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Environmental stewardship is a spiritual calling

Sustainability isn't a chore, it's a calling

Future generations will be living the world we shape through our actions. Today, there are many reasons to be concerned.

People all around the world are consume resources that are disproportionate to their population size. A recent study done by Washington State University, revealed that the United States of America, despite being home to only five percent of the world’s population, consumes 24 percent of the world’s energy.

In order to reverse these trends, we need to stop thinking of sustainability as a reaction, and instead treat it as a calling. Shortening one’s showers to save water, biking to work to reduce carbon emissions, and recycling one’s newspaper to save trees are all applaudable actions, but we as humans need to transform our thinking. We need to go from seeing sustainable actions as a chore, to seeing sustainable choices as a calling.

Ultimately, this perspective leads to sustainability becoming a lifestyle so that our kids and grandkids can have a quality life.

Sustainability allows us to share God's love with future generations

Sustainability allows us to share God's love with future generations

As Christians, our appreciation for the Earth's Creator should put us on the front lines of protecting the environment.

In a recent piece by the Action Institute, a group of theologians outlined: “Our stewardship [of creation] under God implies that we are morally accountable to Him for treating creation in a manner that best serves the objectives of the Kingdom of God.”

Many times, we view creation as something designed with the purpose of benefiting humankind. While God's design allows for human flourishing, we can easily lose sight of the importance of the rest of creation. God doesn't call us into anthropocentrism (humans at the center of everything), but a perspective that places God at the center, and all other forms of life in harmony.

Environmental stewardship allows us to participate alongside God, caring for the systems that were designed as an expression of love. Good stewardship highlights the beauty of creation and honors its Creator.

Scripture calls us to care for Creation

Scripture calls us to care for Creation

Creation Care allows our world to see God's love.

In Genesis 1:31, "God looked over all He had made, and He saw that it was very good!” How often do we take the time to look at creation and admire it? Our actions frequently fail to express a similar admiration which God upholds for His creation

When overconsumption threatens the lives of millions around the world, things need to change. The Church is called to be a leader in making this change. Right now, the Church can demonstrate God's love for creation through bold acts of stewardship.

Every hour, 1600 acres of dry land becomes a desert. It is not enough for us to suggest sustainable practices. We need to remember that environmental stewardship is an urgent calling. If the Church were to fully recognize environmental stewardship as co-participation in God's love for the world, imagine the impact that would have on the planet!

This is our calling, and it is one that is rooted deep within us. To care for the earth is to care for its future generations. To care for the earth is to show all people the beauty of God's love.

2 comments on “Environmental stewardship is a spiritual calling”

  1. I find the thought of Earth Stewardship creeping into my thinking quite a bit - maybe I'm being called to take it more seriously, perhaps as a secondary task after "seek first the kingdom of God". Thanks for laying the doctrines out clearly, namely that God is to remain the center of the effort.

  2. Creation Care is explicitly commanded of mankind from the very beginning (Genesis 2:15). It is probably the best outward expression of how we love God, his people and his creation. It is still a pertinent instruction today, the neglect of which has led to global climate, economic and social crises.

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