Intro: Several years ago, my car was in the body shop for an extended period of time -- and so, a friend of mine offered me the use of one of his cars.
It was a Cadillac. I wasn’t used to driving such a nice car. I tried to refuse my friend’s offer -- but he insisted.
I was "forced" to bum around in that Caddy for a couple of weeks.
Well, it was wintertime, and my daughter Emily was playing in an all-state band concert three hours away. Sue and I -- and our son, Andrew -- drove our ’Sweet Ride’ to the concert...and on the way home, we ran into a snowstorm.
After battling the elements for a couple of hours, we decided to pull off the road and get something to eat. Everything was closed, due to the storm, except one seedy-looking Mexican restaurant. But the sign read: "All you can eat, tacos!" -- so we were all in.
It turned out -- not only could you eat as many tacos as you wanted for a certain price...if you ate 10 of them, the dinner was free!
Andrew couldn’t pass up an offer like that. So -- 10 tacos later, he left the restaurant, and curled up into a fetal position in the back seat of the Cadillac. (You can guess where this is going???)
The snowstorm had gotten worse. We were slipping and sliding all over the road. Like a ride at Great America.
Andrew spoke up from the backseat. "I think I’m going to hurl," he announced.
I told him that hurling was unacceptable. "This isn’t our car. This belongs to a friend. This IS A CADILLAC!! (2X)"
Andrew hurled! It was a mess!!
I don’t remember the rest of that trip. But I do remember cleaning up the car. Why?? (Did I clean it out...)
It wasn’t our car. It belonged to a friend. It was a CADILLAC (2x).
LISTEN to me, friends. You and I are taking a lifetime ride on planet Earth. It isn’t our planet. It belongs to God. It’s a CADILLAC (2X).
* So -- if we puke all over it, we’d better clean up our mess.
Welcome to week one of a four-part series: World of Hurt.
* We’re going to address four global issues that ought to concern every one of us.
* Not only because we inhabit this planet -- but because Jesus Christ has called us to make a difference in our world.
* So -- if you’re a Christ follower, get ready for 4 HUGE CHALLENGES...Challenges that, hopefully, will bust us out of our preoccupation with our personal little worlds -- and give us a heart for God’s Big World.
Here’s the 1st HUGE CHALLENGE -- today’s topic -- "Caring for Creation".
(Originally -- "Protecting the Environment" -- common expression. But "Caring for Creation" --> more positive, comprehensive.)
OUTLINE/Psalm 19
George Barna/national pollster/just released the results of a survey that he took -- end of this summer: Majority of Americans believe that environmental issues are very important (Not surprising -- lot of talk these days about "going green.")
What I found interesting, however, wasn’t Barna’s poll: Even though the majority of Americans believe that environmental issues are very important -- an extremely small percentage say that these issues are among the "top challenges" facing our country. Only: 6% say -- "energy" -- top challenge; 3% say "environment" -- top challenge; 3% say "global warming" -- top challenge.
So is "going green" a genuinely important challenge for us to consider? Or -- just a fad?
I’m here to tell you today -- from God’s Word -- that caring for creation ought to be a BIG DEAL for us; especially if we’re followers of Jesus Christ.
4 aspects...
#1 God’s Renown ("fame"; biblical term -- "glory")
READ Psalm 19:1-4a
Keep in mind - this psalm was written by David. The guy who wrote: "The heavens declare...the skies proclaim..." -- had grown up as a shepherd boy. He’d slept outside with his flock, night after night. In a remote little village called Bethlehem. 950 B.C.
Can you imagine the stars and constellations that David saw? Good thing he didn’t grow up in 21st century L.A. He probably wouldn’t be able to write: "The heavens declare...the skies proclaim..."
He wouldn’t be able to see the heavens/skies!!
FRIENDS. One of the reasons that "creation care" ought to be a big deal to us, is because creation points to God (2x) (Write that down!) Creation declares his glory!
That’s important -- for both doubting skeptics/convinced believers.
If you’re a doubting skeptic - you’re not sure if there is a God, or what he’d be like if he did exist -- David says: "Take a look at creation. Does it look like the product of random chance to you? Or the handiwork of our awesome designer?"
