Introducing…Renewal!
October 30, 2008
A formal introduction to the student creation care network Renewal, from its current coordinator, Anna Jane Joyner.
In August 2008, a dozen Christian college students and recent graduates from all over the U.S. and Canada gathered around a dinner table to explore how to connect, inspire and equip the growing movement of Christian students engaged in caring for God’s creation. Observing these passionate student leaders, I couldn’t help but feel that we were on the cusp of something big.
From this gathering, ‘Renewal: Students Caring for Creation’ was born. A student-initiated, student-led network, Renewal seeks to follow Jesus’ example of love, stewardship, and reconciliation. For us, this means taking care of everything that God so lovingly created: the earth and each other.
Two months after the initial planning meeting, I looked out across a room of over 50 Christian students from all across North America. These dedicated student leaders trekked out to Eastern University for our first event–the ‘Renewal Summit.’ They came eager to connect with other Christians engaged in caring for God’s creation and to get equipped to lead their campuses, local churches and communities.
The Renewal Summit is just the first of many gatherings. As we move forward, Renewal will continue to sponsor events and initiatives to equip and inspire Christian students to lead their communities in Christ-centered stewardship of all of God’s creation. Each year, the students of Renewal will organize prayer meetings, environmental service-projects, and public advocacy opportunities and invite the larger Christian community to join hands and hearts as we work together for the renewal of God’s creation! Please check out Renewal’s website for more information and upcoming events: www.renewingcreation.org
Anna Jane Joyner, a recent graduate from the University of North Carolina, is the Coordinator of Renewal, brought on to support the student leaders of this exciting new initiative. She lives in Black Mountain, North Carolina.
2008 Day of Prayer for Creation!
October 29, 2008
Join with the Renewal student network today as college students across the world pray for the renewal of God’s creation. You don’t have to be a college student or even know one to join in this day of prayer: pray for forgiveness for our treatment of God’s world, pray for wisdom in how to take better care of that world, pray for God’s love to be known throughout creation, and pray out of gratitude for the marvelous natural world he has placed us in! For more information and ideas for prayer today (and every day!) visit www.renewingcreation.org/get-involved/pray/2008-day-of-prayer.
Put me in, Coach!
October 29, 2008
A colleague who used to work with me at Floresta told me that he became a Christian, in part, because of the despair he felt as an environmental studies major, as he learned about the dire state of our planet. The problems were just too big. All of the solutions proposed by science and government came up short. As far as he could see, there was no hope for the world, except in Christ. And of course, that is what we believe: that Jesus is the hope for the world.
Obviously you could look at many things and draw the same conclusion: injustice, poverty, disease, morality—it is hard to see hope, outside of miraculous intervention from Jesus. But we can always pretend that human nature is going to change, or that we will come up with a magic economic formula (microfinance, perhaps?) or drug that eliminates poverty and disease. Or that once we spread democracy, injustice will cease. With the environment, our ultimate failure is more obvious and possibly more immediate. It is hard to look at deforestation, or the state of the oceans, or climate change and not despair.
However, as Christians, we believe that we will win, that in fact we have already won. Jesus won the victory over death—and what is happening to creation is death—at Calvary. What then is this fight that we are locked in? As I have been involved in community development for the past fifteen years and have seen the importance of local participation, I have become more and more convinced that it is part of what this is about. God doesn’t need us to redeem the world. He has done it. He doesn’t need us to feed the poor, or fight injustice, or care for creation. Rather He allows us to participate in what He is doing in the world.
I think of all of the times that my eight-year-old and my-five-year-old ask to help me with something that I can much more easily do myself. Yet one of the most important things I can do for them is let them help. I think God lets us help, not because he needs us, but because it is good for us. By participating we begin to better understand the heart of God. As we serve the poor, we feel his passion for the lost and the oppressed, the widow and the orphan. We feel his anger at injustice as we fight human trafficking. And we feel His love for the things He has created: the mountains, the forests, the streams, the creatures and the people, as we work to protect them and serve them.
As I have thought about this, I am reminded of the movie Rudy, in which the title character dreams of playing football for Notre Dame. Rudy doesn’t have the size or the talent for it, but his sheer dedication and heart earn him a spot on the team—or at least a spot on the bench. Finally, in the last game, when the outcome is assured, the coach lets Rudy play and he plays his heart out. It becomes the stuff of legend.
