|
2007:
a busy year; lots of issues. I wonder how many of these will occupy the
stage in 2008?
Perhaps the one that most certainly will be with us is global warming. Where
do we see ourselves in regard to this issue? Where do we see ourselves as
Christians, in regard to this issue? I have thought this evening to provide
a few pointers as to where we might be.
There are three positions that I have chosen from within Christian thinking
that I put to you - available to be adopted. In which of these do you - do
we - find ourselves? Maybe we find ourselves partly adopting one position
and partly another.
It is important, surely, that we know where we are in regard to the issue as
global warming. First of all we must inform ourselves. And then, having
informed ourselves, see whether we can't form a corporate view as to what
should be done - a corporate St Mary's view - our own corporate Christian
view - and promulgate that view among those who wield power. Believe me, how
badly they need that view.
So what of these positions?: where are we?
The first of the three We go back to 1981. The First Interior Secretary of
the United States (President Ronald Reagan's administration) is arguing
before Congress,: ' ..... God gave us these things to use. After the last
tree is felled, Christ will come back.' Position 1 - for there are many
Christians who would see the issue simply in terms of the injunction in
Genesis that we are to subdue the land; and that we are to exercise
dominion: that nature exists to serve us mankind while we are here: that
there is no point in worrying about environmental degradation.
Is that how we see it? We may, ourselves, feel that we have gone beyond
anything like that. But here, this evening, let us consider whether, or to
what degree there is a residue of this thinking in our make-up. Are we
tempted to see the situation as hopeless?: such as to leave us free to do
what we will?
But then there is another point of view – the second of our three positions:
what might be called the environmentalist position. Here, the keyword among
Christians who adopt this position is stewardship: that God's purpose ……is
for mankind to harbour the land, to work the land to creative effect. There
are numbers of Biblical references to support this point of view.
Immediately - still staying with Genesis - we read 'God took the man ……..
and put him in the Garden ……..to till it and keep it'.
So mankind is to harbour and care for the land: to bring fulfilment to the
land. We see it in more recent times: in the 'natural' landscapes that
Wordsworth so prized. These landscapes, 'natural' but certainly not
‘untended’ - cherished, ‘English’, 'unspoilt' as they are – the outcome of
centuries of agricultural work, which has tamed nature to a ‘natural’ state.
Then according to this, our second position, mankind owes a duty towards the
land: no question of an unfettered licence to exploit. The environment,
quite separate from human beings, calls upon the service of man.
Again, we may examine ourselves. Is this our position? Do we see ourselves
managers, but nothing more? I suggest that, often, we may see ourselves
thus.
But yet there is a third position. This is a position that brings in more
than just human duty: brings in care for human beings. It is an approach
that recognizes human perception: that nature, beautiful as it is, is
dependent to be perceived upon human beings. We perceive God working in and
through nature to communicate with human beings: see Noah’s rainbow after
the flood; the darkness that fell at the crucifixion.
So we go beyond the environment itself to the effect of climate upon the
world 's poor. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, says Jesus …….
Because he has anointed me
To bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To proclaim the year of the Lord's favour.
So where do we stand? Do we adopt adherence to the injunction to subdue? Or
do we see ourselves stewards: a benign duty to care for creation? Or do we
see ourselves placed in a relationship with nature and our fellow men, as
also a relationship with God, himself?
Top of page |
