Opening THE Book with Rev John K-S October 2022

Rev John Kinchin-Smith
Assistant Minister, St Andrew’s Church, Gorleston

What does the Bible teach about our care of creation? The Bible teaches that the earth is not ours, but we have been entrusted with caring for it, protecting what God has made so that it can be enjoyed for generations to come. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...God saw all that he had made, and it was very good" (Genesis 1:1, 31). "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it" (Genesis 2:15)
 
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands" (Psalm 19:1). "Ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind" (Job 12:7-10)
 
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:13-14). "How long will the land lie parched and the grass in every field be withered? Because those who live in it are wicked, the animals and birds have perished" (Jeremiah 12:4)
 
The Bible teaches that Creation is for God’s glory, and humans have been given the special responsibility to care for God’s creation. The destruction of creation not only imperils life, including human life on this planet; the Bible teaches it is also a sin against God
 
Climate change and other environmental threats devastate and wreak havoc on the world God has made. Daily we experience brokenness within the created order. Nature erupts with hurricanes, floods, fires, and droughts in protest of climate change we’ve helped cause. We cannot drink safely from streams and rivers. The air around us has been fouled by fumes from industry and the invisible wastes of our own cars. Creatures of the deep choke on plastic we’ve thrown away without care. What might we do to restore God’s creation to its true beauty?
 
 
 

courtesy of St Andrew's Church in the Gorleston Community Magazine

The views carried here are those of the author, not of Network Yarmouth, and are intended to stimulate constructive and good-natured debate between website users

We welcome your thoughts and comments, posted below, upon the ideas expressed here

Click here to read our forum and comment posting guidelines