That’s where I think we are. The outcome is assured, but nonetheless we get to be in the game. We get to participate in God’s plan of redemption, announcing that his Kingdom is near. I have to remind myself of this sometimes when, for example, I see the disparity between our tiny efforts at reforestation and the environmental degradation that is dooming so many people to hunger, poverty and death. I am tempted by despair. Instead I should remember the privilege I have of getting to be in the game and doing what God has called me to do, participating in His victory. Let’s play our hearts out, and, as Tony Campolo once said, “let’s be heroes!”
Scott C. Sabin is the executive director of Floresta, a Christian nonprofit organization that reverses deforestation and poverty in the world by transforming the lives of the rural poor (www.floresta.org).
Biola’s Green Initiatives
October 28, 2008
Biola University’s fall ‘08 alumni magazine features a series of articles on where the university is headed in terms of creation care. Check it out here.
Clean Clothes, Clear Conscience
October 27, 2008
Awkwardly stringing a clothesline between a maple tree, the corner of the garage, and the basketball hoop a few weeks ago, I finally declared independence from the clothes dryer. In our recent move from inner-city D.C. to the Chicago suburbs, visions of sheets dancing on the line against a clear, Midwestern sky had filled my head, and finally I had arrived: my clothes were drying on the line.
A strange dream, you might think. Well, first take a look at the facts:
Read more
Praying for Creation
October 24, 2008
I’ve recently become involved in Renewal: Students Caring for Creation. These are students and recent grads who have a heart and love for all that God has made. The mission of the Renewal network is “to inspire and equip the student generation to lead its communities with justice and compassion in Christ-centered stewardship of all of God’s creation.” It’s a beautiful vision and one that I think will have a tremendous impact in the days ahead.
One of Renewal’s first activities is a Day of Prayer for Creation Care. These students are calling on the entire creation care community to set aside October 29, 2008 as a national day of prayer. They are asking all of us to pray for the church’s stewardship of creation, for our own repentance from callousness towards creation, and for the renewal and wisdom from God to walk boldly in the light of the Lord on this matter. So gather, fellowship, and worship the Lord Jesus on October 29th and pray for the renewal of all that he has made.
Below is my contribution. You can find out more at
http://www.renewingcreation.
Praying for Creation
Father, we come before you as your children. We come to repent for our poor stewardship of creation. Lord we know that in our materialistic age that we abuse all that you have made, particularly your creation. Though you have given us Christ, in this present age we poorly reflect your intent when it comes to creation care.
We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have neglected your truth, we have turned from your ways, and we have abused your creation. We are truly sorry and humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name.
Father help us to have discernment to understand the times that we live in. Give us, and indeed all peoples who call upon the name of your Son Jesus Christ, wisdom to care for what they have been entrusted with. Help us to steward creation in such a way that all might come to know you and glorify your Son.
Lord we ask that you would empower this generation with your spirit to boldly be who you are calling us to be. Help us to lead with your heart for creation. Help your servants, especially our present leadership, to more truly reflect your will in the church.
Father your word says that the Creation eagerly waits with anticipation for the children of God to be revealed. Your word says that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God’s children. Father your word speaks of the hope, reconciliation, and peace of Jesus Christ for the whole of creation. Lord we long for your scripture to be fulfilled! We long for our own freedom from sin, corruption, and decay. We long to live in such a way that we might walk with you in humility and truth. We long to be instruments of your reconciliation to all creation.
Father may our prayers be added to the groans of creation as we call upon your Son Jesus Christ to be our wisdom and shield of protection. Help our work in creation care to bring us and all peoples closer to you.
Amen.
Alexei Laushkin, a graduate from Claremont McKenna College, works for the Evangelical Environmental Network. He and his wife live in Alexandria, VA.
Self Interest and Environmental Justice
October 22, 2008
At a conference I attended recently, the speaker mentioned that she was confused by the current interest in environmental issues as justice issues. In her view caring for the environment, although a good thing, is merely enlightened self-interest. We care for the environment because we care about our own survival. Mess this place up, use up all our resources, and we have a problem. If we want to ensure a decent, comfortable existence, we take care of the world around us. It’s as simple as that.
I chuckled at the simplicity of her equation, but failed to see the reality behind her words. Just because something is obviously and unequivocally good for us doesn’t mean that most people will actually be moved to do it. Take healthy living as an example. Most people know that smoking is bad for them or that a diet of fried food, sugar, and red meat might not be the best thing for living a long life. But people still smoke and super-size it up in the drive-thru. Similarly, most people know that taking care of the earth is a good thing, but few of them even make time for baby step environmentalism like recycling. So enlightened self-interest isn’t exactly a motivating factor that works.
