Monday, September 25, 2006
Christians and Creation - A Positive Approach III
We have previously established that a Christian should have a very different view of creation than an "environmentalist." Since, we have begun considering the ramifications of that fact and considered that a Christian should be very skeptical of that developed by secular environmentalists and that Christians should always remember they have a local perspective on matters realted to creation. In this post, I want to consider that a Christian's perspective on creation should be a most humble one.
As we have discussed, the secular environmentalists thinks that man is destroying the planet through manipulation and alteration. The Christian understands that he/she has a mandate to alter the planet in accordance with God's will. But, there is something implicit in the Christian view that is of vital importance. Man's ability to alter the planet, let alone what alterations he shall do, is an ability from God. We so act under God's providence. The mere presumption that we can "destroy the planet," that we can completely undo that which God has done, is in some sense a failure to acknowledge from whence our abilities come. Humility starts by knowing our place under God.
Humility also demands that we demand the very best of our science. Humility says, "I am small and created." To understand all of creation is reaching very far to the Creator. He has granted us very powerful intellects, but they can be lazy, and they can jump to conclusions. When we reach so far towards our Creator we cannot afford any less than our very, very best efforts - otherwise we risk allowing our own fallen nature to stand in the way of learning that which God would have us do.
Humility will also accept the changes that God intends for creation. Some piece of land somewhere may be very special to us. We may want it preserved for sentimental or personal enjoyment reasons, but God may need it to provide housing for others, or grow food for the poor, or.... Humility is the root of faith, and sometimes, faith demands that we rely on God's providence, that what is happening is what He would have happen, even if it makes us unhappy.
Finally, humility in viewing creation is willing to say "I don't know." Saying so is part of relying on God's providence. Sometimes we simply don't know what affect, if any, something will have on creation. Humility understands there are limits to what our science can do. Which means that when it comes to many decisions about what to do in some circumstance, the basis for those decisions will have to be other than "environmental impact" because we simply do not know.
Part IV is here.
Part V is available here
Related Tags: creation, environmentalism, Christians, humility
As we have discussed, the secular environmentalists thinks that man is destroying the planet through manipulation and alteration. The Christian understands that he/she has a mandate to alter the planet in accordance with God's will. But, there is something implicit in the Christian view that is of vital importance. Man's ability to alter the planet, let alone what alterations he shall do, is an ability from God. We so act under God's providence. The mere presumption that we can "destroy the planet," that we can completely undo that which God has done, is in some sense a failure to acknowledge from whence our abilities come. Humility starts by knowing our place under God.
Humility also demands that we demand the very best of our science. Humility says, "I am small and created." To understand all of creation is reaching very far to the Creator. He has granted us very powerful intellects, but they can be lazy, and they can jump to conclusions. When we reach so far towards our Creator we cannot afford any less than our very, very best efforts - otherwise we risk allowing our own fallen nature to stand in the way of learning that which God would have us do.
Humility will also accept the changes that God intends for creation. Some piece of land somewhere may be very special to us. We may want it preserved for sentimental or personal enjoyment reasons, but God may need it to provide housing for others, or grow food for the poor, or.... Humility is the root of faith, and sometimes, faith demands that we rely on God's providence, that what is happening is what He would have happen, even if it makes us unhappy.
Finally, humility in viewing creation is willing to say "I don't know." Saying so is part of relying on God's providence. Sometimes we simply don't know what affect, if any, something will have on creation. Humility understands there are limits to what our science can do. Which means that when it comes to many decisions about what to do in some circumstance, the basis for those decisions will have to be other than "environmental impact" because we simply do not know.
Part IV is here.
Part V is available here
Related Tags: creation, environmentalism, Christians, humility
