A Pat Answer to a Global Question

There was a film out last summer that stunned audiences with its message. While I was unable to see it then, when it made its way to DVD I rented it. I am talking about An Inconvenient Truth. Al Gore has developed decade's worth of study on our environment and issued a warning to all, that the time to act is now! Before you think I am going off on an environmental rant, wait: As I said, its persuasive message awed many, and though we may not know Mr Gore's spiritual temperature, he is burning white hot with a message our God would give us as the Earth's stewards. As a result, we have been made aware again of our need to be proper stewards of the planet. However, in many areas of life there is complacency about the earth's future, but it is God's creation and it was given us by God to govern.
How might we remind people of the importance of taking care of God?s creation ? animals, plants and natural resources now?
As many answers as there might be to the broad environmental issue, the real answer lies in the concept of visible stewardship.
For decades we have seen the earth decline. Some realize this while others do not. Regardless of where we stand, as the Church, we must be concerned and involve ourselves in the maintenance of our Genesis mandate, (Gen. 1: 26-28; 3: 17-19). How to address this question is difficult; where does one start? Advice someone gave me several years ago says: ?Use few words and a big life.? When you seek to share your convictions with others, the way you live them out in front of others will convict and change more than any simple diatribe or awareness campaign.
We know the maxim, actions speak louder than words is true, so it is important to live consistently with your values ~ ask yourself if who you are theologically would have coffee with who you are in practice, (James 1: 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.). People will not buy what you advertise without seeing it in a real-life experience. Without displaying a difference through this lifestyle choice, others will not likely follow, no matter how flashy the campaign. If they will know we are Christians by our love, that love must transcend our social spheres and enter the natural and ecological.
This doesn't mean you need to be perfect in complying with everything at all times, we know God's grace is sufficient for us when we fail in our well intended acts of righteousness.
Hear this: Making daily choices to impact even the small community around you will help lead the way for others to follow. Do not give up after the initial feeling fades out or it becomes inconvenient, (James 1: 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.). It is not only the unsaved around us that need our witness. Sadly, many of those without Christ are better at saving the planet? than we in the Church.
Bruce Cockburn has said, "Nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight." Psychologists would say you will find after just a month or so of consistently living out your convictions it will come easier for you, even habit-forming. I hope these few points have helped us to see the value in taking care of the world around us and provided a simple starting place to move forward. Now I need to go throw this pop tin in the blue box.