I love this question. I love the fact that someone asked it.
I think it is probably safe to say that the science surrounding the issue of global warming is still a little bit up in the air. It probably isn't quite as clear as Al Gore makes it out to be. Of course, there is plenty of circumstantial evidence - the retreat of the glaciers in China, the struggles of the Arctic polar bears, etc. But still, the science surrounding this still feels adolescent.
Yet, and this is a very large yet, we still need to be concerned with global warming, and its parent issue, environmental stewardship. You see, environmental stewardship is a concern, not so much because the science tells me so, but because God tells me so. A fundamental aspect of our calling as humans is to steward the creation (which includes the environment) as God's representatives. This, alongside, "be fruitful and multiply," is God's first command to humans. So this is a human concern. And followers of Jesus ought to be at the front leading the way, as those concerned with keeping God's commands, and not dragging our feet arguing over the science or questioning hidden agendas. As followers of Jesus, the agenda we should be concerned about is God's.
So why the questions? It is pretty obvious, really, right there in Genesis 1, so why do we ask all the questions? Two reasons, I think.
The first is because it is hard. I mean, let's be honest. Being a wise and gracious steward of the creation can be tough business in today's world. I'm fairly passionate about this issue, and I still throw away much more garbage than I know is right, and I don't feel like recycling all that plastic, and I forget my travel mug at home and opt for the "to-go" cup instead. It's just plain hard in our plastic world to live as responsible stewards, and until we're honest about that, I don't think we'll make much headway. And, then, when we're honest, we can take our one step at a time. Which leads me to my next point.
The second reason we question our responsibility to environmental stewardship is because we've been given bad training by the Church. Most of us don't think of God as being particularly concerned with this physical world in the here and now. We've been trained to think of God as being concerned over our souls, and that's pretty much it, so that it would seem the physical world isn't particularly important and so then who really cares what happens to it anyway? If we're trained to believe it is all going to burn and that heaven is the real deal, then why bother recycling? But the truth is, that's a sub-biblical mindset. The Revelation vision is of heaven coming down to earth; the biblical vision is of a new heavens and a new earth - very physical heavens and earth. God is on a mission to redeem and restore the whole creation, including not only our hearts, but humpback whales and human societies too. God is concerned not only with salvation (loosely, and inadequately, understood as people coming to saving faith in Jesus), not only with mercy (things like giving people a "hand out"), but also with justice (giving people a "hand up"). And there's no doubt environmental stewardship is an issue of justice. And God cares very deeply about justice. So, I think, should we.
We sometimes have this idea that it is wrong to ask why.
Why? It isn't a sin to doubt. It isn't a sin to ask questions.
God never turns his back on anyone asking an honest question. We can be honest with God. We can bring our hard questions to Jesus.
There's a story from the life of Jesus. You can find it in Matthew's biography, right near the end, in the 28th chapter of his book. Matthew is telling the story about the time after Jesus' resurrection from the dead, when he meets with his followers before translating out of their view. Matthew says that, when they saw the risen Jesus, their reaction was to worship. Jesus has just risen from the dead, something that no other human being had ever done. He's defeated death and his body is glorious. They were filled with awe and reverence. And, Matthew says, "some doubted." I love that little line, because it has got to be one of the most honest statements in the Bible. I mean, they knew what we know: dead people stay dead, right? And here's Jesus, risen from the dead? It was a little much to take in for some of them. They worshiped, but some doubted. They worshiped even while doubting. They were able to honor God and ask some honest questions at the same time; doing the one didn't necessarily diminish the other. Nor does Jesus rebuke the doubters. In fact, he commissions these same folks to carry on the work he's begun.
There's another biblical story that I'm reminded of, even more famous. It has to do with so-called "Doubting Thomas," pictured above. This story comes from John's biography of Jesus, in the 20th chapter of his book. Again, Jesus has recently risen from the dead. While his friends are gathered (secretly - for fear of suffering the same fate as Jesus), Jesus meets up with them to show them he's now alive; only, Thomas isn't there. They tell Thomas Jesus has appeared to them alive, but Thomas is skeptical. He wants proof. A week later Jesus meets up with his friends again, this time with Thomas among them. Jesus is fully aware of Thomas' mindset. Does he rebuke him? Kick him out of the group? No. He invites him to poke around and consider the evidence, to consider Jesus. And then Jesus invites Thomas to lay doubting aside and take up trust, to believe.
Jesus welcomes our honest questions.
This blog is dedicated to reflecting on some honest questions asked by members and friends of the Royal Oak Vineyard Church in the 2008 Easter Season. I look forward to your comments.
Why? It isn't a sin to doubt. It isn't a sin to ask questions.
God never turns his back on anyone asking an honest question. We can be honest with God. We can bring our hard questions to Jesus.
There's a story from the life of Jesus. You can find it in Matthew's biography, right near the end, in the 28th chapter of his book. Matthew is telling the story about the time after Jesus' resurrection from the dead, when he meets with his followers before translating out of their view. Matthew says that, when they saw the risen Jesus, their reaction was to worship. Jesus has just risen from the dead, something that no other human being had ever done. He's defeated death and his body is glorious. They were filled with awe and reverence. And, Matthew says, "some doubted." I love that little line, because it has got to be one of the most honest statements in the Bible. I mean, they knew what we know: dead people stay dead, right? And here's Jesus, risen from the dead? It was a little much to take in for some of them. They worshiped, but some doubted. They worshiped even while doubting. They were able to honor God and ask some honest questions at the same time; doing the one didn't necessarily diminish the other. Nor does Jesus rebuke the doubters. In fact, he commissions these same folks to carry on the work he's begun.
There's another biblical story that I'm reminded of, even more famous. It has to do with so-called "Doubting Thomas," pictured above. This story comes from John's biography of Jesus, in the 20th chapter of his book. Again, Jesus has recently risen from the dead. While his friends are gathered (secretly - for fear of suffering the same fate as Jesus), Jesus meets up with them to show them he's now alive; only, Thomas isn't there. They tell Thomas Jesus has appeared to them alive, but Thomas is skeptical. He wants proof. A week later Jesus meets up with his friends again, this time with Thomas among them. Jesus is fully aware of Thomas' mindset. Does he rebuke him? Kick him out of the group? No. He invites him to poke around and consider the evidence, to consider Jesus. And then Jesus invites Thomas to lay doubting aside and take up trust, to believe.
Jesus welcomes our honest questions.
This blog is dedicated to reflecting on some honest questions asked by members and friends of the Royal Oak Vineyard Church in the 2008 Easter Season. I look forward to your comments.
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