An artist is known by his paintings, by his sculptures/God is known by creation.
The Apostle Paul -- Romans 1 -- skeptics are without excuse, when it comes to their disbelief in God -- because: "What may be known..." (vv. 19,20)
Creation points -- not only doubting skeptics -- to God, but convinced believers as well.
Let me ask you a question -- from what you know about Jesus (gospel accounts) -- where did he like to hang out? (Where -- vast majority: his teaching, miracles, training of the disciples, praying??) Places with names like: Sea of Galilee, Mt. of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane.
* Doesn’t it seem obvious to you, that Jesus felt a special connection with his heavenly Father when he was out in nature?
Let me ask you another question -- when we gather to worship God at CCC, and we project the lyrics of our songs up on these huge screens, what sorts of pictures do we often use as a backdrop to those lyrics?
* Pictures: snow covered mountains, sparkling rivers, colorful wild life, gorgeous sunsets.
* Why don’t we use pictures of: jumbo jets, hundred story skyscrapers, NFL game highlights, massive outlet malls?
* Do I need to explain this to you?
Creation is all about God’s renown -- first because it points to God.
Second, because it praises God. Nature itself, literally, praises God.
Listen to these verses from Psalm 148. READ vv. 7-13.
You’ve probably heard that philosophical question before; "If a tree falls in the forest, and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?"
You know how the psalmist would respond to that philosophical inquiry? "Stupid question! If a tree falls in a forest -- God hears it, God sees it -- because that tree is there to glorify God and to give God pleasure!"
Look at what the Apostle Paul writes, in this verse -- READ Col. 1:16.
All things were created "by" Christ (God’s son) -- which means, they point to him.
All things were created "for" Christ (God’s son) -- which means, they praise him. That’s their reason for existence!!
Have you ever seen that bumper sticker, that people put on their cars at Christmas time: "Jesus is the reason for the season." / Jesus not only the ’reason for the season’ -- Jesus is the reason for: Rocky Mountains; monarch butterfly; autumn-colored trees; the mighty Fox River! He is!!
You and I ought to be involved in caring for creation, because creation is about God’s renown. Creation points skeptics and believers to God; incessantly praises God.
#2 Humanity’s Responsibility
Let’s take a look -- at another Psalm / Psalm 8 / READ vv. 3-8
This is another Psalm written by David -- the one-time, stargazing shepherd boy.
What was David’s reaction, when he stared up at a nighttime sky? His first reaction -- "Boy, am I small!!" But his second reaction was: "Boy, am I significant! (2x)."
Look at how David describes his significance, as a human being -- v. 5:
* "You made him (human beings) a little lower than the heavenly beings."
Let me tell you something interesting, about that expression "heavenly beings." It comes from the Hebrew word: elohim. Elohim can be translated in one of two ways. Sometimes, it’s a reference -- "heavenly beings." But often times, elohim is translated -- "God."
That’s why some English versions of Psalm 8:5 being: "You made human beings a little lower than God!" (That’s legit.) Our NIV is more modest...
The points is: Christian environmentalists part company with secular environmentalists, when it comes to their views of humanity. / Secular environmentalists say: people are brothers/sisters to grizzly bears and bald eagles and golden retrievers. / Christian environmentalists say: What! People are a unique part of God’s creations...a little lower than God (or "heavenly beings" -- if you want to be a bit more modest.)
* Look at the second half of Psalm 8:5 (David continues to underscore humanity’s special significance): "You crowned (people) with glory and honor."
If you’ve got your own Bible, draw a circle around that word "glory" -- go up to the second half of v.1 and circle the word "glory" there. Draw a line between the two / Whom does "glory" refer to in v.1? God! Who does "glory" refer to in v. 5? People!
God has endowed people with his glory! Genesis 1:27 puts it this way: "So God created man in his own image: in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."
What does it mean to be created in the "image of God" -- it means that we -- while the rest of the animal kingdom -- been given God’s: moral conscience, complex reasoning ability; creative drive; advanced communication skills; capacity for relationships.
