the ecosystem becomes out of balance We must replenish what we take out of the earth

Greed and Consumerism is producing mountains of waste Landfill sites are becoming full. Plastic is difficult to recycle.

Industrialisation over the last 200 years has had a major detrimental impact on the environment Factory and vehicle emissions are destroying the ozone layer and increasing global warming.

Maintaining important habitats and diversity Rainforests are rich habitats : they help maintain the earth’s atmosphere and are a precious source of medicines

Forests are being destroyed for timber and beef production, destroying soils and causing desertification Deforestation

Hardwoods take hundreds of years to grow Eucalyptus and other fast growing trees should be used instead for building and firewood.

Principles to which we should adhere as Christians: The sacrament of creation We should acknowledge that God -made the world redeemed it sustains it.

We need to challenge consumerism and our ever increasing demand for things we do not really need and the ‘throw away society’

We should have our focus on God our creator and sustainer We should worship and thank God for all his blessings and look to him for our provision.

The Sabbath Feast of Sufficiency We need to challenge increasing consumption and learn to enter God’s rest and Jubilee. We should give back to God in worship and be sustained by Him. Our true relationship with the environment should be to rest in the promises of God. As Christians we therefore have a distinctly different part to play in environmental action to: ‘New Agers’ - who believe in Gaia (Mother Earth God) Pantheists - who worship creation rather than the creator. The Sabbath Feast of Sufficiency We need to challenge increasing consumption and learn to enter God’s rest and Jubilee. We should give back to God in worship and be sustained by Him. Our true relationship with the environment should be to rest in the promises of God. As Christians we therefore have a distinctly different part to play in environmental action to: ‘New Agers’ - who believe in Gaia (Mother Earth God) Pantheists - who worship creation rather than the creator.

We should take a Sabbath rest to honour God and for our health and well-being. Keeping the Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments.

We must- recognise the spirit behind the rising tide of neo- paganism, humanism and feminism which has infiltrated the church. make a stand for a truly Biblical perspective.

We should encourage alternative technology development education and care for the poor and needy.

Ref: Foster C. (2004) ‘Sustainability is a Spiritual Issue,’ The Crucible. January/ March 2004 issue p We should:- take personal responsibility by adopting simpler lifestyles. take an active role in campaigning for reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. protect wildlife.