God Is Green

Do you care about the future of earth?
Do you worry that we are doing more to hurt the planet than to help it?
Do you want to make a difference?
So does God.

Flowers – Creation
July 6, 2008
When he finished it, God stepped back and declared that his creation was very good. In fact, the flow of the biblical narrative shows that God cares very deeply about his creation, that he takes joy in its beauty. The purpose of creation is primarily celebration, not consumption and pleasure, not production. What good are flowers but simply to be enjoyed? If we as followers of Jesus begin to see God as one who cares for his creation, maybe we can begin to see ourselves as ones who ought to care for it as well.

Dirt – Fall
July 13, 2008
We are made of the dirt of the ground, and so what we do as human beings has a profound impact on the world in which we live. In the same way that our rebellion against God pollutes and contaminates our personal lives, so too, it is the cause of environmental pollution and contamination. Our modern technological lifestyles take us further and further away from the dirt and connecting with the rhythms of creation, further isolating us from God. As followers of Jesus, we must be honest about this sin and repent of it by seeking to reconnect with God by means of reconnecting with creation.

Trees – Redemption
July 20, 2008
From the Garden of Eden to the heavenly Jerusalem, trace the presence of trees in throughout the biblical narrative, culminating on the tree on which Jesus died. Redemption is universal, not merely personal, in scope. If God loves creation so much that he is willing to sacrifice his beloved Son on its behalf, what sacrifices ought we to make for the good of creation? How can we partner with God in the redemption of the world?

Seeds – Kingdom
July 27, 2008
Jesus said that his kingdom was not of this world. It operates through a different strategy and by different values than our worldly system does. It starts off small and forgettable like a seed and grows to be an all-encompassing shade and refuge for the whole world. It is defined by things like poverty, meekness, mercy, peace, righteousness, and purity. How can we as followers of Jesus break out of our consumeristic and materialistic lifestyles to help make the kingdom of Jesus grow?