pringle@bruce.cs.monash.oz.au (GLen Pringle) (03/20/91)
The conservation movement has received much publicity over the last several years, especially the more radical greenies. However, I know very few Christians who are even mild conservationists. I would like Christian reasons for looking after our environment (with biblical references if possible) - ie not the reasons the 'secular' conservation movement has, but reasons Christians have for caring for nature. Some reasons are: * Man was given rule over nature at creation, which carries with it a responsibility to look after nature. * Nature teaches us about God, and helps bring us closer to Him. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmanents sheweth His handywork." Psalm 19:1 Any thoughts on to what degree a Christian should go to protect the environment - should we risk our lives as some people do - would be appreciated. -- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | GLen Pringle | A Conclusion is the place | | Monash University, Australia | where you got tired of thinking | | pringle@bruce.cs.monash.edu.au | - Arthur Block | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- [I know Christians who are far more than mild conservationists. The proposed new confession of faith of the Presbyterian Church (USA) lists environmental destruction as a major consequence of our sin. --clh]
lieuwen@cs.wisc.edu (Dan Lieuwen) (03/22/91)
Francis Schaeffer's POLLUTION AND THE DEATH OF MAN is a good place to start
in looking Biblically at the creation. He wrote it about 1970, so its quite
early. He argues that linking dominion with the right to destroy is
to misread the Bible.
If you can hear Dr. Cal DeWitt (he's from the U. of Wisconsin-Madison, but
he travels a fair bit to encourage people to think Biblically about the
creation), I would strongly recommend it. He's very involved in
the Ausable Institute in Michigan--a place for people from Christian colleges
to learn more about the environment).
We are called to care for the garden of the earth (Gen. 2:15).
After the fall, we do a poorer job of this, but the call remains.
A gardener who decides to remove one of the varieties of roses chosen by
his/her employer would deserve to be fired. We are destroying one species
a day--we're not doing a very good job at our task of caring for the garden
are we?
In the Bible, those in charge are called to work for the benefit of those
under them. Thus, dominion implies a responsibility to seek the good of
every species on earth.
[I know Christians who are far more than mild conservationists. The
proposed new confession of faith of the Presbyterian Church (USA)
lists environmental destruction as a major consequence of our sin.
--clh]
More conservative denominations are ahead of you on this. "A Contemporary
Testimony" which appears in the Psalter Hymnal of the Christian Reformed Church
talks of pollution as a sin as well. It's both a consequence of and a
punishment for our sins. Most sins seem to carry within themselves the
punishment for the sin.
DanJeremy.Gibbons@prg.oxford.ac.uk (Jeremy Gibbons) (03/30/91)
> I would like Christian reasons for looking after our environment (with > biblical references if possible) The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, The world, and all who live in it. (Ps 24:1, NIV) I for one would not look forward to having to explain the mess we've made. Jeremy *-----------------------------------------------------------------------* | Jeremy.Gibbons@prg.oxford.ac.uk PRG, 11 Keble Road, Oxford, UK | *-----------------------------------------------------------------------*