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Christianity Today, July, 2008 |

Second Coming Ecology

We care for the environment precisely because God will create a new earth.

David Neff | posted 7/18/2008 09:37AM

Sunday morning, May 18, 1980, my children were leaving the little Presbyterian church in College Place, Washington, where they had been attending a program. They looked up at the sky, and a verse they ...

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Vinita Wright

Posted: July 31, 2008 10:03 AM


Thank you for an exploration of this topic that takes us past the surface arguments and into the specifics of a Christian worldview. Nicely done!

J.S. Brooks

Posted: July 30, 2008 12:02 PM

To the assertion that humanity cannot destroy the planet: this is true to a point. While we cannot obliterate the mighty sphere upon which we live, we can contaminate the Earth’s delicate ecosystem enough to make life on Earth for its dominant species impossible. Those who can, should reflect upon the narrative God has left us in the Earth’s crust, a story of one dominant species after another dying out as the global environment changed in ways beyond which they could adapt. The current rise in asthma rates should give you pause. God has given us free will and powerful, reasoning minds and God expects us to use them well … but God grants us the freedom to use them poorly as well, even to our extinction. God has already allowed us to damage portions of this planet enough from time to time that we have been forced to flee them. Look no further than the early 20th century "dust bowl" for an example.

mark	Posted: July 30, 2008 10:28 AM


I can tell you so much about global warming in the bible. God used global warming when creating the the earth(Gen1:6,7)

Ephrem Hagos

Posted: July 30, 2008 8:03 AM


Even if we do not understand it (for no other reason than our disobedience to undertake training in discipleship), the Second Coming of Christ has already taken place at His glorious death on the cross! There is time to check it up.

J.S. Brooks

Posted: July 30, 2008 6:05 AM

Creation is a gift and one that it is our responsibility to tend and to love as it reflects our Creator's love for us all. The vision of one kingdom under God in which all unite is beautiful and tasks us to reach out to others. To do so we must put aside our bickering and our biases and the skewed views of humanity each and every culture and tribe produces. Rather than seeing them as others, we need to see them as neighbors and wish them well just as we wish ourselves well. To be effective stewards of God's creation we will need to work together toward that goal. Christians will need to work together despite our disparate views and disparate preferences, both those who believe in inerrancy and those who believe in infallibility, those of conservative ilk and those of liberal strain. Eschatology as presented here gives us a grand vision of Creation and grand goals to strive for each and every day.

Victoria Jardine-Naranjo

Posted: July 29, 2008 10:37 PM

Dear David Neff, What an AWESOME, heartfelt, thought-provoking article! Hurrah!!!! Thank you for committing your thoughts to paper and sharing them with us. Your insights are truly eye opening and heart felt. I pray many read your words and take them to heart. You have a brilliant way of relating. A way of bringing the cookies down to the kids if you will. I appreciated every word. Than You again, God richly Bless you and yours, Love in CHRIST, Victoria Jardine-Naranjo MSW in Southern CA. ( Wher we just experienced a 5.4 earthquake today with 24 aftershocks rating 3.0 and above) I will share this with many friends and family...sharing the WEALTH of your words.

Anonymous

Posted: July 29, 2008 8:32 PM

The author of this article is obviously wise : not dealing with specific issues. However, I see some global warming alarmists may have used it as an approval of their beliefs. Well, on that note of rising seas, shouldn't governments consider that possibilty when considering rebuilding(and building) on coastal sites as very risky at best? (like New Orleans, for example). Well, my Bible seems to speak of more cataclismic events than what global warming could ever muster up. So, personally, I think more attention should be given to God and thinking on Him because the scripture says "he whose mind is stayed on Him will have perfect peace". We humans are too fast to get our minds on the ideas of educated theologians sometimes than with a personal, genuine relationship with Him......religion is easier than relationship, it seems. I believe strongly in recycling and conservation on a personal level. However, I wouldn't say that I am a tree-hugger. The earth is to serve man, not man worship

Bob	Posted: July 29, 2008 7:39 PM

Good article, its nice to read a well grounded article, unfortuntely Tim LaHaye & Co have had an unhealthy effect on the minds of evangelicals(lets, get the hell outa here!) it has created and continued to support our dualistic thinking about 'us and them' this has also effected the way people see the environment. Down here in Australia a fair number of Christians care little or not at all for our environment, becuase of a wrong view of scripture. I remember as a young boy going to camp sites, and being a little shocked at what the previous campers had 'left behind' when and if we are taken lets hope that we will leave Gods camp in a much better place than we found it.

