Christian Environmentalism (guest post)

with Ineloquent Anthem on hiatus lately, we have a wonderful interlude from my good friend, Ryan Mulligan:



It is my personal belief that there is a need for maturation within the Christian faith. It is time for a more sophisticated (and yet, simplified) Christianity. For too long Christians have turned a blind-eye to environmental concerns. There are few spokespeople from the Christian faith that are willing to stand up and say that their God created this earth and therefore it’s their job to protect its integrity.

Growing up I was always confused when I heard Christians (primarily in the United States) talk about environmentalists as though they were part of a radical segment of the population. I also heard the argument that a concern for nature was running the risk of worshipping it and in turn, it can lead to idolatry. Even though I found that argument to be ridiculous, I always found myself a little nervous to tell my Christian friends that I was an environmentalist because of the baggage that came with the term.

I clearly remember travelling to Costa Rica apart of a mission trip with my youth group. While there I thought I was in an untouched paradise. I remember thinking that clearly this was close to Gods unadulterated created beauty. A few friends and I were wandering through a wooded area surrounded by beautiful trees. As we approached a river running through the forest my heart sank. I looked down to see about ten or fifteen McDonalds take-out bags. At that moment I realized God had created a beautiful amazing world and us humans are failing to appreciate and take care of it. If we see nature as something that can be abused or with dollar signs in our eyes, then we are missing the heart of the creator.

While attending bible school, a professor reminded me that when God created, he did so with a perfect order in mind. This creation was made out of his imagination and through his creativity and in the end “it was good”. God created beautiful oceans, tall strong trees, animals free from chemicals, crops free from pesticides and clear, beautiful, blue water. As we watch our world be polluted with man-made pollutants, Christians have stood on the sidelines watching their Creators creation be basterdized.

When I was baptized I was told that the water represented a washing away of impurities as I entered a new phase in my faith journey. Unfortunately for our Christian friends in India and the developing world, this sort of symbolism during baptism is becoming more and more obscure. With sludge, pollutants, oil, human waste and the like, found in their water an entire young generation of believers will never understand the same symbolism of baptism we have understood since the time of Christ.

Most of us will be familiar with Psalm 23. The symbolism of the first verses is incredibly power

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.

I pray that we don’t lose that powerful imagery that David gave us in those verse.

Now, symbolism isn’t the only reason Christians should be mobilized for environmentalism. Our scripture commands we mobilize. Genesis 2:15 says ”The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it”. Returning to my professor in bible school that taught a created order of all things, this verse tells me of a created order in which God’s creation takes care of his creation.

Genesis 2:8 “Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. ⁹ The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food.”

We often don’t think of our God as a gardener but this verse clearly demonstrates a God that cared enough to plant something useful and beautiful at the same time. The Genesis writer also saw fit that God be identified as the planter and creator or Eden. This cannot be ignored. As we see the blooming of a flower, the rushing of a river, or the peacefulness of a forest, perhaps they further reveal an incredible creator. When I draw a picture or write a paper, it originates through my creativity and through my mind. Therefore how can we not see this earth as an outpouring of God and the manifestation of his love?

Another reason we must acknowledge out impact on the planet is that people are being affected by our actions. As Jesus calls for us to care for the marginalized, we must acknowledge that environmental degradation is marginalizing people.

A term emerging in some circles is “Climate Justice”. It is the idea that climate change is an ethical issue.  It emphasizes the idea that people are being affected by climate change and it is causing deeper poverty, displacement of people, and drought. From my work at the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), I can tell you that without a doubt, climate change is affecting millions of people in Africa and other island nations around the world. The devastating 2011 famine in Somalia has its roots in climate change and resulted in the death of tens of thousands of the world’s most vulnerable. 

So what am I asking? Am I asking you to walk to work, change your light bulbs, and eat local food? Well yes! But in fact I’m asking more than that. When an oil company is telling Canadians about economic benefits of oil do your Christian role. Be caretakers of this earth. Ask questions, demand accountability, demand transparency, and demand life over profit. I’m not saying all oil development is bad or that it doesn’t have benefits to the economy but rather I am saying: Ask questions, demand accountability, demand transparency, and ensure we are treasuring life over profit.

When industrial, nuclear and human waste is being dumped in to Canadian and international waterways do your Christian role. Be caretakers of this earth. Ask questions, demand accountability, demand transparency, and ensure we are treasuring life over profit.

When the Canadian Government chooses to forgo environmental responsibilities do your Christian role. Be caretakers of this earth. Ask questions, demand accountability, demand transparency, and ensure we are treasuring life over profit.

In the end I am simply asking Christians to stand up and say: “Excuse me, my creator also created this planet and we demand his creation be treated as an extension of him.” God is good and this planet is a gift of love from our creator. 

^{Luke 19:38}

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”^[a]

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

³⁹ Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

⁴⁰ “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

Nature cries out in worship to God and in turn we should sing along.

This is not political, its not about money, its not about anything other than taking care of the outpouring of God’s love for us.

taking a break

Ineloquent Anthem seems to go in seasons

and I am growing more ok with that

...

tis the season to take a break

see you in 2012

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in the mean time - catch up with some oldies

Merry Christmas (?)

it has subtly crept in, year after year

and I couldn't never quite put my finger on it

...

among Christians there seems to be a latent anger around Christmas time

and it is becoming palpable

...

their faces redden as 'Christ is taken out of Christmas' - like He is marginalized by semantics

they obnoxiously wish someone 'Merry Christmas' merely out of spite or to prove a point

...

are these the responses we are called to?

