Lausanne World Pulse – Themed Articles – The Green Gospel: Seven Reasons Why We Should Care about Creation

By Mark Russell
March 2007 Some people have responded by saying that there is nothing we can do about this. Creation is groaning until the whole creation is redeemed. There is some truth to this. We cannot completely reverse everything that is going on in creation. In the same way, I could not take away the pains of childbirth for my wife when she twice went through extended labor sessions. But I tried. I rubbed her back. I caressed her hair. The doctor gave her shots. We did everything we could to make it as restful as possible. I think the same approach is justified with creation. We should use all the technology, creativity and love that we have to ease the groaning.

5. Salvation is for all creation. Generally, salvation is considered in terms of the souls of people. However, the biblical portrait is more expansive. Paul wrote, “The creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God” (Romans 8:21).

When we speak of the reconciling work of Christ, often we mean that Christ has reconciled believers to himself. Only rarely, if ever, do we acknowledge that his work of reconciliation related to creation. As Paul noted, “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in [Christ], and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (Colossians 1:19-20). This reconciliation will not be made complete in the present. However, there is nothing preventing us from acting on this truth now. 

6. Caring for creation gives us common ground with others. Christians are not the only ones who care about what is happening to creation today. Environmental concerns are on the front pages of newspapers around the world. Business owners, social activists, government workers and a host of others are working on these issues. Rather than distancing ourselves from these conversations, we should jump right in. This gives us an opportunity to share common ground with others who do not understand the fullness of God’s truth. Through these exchanges we can express not only our concern for creation as a gift from God, but also our desire for them to understand the fullness of the creator.

7. We express our love for our children and their children. Our creator is infinite. Everything else is finite. Like us, creation has its limitations. Once when I was in Israel, I learned that archaeologists intentionally do not uncover and explore every potential site of interest. Rather, there is a systematic attempt to preserve historical sites for subsequent generations to explore. In a land with such a long history, it seems that there are endless opportunities for archaeological work. But this is not true. And so it is with creation.

It is only natural for us to desire the best and the most for our children. But desire alone will not be sufficient. We must act. It will take a systematic and intentional way of living that seeks to preserve what we can of creation for the enjoyment of our children and theirs. In so doing, we express tangibly the love we have for them.

Mark Russell is a doctoral student at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, USA. He lives in Lexington, Kentucky with his wife and their two children.