Erin	Posted: July 25, 2008 8:34 AM


A very well-done piece that articulates many of my own feelings about the Evangelical church's strange focus on the End Times and apparent apathy toward God's Creation. This nicely corrects and balances extreme viewpoints and creates a sane middle ground for those of us who avoid extremism on either side. Thank you, Mr. Neff, for your thoughtful contribution to this important conversation.

Ted Voth Jr

Posted: July 24, 2008 8:39 PM


I believe it will turn out that all the plagues in the Revelation, like the Mountain Wormwood being cast into the sea– 'Chernobyl' is Ukrainian for 'wormwood'– or a third of the earth burning up– Hmm!–will turn out to have been immediately caused by us humans!

Matt	Posted: July 24, 2008 7:47 PM

Mark -- Thank you for your explanation. Whether or not Samuel falls under the category you've described, I do not know. However, I do find that occasionally the anonymity provided by the Internet gives us a place where we can lash out against one another without fear of any consequences. Looking back on my original comment, I admit I may have been a little too defensive. Yet is is not for Al Gore or for political pundits that I become so defensive -- it is for people like the author who have been kind enough to give us their wisdom, knowledge, and opinions, only to be unfairly judged.

Darrell

Posted: July 24, 2008 7:25 PM

God is in control of the earth, not us. The earth is not the bride of Christ, but the people on it. And Samuel, come on, man.....that just ain't right. 2 Chronicles 7:13-15 (English Standard Version) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. 13When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, 14if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.

Mark	Posted: July 24, 2008 6:26 PM

Matt - my teen daughter told me of a group of friends who pose as Christians, writing responses, with the aim of making the Christian voice appear harsh and unsavory - like the views expressed by Samuel. Obviously, I don't know if Samuel is one, but in my 50+ yrs, I have yet to meet a Christ-like man as antithetical to Christ's nature as seen in Samuel's reply. Regardless of where we stand, opposing views can be expressed while reflecting Christ's character. For me, the debate is not so much about whether global warming exists and the extent to which man's footprint is the catalyst, but rather our response to God. Where God directs, we obey. It is not for us to control the product - we are about process. To wit, putting aside a host of issues, we are to value God's creation as we would the interior of our home/body. Sure, fight for what you believe, but not for Gore/political pundits - do so because God requires it of you. This is our soul responsibility. God will orchestrate the rest.

Matt	Posted: July 24, 2008 1:31 PM

Samuel--the phrase "this idiot is the editor-in-chief of the magazine" doesn't exactly convey humility either. God made us responsible for caring for His creation. Is it truly responsibility if we don't have the ability to destroy it? Besides, it's not arrogant to assume that we can destroy it, it's arrogant to assume that we can continue to live as destructively as we have been living and God will bail us out. Finally, where does the author even say that we can destroy creation? Where does the author even mention global warming? Did you even read the article, or are you merely using it as a platform for a temper tantrum? If your childish comment is the extent of any mature thought you have to lend to the conversation, then it may be an indication that it's time for you to grow up. As tempting as it is, the Internet is not a place or excuse for Christians to be impudent and hateful. Try being more constructive with your criticism, and others will be more likely to respect your opinion.

republicantreehugger.blogspot.com

Posted: July 23, 2008 10:51 PM


Well balanced article that rightly reminds us Christians that God's redemption plan is bigger than we often imagine. Well done. Sorry to see that some commenters dismiss this clearly biblical vision. It's time to get over the Algoraphobia and read the Bible through clear lenses (not political ones tinted blue or red).

Bill Walters

Posted: July 23, 2008 4:26 AM

I love the environmentalists, and have been one since graduation in '71, having worked in solar to get us off carbon based fuels. And also a believer in Christ. I find no contradiction between being environmental and believing: "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth" ( Gen 1:28). Because dominion does not mean exploitation, but includes protection. Unfortunately, most of the environmentalists that I have met do not extend that protection to the unborn child, and permit its exploitation in the name of choice.

Marcus

Posted: July 22, 2008 12:47 PM


While stating "there is no reason to revert to nature idolatry, paganism, shamanism, or animism" this is exactly what most "liberal Christians" are doing. Focus on Christ and trust that God is in control.

RJR_fan

Posted: July 22, 2008 12:15 PM

It's so easy to overlook two words in the most famous verse in the Bible -- "For God so loved THE WORLD ... " that He redeemed a race of caretakers for His creation. (see also Eph.2:10) As a Christian who loves God and God's world, it is my duty to resist any excuse offered to expand the reach, scope, and power of that modern Moloch, the State. Now that Marxism is passe, environmentalism is the new hobby horse ridden by those who lust to supplant God in our lives. Poor and ruined parts of the earth groan under socialism, the arbitrary rule of well-connected political elites -- and the cure is not more socialism for the rest of us. I am also obligated have and home-school as many children as possible, so as to add resources to the global mix. More hearts to love, more minds to think, more hands to work, more souls to worship God. Free and creative Christians are the solution. God-hating politicians are the problem -- whether cloaked in red or green.