I think the recent popularity of seeing environmental issues as justice issues has developed because people need something outside of themselves to motivate them. Behaviorism and rewards can only work for so long before people get bored. If the carrot that is dangled before me is that my life will be improved (or safer) if I make the effort to care for creation, I can easily choose to opt out of that particular reward. If it’s all about me, then it’s only about me. But seeing environmental responsibility as a justice issue brings love into the equation.
If seeking justice involves loving God and loving others with every aspect of our lives, we then are pushed beyond ourselves into patterns of discipleship and worship. We can always choose to opt out of such things as well, but sacrificing our relationships with God and with others is a much harder step to take. So we need to understand that we love God by taking care of his creation and his children. We demonstrate that love by refusing to trash our oceans and preserving the food supply for communities around the world. We stop emitting toxic gases into the atmosphere that alter ecosystems in areas of the world where most people have never even driven a car. We push for the restriction of pesticide use for the sake of the farmer’s exposure to such poisons every day.
Caring for creation is just that – an act of compassion that is done for others. We aren’t buying into some trend just for the sake of saving our own butts, but because we care about the people God has commanded us to care for. In loving our neighbor, we are restoring our relationship with them. If that relationship so far has been based on destroying their ecosystem, then restoring that relationship means ending that destruction. Instead of being self-centered, it is about being other-centered in obedience to following and serving God.
In short, it is not about me.
Julie Clawson has spent the last few years helping plant an emerging church in the Chicago suburbs, but has recently re-established her roots in Austin, Tx. She is passionate about social justice, emerging Christianity, gender equality, and really good Tex-Mex food. Julie is currently working on a book about everyday justice issues. She blogs at julieclawson.com.
Science Gateway: Extinction and Its Causes
October 20, 2008
by Kyle S. Van Houtan, from Creation Care magazine Issue 37, Fall 2008
Extinction
A key word scientists use to describe the biodiversity crisis may surprise you. “Extinction” literally refers to putting out a fire or light, and some of its early uses appear in Christian texts. The 1549 edition of the Book of Common Prayer, for example, petitions Christ to “grant that all sin and vice here may be so extinct” and so extinguish the fire of one’s sin. Other uses of the word are perhaps more familiar. In the King James Bible, an exasperated Job cries, “My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me” (17:1), and the Oxford English Dictionary declares “the dodo went extinct.” This last example is what we might recognize. The passenger pigeon, ivory-billed woodpecker, or any number of other creatures come to mind. But a scientific account of animals and plants cannot by itself describe the significance of extinction. Driving an entire group of creatures to oblivion is more than a biological act: it is the extinguishing of a light kindled by the One whom James refers to as “the Father of lights” (1:17). Extinction is a theological act.
What Is a Species? How Many Are There? Read more
The Joy of Bees
October 20, 2008
by Margie Haack, from Creation Care Issue 35, Spring 2008
A long time ago when our children were young and we lived in Albuquerque, Denis traveled a lot. The reason I mention he traveled a lot is because when he was out of town there was some kind of cosmic balance that shifted and it did nothing to favor me. Thus trips to the ER, little fires in the kitchen, escaped animals, and most annoyingly, the times when our bees swarmed, happened when he was gone and I was left to deal. It was easy to imagine him in El Paso drinking Corona, eating chili rellenos someone else labored to make, and having lively conversations with students and staff about theology and culture while I tried to capture bees from the yard of a neighbor who was calling the police and demanding I be arrested.
It was a time in our lives when we were determined to live simply, become urban farmers, and eat healthy. (I admit tanning rabbit hides in the garage didn’t work. Just five minutes at midday was hot enough to give a lizard heatstroke. My dreams of stitching rabbit hides into mittens, slippers, and rugs perished when the hides rotted with such ferocity the odor would have killed a dung beetle.) In all the books I read no one mentioned any of this would be difficult or dangerous. Read more
A Covenant with Creation
October 20, 2008
by Peter Illyn, from Creation Care magazine issue 37, Fall 2008
Fifteen years ago I cut my teeth as an environmental activist by building theological support for the protection of species and biological diversity. My story is simple. After 10 years as an evangelical minister, I bought two llamas and went on a 1,000 mile hike up the spine of the Cascade Mountains. During the four months of hiking, I developed a heart-felt relationship with the mountains, the meadows, the groves of trees, the songbirds, and the elk. Day after day, I sensed the praise and worship that Scripture says all parts of creation are offering to God. It was a sacred time.
Extinction Isn’t Stewardship
But it was also a conflicted time. Read more
