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The Deeper Problem
A Response to Scott Sabin's 'Whole Earth Evangelism'
To facilitate a truly global conversation, we ask Christian leaders from around the world to respond to the Global Conversation's lead articles. These points of view do not necessarily represent Christianity Today magazine or the Lausanne Movement. They are designed to stimulate discussion from all points of the compass and from different segments of the Christian community. Please add your perspective by posting a comment so that we can learn and grow together in the unity of the Spirit.
While I don't disagree with Scott Sabin's thoughts, I am uncomfortable with "piling on more doom and gloom." True, the average North American is disconnected from the environment, and that disconnect has cost us dearly. But we must remember that North Americans have made great strides in minimizing and mitigating the negative effects on their environment. In fact, many facets of the modern environmental movement began in North America. (I think of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring as an example.) As a result, air quality in urban areas in Canada, while still in need of vigilance and monitoring, has improved over the last 30 years. Industrial practices have improved the quality of effluents that are returned to natural water bodies, and forest management and agricultural practices have made steady improvement, minimizing and in some cases eliminating their negative effects on environmental indicators
Problems do persist. Dire predictions about the earth's climate bring us back to face the reality that things are not as they should be, and God's Creation remains broken. The greatest problem, however, is how global problems affect the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters who are ill equipped to adjust. While we in the West have gradually learned to manage the world's bounty to our advantage, we have not been willing to share our bounty or our knowledge with those who need it most.
Every day our culture reminds us that we need the next shiny gadget to fit into our lives of excess, despite how little the latest mp3 player or expensive car has done to truly benefit us. Meanwhile, the gap between the poor and the wealthy continues to grow. James' admonition that, "Pure Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world," continues to ring in our deaf ears (James 1:27).
I would suggest that the parable of the rich fool is lost on many of us (Luke 12:13–21). We continue to store up more and more for ourselves, and think less and less of those around us. And let's not forget that we live in a global community, and our neighbors are those suffering in other parts of the world along with our disenfranchised neighbors. It is, in fact, our greed that makes us unclean (Mark 7:21–23), and so causes many of the environmental problems we face.
What is the alternative? While I would never suggest that we should not care for our environment, it seems to me that environmental activism can serve to conceal the true causes of our environmental problems. Our materialistic society, once it has eroded our environment, offers us materialistic solutions to the problems. Planting a tree is admirable, and God's ability to use us to restore his creation is amazing. But it is the nature of our hearts that is at the root of our problem, not the nature of our world. "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life" (Prov. 4:23). A spiritual, inside-out transformation is what is needed.
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TaylorNicole
I think that we should take a greater responsiblilty for creation ,but there is a fine line between taking care and obsessing. I think a Christian can look at creation and see the beauty of God in it so that should inspire us to take care of it. I do believe that humanity, in general, doesn’t care for this world and the poor, and that the world is now reaping the consequences.
Summer Bri'ann
I loved the author's idea of good stewardship going hand in hand with the gospel. It is very true that in other parts of the world, the climate and enviromental changes effect them more than it may effect us. I believe when we are building relationships globally with the body of Christ we could be increasingly more effective to our brothers and sisters if we teach them or encourage them to be good stewards of creation. However, our first mission field, in the area of stewardship, needs to be at home.
Caleb Robert Link , United States
Evangelical Christianity is the primary force destroying Christianity.
Jeffrey Spencer, United States
Mr. Furfari asks, "let us not change Christian civilization that has led to progress and prosperity for billions." What he fails to acknowledge is that the global warming crisis is changing climate world-wide -- the very climates on which this civilization is based. Because we human beings are causing climate change, we are dooming our own civilization. We must address the global warming crisis and the only way to do this is to reduce our carbon footprints, especially those of us who live in (and benefit from) the "developed" part of the world.
Roger McKinney, USA
I don't think it's true that Christians have ignored creation until recently. That is an exaggeration fabricated by people who want to sell books and by the radical environmentalists who want moral support for their corrupt, earth-worshiping agenda. Creation care is nothing but good stewardship, which has always been at the heart of Christian teaching. And it's part of helping the poor. The only thing Christians have failed at is worshiping creation as some want us to do. I can guarantee you that those who make creation their idol have no interest whatsoever in saving souls. Christians have no reason join them and nothing to be ashamed of in regard to the traditional Christian stance toward creation.
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