I too am saddened that more do not know my Jesus

but I am not overly surprised that Jesus is being removed by a culture than doesn't recognize Him from a time that has seemingly little to do with Him

...

so my fellow brothers and sisters...you love Jesus?

good

so show it

you want to celebrate Christmas?

good

do it in a way that honours your Lord

...

because quite honestly - you're not acting much like the One you say you celebrate if you are driven to anger and bitterness instead of grace and mercy

...

1st Peter talks about giving an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you have - and to do this with gentleness and respect

is the hope that you're showing calloused and jaded?

or are people even asking you?

...

and may Jesus shine in our hearts so brightly and His love so fully that we desire to serve those who may not acknowledge Christ yet, as we celebrate not just His birth - but His life, death and resurrection

you're awkward

you are awkward - just face it

we all are to varying degrees at varying times

but don't allow awkwardness (or lack thereof) to be your guide

we skirt around so many important things in attempts to avoid those awkward moments

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awkwardness is not necessarily an indication that something's wrong

it's merely an indication that you are surrounded by other encultured people, dictating what is and what is not awkward

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may our lives transcend awkwardness as we love, inspire and serve

and embrace your inner awkwardness (own it)

dissonance

it's as if life has been in dissonance the past few years

undoubtedly right, yet with tension

...

the chords haven't changed but the sweeping melody is building

what once was discord is transitioning into a harmonious consonance

your lights are on (?)

"if you drive a black cavalier with the licence plate,&%$023 - your lights are on"

as the words came from my mouth, the bad taste was already forming

is this really what we've become? simple purveyors of information?

...

where is the call for restoration?

the cries for healing and justice and mercy and forgiveness?

God, forgive our near-sightedness

...

"if you are alive and breathing, it's time to turn your light on!"

walk on water

I want to walk on water

but this boat is so much safer

and there's this thing about drowning that sounds so unpleasant

homeostasis

"the maintenance of equilibrium within a social group, person, etc."

we tend to revert back to what we know

whether good, bad or otherwise, we work to keep things the 'same'

I know this homeostatic effect
- it's comfortable
- it's predictable
- it's safe

(un)knowingly, I pursue this 'sameness'

as new variables are introduced, I adjust accordingly

anything to remain in control

...

but now I've named it - this tendency to revert back

let us not throw out the proverbial baby

however, let us not be afraid to drain the bathwater

...

because babies grow up

and maturity is the goal

and it's time to get out of the tub

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are we merely homeostatic?

or are we willing for the sake of Christ to be uncomfortable, unpredictable and risky?

what time is it? (guest post)

a guest post from one, Ryan Mulligan

Check what time it is. Right now look at the time on your computer, iphone, ipad, iclock and remember it.

Next, ask yourself how much you have. Have you been blessed this year? No doubt your answer will be based on the success of your schooling, career, relationships, sporting activities, family life and so on. Many of us would not measure our blessings on our opportunity to drink enough water, drink clean water, or not spend up to three hours a day fetching water to drink.

Are you female? If so, did you know that in most developing countries women are the ones responsible for gathering water for their families? Imagine the difficulties you would have attending school as a young girl if you spent up to three hours a day retrieving that water. Imagine if your school was not equipped with a bathroom separate from a boy’s bathroom. Imagine if you were required to stay home from school once a week, every month because there were no facilities to give you privacy.

Did you flush the toilet today? On average a toilet uses 1.6 liters of water or more for every flush. In Mozambique, the average person uses 1.3 liters of water per day. You would use that 1.3 liters for all sanitation, cooking, drinking and any other needs you may have.

Every day, 2 million tons of human waste is disposed in to waterways.

In developing countries 70 percent of industrial waste is dumped, untreated into waterways, where those women and girls we spoke of earlier, return it to their families to drink.

Now look at the time. How long did it take you to read this? After you’ve done your quick math think about this… every 20 seconds a child dies as a result of a water related illness. How many children have died in the time it took you to read this?

Are you outraged? Are you experiencing the same pain that God experiences every 20 seconds? This isn’t just about leaving the water running while you brush you teeth. This is the death of God’s created children that were made in the same image you were. I long for Christians to unite in their outrage and empathy. I say empathy because it demands action. Action at the injustices these numbers show. After all, our scripture demands it:

Matthew 25: 34-40

 ³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. ³⁶ I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? ³⁹ When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

 ⁴⁰ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

There is a worship song that has a line: “Break my heart for what breaks yours”

Look at the time again…

like a child (guest post)

a guest post from engineer-extraordinaire, Austin Rosom

“Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven…” 

Words like these resonate throughout the gospel as Jesus roamed, touching lives, loving, living..

So what stands out.. what stood differently among these children.  Was it their age?
But with age comes more understanding of the gospel and ability to grow… right..?
So what was so different about these children.  Was it how they lived?  Children are
dependent on their parents to look after them and they are fairly simple in the way they live…
But is that where the difference stands out?  Living simply…
As adults we like to make everything very complex and we look at everything much different than
a child would.

What sets them apart?

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of sitting down with a 2 year old named Ari, and throwing a ball against a wall. As
one would expect, every time we threw it, it came back.  To me, this wasn’t incredible or amazing, it was just..
normal.  But to Ari, this was spectacular.  His face grew with joy every time that ball rolled back into his lap.  For
a good… 20 minutes we threw this same ball against a wall.  Still, every time in awe of this magnificent thing. 
This got me thinking…
This joy that children have for simple things like balls bouncing off walls, is the same type of awe, and wonder when
they hear the story of Jesus.  The awe I saw in Ari’s eyes… was just a small glimpse of that awe.  To them, God isn’t normal, its something huge, that is incomprehensible.  They do not contemplate theology, split themselves into
denominational groups, or even try to comprehend, that is too complex.  When it comes to living, they live simply.

In awe.

Do we get lost in details?
Do we find ourselves forgetting to stand in awe of God?


Jesus make me…. Like a child.