Animals don’t come close to us, in these areas
* Well -- David isn’t finished in what he wants to say about humanity’s significance. Look at v. 6 (READ).
Now, when David used the word "ruler" -- it’s important to emphasize, he’s not talking about a dictatorial sort of ruler. He’s not talking about a tyrant...a despot.
"Ruler" is a word that the Bible uses to describe God.
What David is telling us, is that God has given us a job to do.
God’s our CEO, and we’re his middle managers. God is the ruler over all creation -- but he’s given us the responsibility of implementing his program.
This enormous responsibility, by the way, is not something that David made up. This enormous responsibility is spelled out in the opening chapter of the Bible. Just after God creates Adam and Eve -- this is what he says to them: Genesis 1:28 READ.
I read a lot of material in preparation for this message -- 4 books, numerous articles; I visited a variety of websites.
One of the things that really bugged me in what I read -- was the attitude of some environmentalists toward people. People are seen as problems -- they’re nothing but greedy consumers and disgusting polluters. If we could just get rid of people -- this world would be a better place.
I need to tell you -- that’s not how the Bible portrays people. (Oh -- there’s an ugly side to our character -- we’ll get to that in just a minute.)
But -- we’ve been made in the image of God. And God has given us the responsibility -- of ruling over creation.
We don’t have to be -- greedy consumers / disgusting polluters. We can be: ingenious producers / conscientious caretakers. (2x)
Let me give you a couple of examples of what I’m talking about.
Here’s an example of ingenious producers.
* 18th century farming: 345 lbs. of wheat per acre. 21st century farming: 2,150 lbs. of wheat per acre.
* 18th century farming: less than 3 lbs. of wheat per man-hour. 21st century farming: almost 900 lbs. of wheat per man-hour. (300 times as much!)
Ingenious producers -- we could apply this to: medical break-thrus, sources of energy, manufactured items. Ingenious producers.
Here’s an example of conscientious care-taking.
* In a recent 25-year period, carbon monoxide emissions fell by 24% (U.S.); lead emissions (probably the most hazardous air pollutant) fell by 98%!
* We can clean up our air -- and our lakes and rivers...and our land fills.
And this is not only something we can do -- it is something we must do, because it’s our calling/responsibility/job God’s given us.
#3 Sin’s Repercussions
We’re going to leave Psalm 8 -- travel to the New Testament: Romans 8 (READ vv. 18-23)
vv. 18,19 We’re all looking forward to the day when Christ returns; the griefs of this life will be forgotten; Christ will reign over a new heaven/earth; But -- it’s not just people who are looking forward to Christ’s eternal kingdom...
v. 20 God’s curse on nature! (Reference: Genesis 3:17-19 -- painful toil; thorn and thistles) So -- our sin contaminates the whole planet!
vv. 21-23
One day -- all of creation will be liberated from the devastating repercussions of our sin. Christ will reign over an eternal kingdom.
Now, as followers of Jesus, we not only look forward to that eternal kingdom -- the Bible teaches that in this life, we become agents of that eventual kingdom. We start living according to that kingdom’s values. TODAY!
What does that mean, with respect to creation? It means we stop contributing to creations demise by our sinful behaviors (2x).
Let me focus, for the next few minutes, on just one (2x) sinful behavior -- on how it destroys creation.
GREED. (I told you we’d get around to humanity’s ugly side.)
Now, the interesting thing about greed -- is that it has the ability to blind us to its presence in our lives. There’s probably very few people here (DeKalb, BC) who would admit: "I’m a greedy guy/girl." But we are!!
Webster’s Dictionary defines "greed" this way: "excessive acquisitiveness."
We always want more than we have. We over-indulge -- in just about every area of our lives: we eat too much food; use too much gas; do to much scheduled activity; watch too much T.V.; spend too much money...we’re just given to excess...
My favorite theologian -- Dr. Seuss -- got it right, in his book, The Lorax.
The Lorax is a good guy, who faces off against a business-type creature called, Once-ler.
Once-ler is chopping down Trufferla trees -- to make "useless things that everyone needs." / The Lorax "speaks for the trees -- which you seem to be chopping down as fast as you please."
