By Margaret Brunner
Although it’s not officially on my job description, my current job at the Parklands as an Interpretive Ranger involves creation care. I am not sure if creation care stirs up any specific thoughts for you, but maybe words like environmentalism or sustainability do. Perhaps they invoke a sort of passion. But I would ask you, “By what is this passion driven?” Is it tied to politics, public commentary, or attempts to discern if you are “one of them”? If these are the thoughts that come up for you, I would urge you to dig deeper.
If you are a regular attendee/member of St. Francis in the Fields, perhaps you have heard some talks on creation care, as it is associated with St. Francis himself. But notice this: this man of the twelfth century loved creation deeply enough that he would surely reprimand those treating it poorly. His was a love so great he recognized creation as affected by the fall; a love so great he was compelled to preach to the critters. With him as an example (though even more exist in the Word), how ought we to treat nature? Or, better yet, what does Scripture say about creation care?
Genesis 1:28 declares that we are given “dominion” over the earth and what is in it. I have heard this interpreted in a sermon as an invitation to exploitation. “God has told us we own the mountains, so let us strip them, strip the coal…”. Am I saying we should not use coal? No. But is creation ours to exploit? Shall we destroy the beauty of creation in order to draw out what is beneficial to us – something that will immediately serve us but releases more destruction past its lifetime? Is that what it means to rule? Let us observe the characteristics of the Creator, the one who eternally rules above all: he is loving, he is gracious, he is merciful, he is a protector, he is wise, and he is just (among many other things). So then, shouldn’t we strive to be like him as we exert dominion over his gift of creation?
Wait… a gift? How should we respond to receiving a gift? This question I will leave for you to reflect on and to assess as it relates to creation care.
I have much that I could continue to say on this matter, but I am hoping that you get the gist, as I am not writing a book. And I will reiterate that my words are not intended to create a sentiment of division, loyalty to a side, etc. What I am writing is a reminder- or perhaps an introduction to some- of what creation care is: what the Lord says about it, what we ought to do with it, how we ought to receive it, and so on. Scripture clearly abounds with more commands, as well as reprimand for destructive acts. This matter is a passion that God has instilled in my heart, just as there are passions he has instilled in yours (what these passions are is a good thing to pray about if you have not done so before). While some like myself may find themselves more vocal on this matter, care of creation is inherently our Christian duty. It ought to develop within each of us a need to address actions that go against his commands.
So perhaps, as I close, you may wonder what creation care entails. I am no expert, but I am happy to chat, should you desire more. While this earth is a gift to us, it still belongs to God. If you wonder how you might begin to engage with this, I leave you with a suggestion in the form of an anonymous quote: “To wonder at an animal is to begin to understand the beauty of God.”