Summit Presbyterian Church
A Future For Creation, by Burt Froom
Posted by: Chelsea Badeau on Wed, Nov 3, 2010
We at Summit Church have been actively involved in the Stewardship of Creation activities since 2001. We have learned about global warming, celebrated Earth Day Sundays, paid extra for 100% wind power electricity, held special Advent and Lenten programs, and bought CFLs. Click to read more.
We at Summit Church have been actively involved in the Stewardship of Creation activities since 2001. We have learned about global warming, celebrated Earth Day Sundays, paid extra for 100% wind power electricity, held special Advent and Lenten programs, and bought CFLs.
Let us think about what we want to do next to care for creation. On Sunday, November 14th, Cheryl Pyrch and I are calling for a brainstorming meeting in the Parlor after worship, to discuss what we want to do in the future to care for creation.
Creation is in deep trouble. Bill McKibben has a new book, Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet. He says, “Global warming is no longer a philosophical argument, no longer a future threat. ”It is our reality. We’ve changed the planet.” Science tells us that the fossil fuels (oil, gas and coal) that have created our civilization are depositing carbon in the atmosphere and the planet is cooking.
The atmosphere is absorbing too much carbon dioxide, causing more violent storms, and the temperate regions are hotter and drier. Mountain glaciers are melting, causing drought and famine. Earth’s oceans are warming and becoming mare acid. Coral reefs are dying. Arctic sea ice is disappearing during the summer. Tundra is melting. The people of poor nations are harmed most.
Our congregation and American Christians have a crucial role in response to this catastrophe. Genesis 1:26 tells us: “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image…and let them have dominion over…all the wild animals of the earth…’” We can treat creation as God’s possession, not ours. We can worship God, not ourselves. And we can change our extravagant American life style, to live “lightly, carefully, gracefully” on the Earth. We need to back off from the temptations of consumption and bigness to give back to this wounded Earth, which is our only home.
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