Raymond Takashi Swenson

Posted: July 22, 2008 12:15 PM

The Amish have focused on recapturing the Old Testament ethic of caring for and preserving the land so that it will remain fruitful. Throughout the scriptures are the affirmations that when we view the world God created we are learning to acknowledge the Creator. And Revelation promises that the earth will be transformed into a celestial abode where God can dwell, as the meek inherit the earth. At the same time, as we affirm our faith commitment to care for the earth, we should not become mush-brained about specific policy proposals that invoke the prestige of science without actually requiring us to know the science. The simple fact is that global warming has, for 10 years now, ground to a halt. The past 12 months have been the coolest in the past decade. We have had no big hurricanes for two years. Oceans are not rising. Global warming is a slow development, not a crisis. All the government proposals will devastate our economies while decreasing CO2 by only 2%.

Awake

Posted: July 22, 2008 6:19 AM

The end is not going to come until you actually do gods will, christians have no clue, and they all must be illiterate because in revelation 10:7 says when the seventh angel begins to sound the mystery of god will be finished, Revelation 11:15 when he sounds the end of the mystery is when the kingdoms of the world have become the kingdoms of God and his christ. and there aint no kingdom yet. the kingdom is a national church havent you read God made moses the governor of the law, which is your govt. of law, and aaron the governor of religion, religion was supposed to be a body like the govt of law, then you would have unity and 1.5 trillion dollars to take care of these problems.

Chuck Anziulewicz

Posted: July 21, 2008 8:47 AM

What I find really troubling is how so many Christians, especially those who cling to "End Times" theology, completely absolve themselves of personal responsibility for the environment because they think Jesus is going to descend down out the sky and make things all better. They dismiss any notion that human industrial activity could be causing global climate change, preferring to think that if global warming is actually occurring, it's probably caused by the Sun, therefore it's the way "God" wants it to be, so therefore WHY WORRY ABOUT IT? People even go so far as to sneer at weather forecasts, saying "Only GOD can foretell the weather!" And so they go their merry way, screaming down the interstates at 80-90 MPH in their Hummers and Escalades and Yukons, living utterly wasteful, gluttonous lifestyles out of some sense of Divine Entitlement. Future generations will curse us for failing to act when all the environmental warning signs were so easy to see.

Mark Eaton

Posted: July 21, 2008 7:09 AM

We should do all things with the understanding that we will stand before the judgement seat of Christ and answer for things done in this present body. Will some works be excluded from that judgement such as how we used God's resources around us? I doubt it. If books are kept about our life, how can such an important issue be avoided? The parable of the talents tells us how God view us if we simply do nothing with what He gives to us. What if we squander it? It is time we Followers of Christ had a mindset change. We need to put on the mind of Christ. Then we can answer a simple question like, would Christ care if we destroyed the planet that He created? Keeping good care of God's resources is easy it you regard them as really His.

Deborah Solomon

Posted: July 20, 2008 10:16 PM

As a Christian that has grown up in the church all of my life I find this article very encouraging. I have been taught many, many times about the rapture or second coming of Christ throughout the years. We know this is an important part of scripture, however, it certainly is not all of what scripture teaches us about future events. I live my life everyday as though Jesus could come anytime, however, if at day's end I am stay here I intend to occupy and that means being salt and light in the culture. It also means having a balanced view of environmental issues as well as building relationships in my community and trying to be a positive influence. Evangelical Christians also must guard against unnecessarilly alienating others that are interested in working to uphold moral standards, by acting like they are not concerned about environmental issues. May God give each of us wisdom on this important issue.

samuel

Posted: July 20, 2008 7:34 PM

This idiot is the editor in chief of this magazine??? This horse dung isn't fit to print or read. It is nothing more than global warming mish mush.How arrogant it is to believe WE can destroy GOD'S Creation. Man is not good enough, let alone smart enough to destroy this planet. We can make it look awfully ugly, which we should take care NOT to do, but we CANNOT destoy it. This is pure arrogance on these people's part and they are trying to do it while hiding behind religion. I"ll bet this guy that wrote this is sitting at home smiling, thinking he is so intelligent and so above everyone else. This puke is a complete jackass. I actually feel sorry for the maggot, however I will pray that he comes to know the Real JESUS CHRIST

Scott

Posted: July 20, 2008 2:46 AM


I thank our friend David Neff thinks we cant multi task. We are doing just fine David. Stay away from the strife my friend.

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