Picked for a Purpose? The Environment

Romans  8.18-25

¹⁸ I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. ¹⁹ The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.  ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

²² We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ²³ Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.

Today we are moving further into the reality of being chosen by God. I’ve called this and the next few messages, “Picked for a Purpose.” We are, after all chosen as God’s co-workers who have responsibilities toward God, others, self and as highlighted in the passage before us - God’s people also have responsibilities toward Creation.

This is a very politicized and controversial topic these days. North American have a heritage of consumption born out of abundance. On this side of the ocean there’s lots of land, resources and potential. And while consumption, and development are not in themselves wrong, how development happens can be. Oil spills, industrial waste and the after effects of deforestation are much more than the cost of doing business; they are events with moral and spiritual consequences as well.

So these are the things we’ll explore today. First, we’ll look at the passage before us and see what a Christian’s responsibilities are toward Creation. Second, we’ll separate care for creation from environmentalism. And last we’ll explore just how important this issue is for the world today.

As we read the verses, it seems clear that the Spirit through Paul is preparing his people for the world as it is and how it will be. There is no reason to think that Christians will be free from troubles in this present life. It is important, therefore, that they learn how to bear them. That seems obvious, but as we go beyond verse 18, what isn’t clear is what has the Creation got to do with suffering?

Simply put, suffering is tied to Creation. Nothing happens apart from the real world and all suffering is due to human activity of some kind. In the present time suffering happens as the direct result of a person’s sin or the sin or others. There is also the suffering that arises directly from our Christian profession and there is suffering that arises simply because we are in an imperfect world.

The Spirit is teaching that sin, which affected the divine purpose in man, affected also the entire nonhuman creation. So deeply is man fallen and so frustrated is the Creation that left alone both lack the purpose for which they were designed.

So what does that mean? The present state of the Creation is tied to human failure to be obedient to God and God’s call to be good stewards. Genesis 1.28 says, “God blessed humanity and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” And yes the word subdue is a strong word; it means take it, work it and transform it. But how, for what purpose? Genesis 2.15, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”

The simple observation is that working the earth - agriculture, mining and manufacturing are normal,  good and expected. The goodness of the earth is our home, our sustenance and pleasure. Not only to eat and drink but to remanufacture what is already excellent into things that are also excellent. Does our manufacturing always do that?

God’s intention is that creation is good, valuable, a place of nurture that sustains life. So while it was and remains humanity’s responsibility to tame and transform the earth, we must accept that humanity has also exploited and polluted it. Humanity does not have permission to turn Creation into a toxic waste dump.

Today the creation is suffering from rampant development and the exploitation of natural resources is doing us all more harm than good.

Were you aware that:

Each Hour

• 1,692 acres of productive dry land become desert.
• 55 people are poisoned by the pesticides they use; 5 die.

Each Day

• 25,000 people die of water shortage or contamination.
• 250,000 tons of sulfuric acid fall as acid rain in the Northern Hemisphere.
• 60 tons of plastic packaging and 372 tons of fishing net are dumped into the sea by commercial fishermen.
• Almost 5 species of life become extinct.

Right now:

• One quarter of the earth’s surface is threatened by desertification – an area of over 3.6 billion hectares. This includes large areas in the US.
• The world’s drinking water supplies have fallen by almost two thirds since 1950.
• Every year, desertification generates income losses totalling USD 42 billion.

Since 1980 the worldwide yield of essential food crops has decreased? It is now 5% less than it could have been. This due to rising carbon dioxide levels and temperature change.

Were you aware that Malaria is on the rise due to deforestation and chemical fertilizer use?

Were you aware that the World Health Organization considers ¾ of new infectious diseases in humans to be the direct result of over-crowding animals in factory farms? Think bird flu or swine flu.

Were you aware that living in the developed world each of us stands twice the chance of getting cancer than those living in the developing world?

Were you aware that

·         In 2008, 21,000 Canadians will die from the effects of air pollution.

·         By 2031, almost 90,000 people will have died from the acute effects of air pollution.

·         In 2008, economic costs of air pollution will top $8 billion. By 2031, these costs will have accumulated to over $250 billion.

I could go on, but it’s time to make the point.  The Creation is groaning and fighting back because it’s been mismanaged, mishandled and abused.

And this is where we come in. Disciples of Jesus are called to say no to harmful uses of Creation. They are called to be responsible stewards because our future is tied to the future of all Creation. In fact, “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.” The creation is waiting for us to fulfill our calling. It’s more than fair to say that an indicator of the Church’s redemptive presence is the overall condition of the earth. The Creation is dependent on our activities.

And this brings us to the second issue, separating the calling to be good stewards from environmentalism.  Good stewards care for something. They protect it and look to the future. They ask, is this what God wants for the world because being a steward is like being an employee; they do what the owner of the land wants. They ask, how is what I’m doing today going to impact other people, my children, grandchildren and the world around me?

Take Leviticus 25.3-5  “For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. ⁴ But in the seventh year the land is to have a sabbath of rest, a sabbath to the Lord. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards.”

This law, which I’ve never seen obeyed, makes sense. Just as natural fertilizer makes sense, just as recycling motor oil rather than pouring down the drain makes sense. It gives the land a chance to be restored. Much of Texas is at risk of becoming dessert in a few years. The cause: over-cultivation and uncontrolled water pumping from underground sources. Stewards don’t do that. In Atlantic Canada the cod fishery is gone and over fishing is at least partly to blame. Good stewards don’t do that either. Every time we cultivate land, change waterways or animal populations we cause ripples beyond immediate need. Stewards recognize that and act accordingly.

In these ways good stewards are also environmentalists. They take seriously their calling to care for the environment. They care for creation as best they can; they set goals based on what God wants for Creation. And God’s ultimate goal is to see all of Creation redeemed. People and planet both. “the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.”

Environmentalism by contrast worships the Creation, not the Creator. It sets animals equal to people in worth and dignity. It make a religion out of caring for Creation that often puts lives at risk and tends to treat humanity as an infection the planet would do well without. So again we see that a good thing - concern for the environment can become misguided - a nature religion. Regardless, let’s accept that in some ways environmentalists are our allies if the common goal is to reduce, reuse, recycle for the good of the earth and the glory of God.

Let’s move to our third and closing issue. This issue is now and has always been important for our world. What does the world need from a renewed understanding of Creation care and stewardship? Most of the Law found in scripture is based on principle, when followed, enhance life and bring goodness to believer and non-believer alike. The Leviticus law may have addressed people living 3500 years ago, but the principle of sensible farming practices have always mattered. Just as sensible mining, fishing and manufacturing principles matter.

And the example set by those who follow these godly principles impacts others for good. Either there is a direct benefit of health and life, or there is the greater benefit of coming to know the one who is light and life. The church is called to carry out agricultural and industrial activity responsibly so that those who do not believe will see the greatness of our God and believe.

So rather than urge believers to simply recycle more or to live without technology or to reject anything except organic and natural or drive hybrids, – let’s face it anyone can do that; let’s do what no one else can. Let’s get on board with what God is doing no matter the cost. The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. We are stewards even though we may own title to lands and properties. Can we accept that and allow the Spirit to guide us in our work?

The final verses of our text make it clear. The spirit is calling his people to pray. To pray for wisdom so that the decisions we make are in accordance with God’s desire for the Creation. To pray for restraint knowing that stewardship has a cost. To pray for a firm and confident hope that what has begun will be completed with our cooperation. To pray that the Kingdom will come and that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Dare we pray and see Creation renewed along with us?