April 28 - May 4, 2008
April 28 - May 4, 2008
SOLI/Update
In 1968 Paul Ehrlich published his provocative book “The Population Bomb,” which warned of a looming crisis as a result of overpopulation.
Fortunately Ehrlich's scenario of widespread famines in the late 20th Century did not come true, but as food riots break out in 2008 over a rise in food prices, it is worth keeping "The Population Bomb" in mind as the 21st century progresses.
Since 1968 three things have come true: One, there are almost twice as many people on the globe; two, the planet is showing signs of great stress from human activity; and, three, there will be more and more people vying for the same resources in decades to come.
When Ehrlich wrote his book 40 years ago global population was about 3.5 billion. Now there are more than 6.5 billion, and scientists expect the 1968 number to have doubled, to 7 billion, by 2011. Predictions are that the population will level off by 2050 at somewhere between 9 and 10 billion.
The force that forestalled widespread famine – the “green revolution” in agriculture of the 1960s – may not continue to keep pace with the population growth. Moreover, the approximate doubling of the population from 1968 to now is one important factor behind climate change and other environmental stresses.
A history of population growth shows the context.
It took until 1804 to reach the first billion, 123 years for the second, 33 years for the third billion, 15 years for the fourth billion, 12 years for the fifth billion and 12 for the sixth. It's an alarmingly fast rise, but our attitudes have not caught up with the change.
For centuries, human beings consumed and used the resources of the earth as if it were limitless, unending and eternally renewable. The wasteful -- sinfully wasteful -- practices of humanity have not changed, but now there are six times as many of us since 1804, and twice as many of us since just the 1960s. Clearly we need to rethink the model of a limitless, boundless, ever-renewable planet. The church can lead the way.
As Christian stewards, we must be concerned not only with meeting the needs of today’s hungry people, but also with preserving the systems of life and renewal that have sustained human beings for millennia. As pastors and church leaders, we can help educate people on the need to conserve energy, to consume less, and to consume more wisely.
Jesus commanded us to love our neighbor as ourselves. I’m certain he would want us to love our neighbors yet unborn by leaving them a world that is healthy and whose environment is productive.
-Rob Blezard, editor and webmaster
Reprint rights gladly given to congregations for nonprofit, local use. Just include the following notice: “Copyright © 2008, The Rev. Robert Blezard, www.stewardshipoflife.org. Used by permission.”
New This Week:
Ecology, Justice and Theology: Beyond the Preliminary Skirmishes
Back when the environmental movement was young – and taking a lot of heat from all sides -- the Rev. H. Paul Santmire weighed in with a theological perspective. Santmire, who is now one of the leading voices in environmental theology. His words from 1976 still speak to us, maybe especially because the environmental movement is still taking heat from all sides. Click here for “Ecology, Justice and Theology,” from Religion Online.
Gospel Based Discipleship
Here’s a great approach to energizing your church from the study group on up. Gospel based discipleship helps Christians understand the call of the Gospel in their own lives, in their own context. With a little creative leading, you can make stewardship a big part of that exploration. Click here for Gospel Based Stewardship, from Stewardship Resources of the Episcopal Church.
Coaching Your Leaders
"It’s the time of the year when your new leadership team members have had a little exposure to their goals and challenges and need some guidance to achieve what you would like to see happen.” It’s precisely here when your leaders can lose heart. Here are three ways to energize them and keep them on task. Click here for “Coaching Your Leaders,” from Tuck Aaker, stewardship columnist for ELCA Stewardship Resources
A Call to Stewardship Arms
Dick Towner’s provocatively titled essay is built on a provocative premise. “We live in a very materialistic environment. Webster's definition of materialism is, ‘The belief that everything can be explained by physical matter.’ That is a theological statement. … It is nothing less than a competing theology with a god called money.” Read on! Click here for “A Call to Stewardship Arms,” from Today’s Children’s Ministry.