You can guess where the story is going. When the last tree is chopped down, Once-ler is left amid crumbling factories, beneath a smelly sky, to wonder how this all happened.
* I meant no harm. I most truly did not.
But I had to grow bigger. So bigger I got.
I biggered my factory. I biggered my roads.
I biggered my wagons. I biggered my loads of the Thneeds I shipped out. I was shipping them forth to the South! To the East! To the West! To the North! I went right on biggerging...selling more Thneeds.
And I biggered my money, which everyone needs.
Once-ler "meant no harm." Neither do we -- but our naturally sinful bent to be greedy, constantly prompts us to want more. And so we use up more than our fair-share of the world’s resources (2x).
Dr. Matthew Sleeth has written a book on today’s topic: "Serve God, Save the Planet." (The best...)
In the appendix to his book, he conducts an "energy audit." He says -- what if we assign weights to the various amounts of energy used, by the average person in different countries.
Average person in China -- weigh 100 lbs. on our scale.
Average person in U.S.? 1,000 lbs.! (Not a fair comparison? Those Chinese are too energy-skinny?)
Average person in Switzerland (land of chocolate, watches and bank accounts) -- 450 lbs.
Average Italian? 400 lbs.
Average Brit? 500 lbs.
At 1,000 lbs. -- Americans are energy gluttons! We’re morbidly obese.
"And that’s causing serious environmental problems," Dr. Sleeth writes.
If we had continued in the lifestyle of our grandparents, we would not have the problems we currently face. Our grandparents lived in modest houses, one-half to one-quarter the size of today’s homes. They did not travel distances the equivalent of 5 transatlantic trips annually in their cars. They did not require his and her walk-in closets but could fit all of their clothes in a bureau. A family of seven felt lucky to have one indoor bathroom. Our generation consumes five times more energy than my grandfather’s.
Greed. Excessive acquisitiveness. It’s a sin.
And, by the way, the Apostle Paul (Col. 3:5) says that greed is just another form (are you ready for this?) -- idolatry. IDOLATRY
#4 Stewardship’s Resolutions
One of the greatest frustrations I experienced, with all the research I did for this message, was the huge differences of opinion about what to do with the REALLY BIG environmental issues.
(If you do any reading on this subject -- be balanced! If you just read the Al Gore types -- not the whole picture! The REALLY BIG issues are very complex.)
Climate change. (Man’s fault? Kyoto accord, best?) Over-population. Species extinction. Use of fossil fuels.
I’m not going today -- to resolve those really big issues for you. (Environmentalists -- honked off. Non-environmentalists -- can’t believe I’m preaching on this topic! I’ve probably managed to offend everyone with this message!)
What I would like to do, in closing is suggest some practical applications for our personal lives. (This is to counter our sinful tendency to be greedy, to destroy God’s creations...)
These practical applications are meant to help us fulfill our God-assigned responsibility -- to care for creation.
Let me remind you, one more time -- with a very simple Bible verse -- what our job is.
Read Genesis 2:15.
OK. Here are some practical applications. (We’ll post these on our website: ccclife.org)
CONSERVE
GAS
* Replace your gas-guzzling car (it’s not about economics, it’s about environment -- even if you can afford.)
* Carpool or use public transportation.
* Don’t drive unnecessarily (teens, too! A few summers ago -- 5 drivers in the house, all 3 kids had jobs, 2 cars!)
* Keep your tires inflated.
WATER
* Take shorter showers (Dad would turn off the hot water on my college friends)
* Install a high-efficiency showerhead and a low-flow toilet.
* Turn off the faucet while brushing teeth, shaving, scrubbing dishes.
* Settle for a less-green lawn.
ELECTRICITY
* Lower the thermostat by 3 degrees in winter; raise by 3 degrees in summer.
* Turn off the lights when you leave a room (Dad: "You think I own the electric company?’)
* Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs. (They use 75% less electricity. Cost more but last longer. If everyone replaced one -- we could light 2.5 million homes for a year!)
* Line-dry clothes in good weather.
RECYCLE AND CLEAN UP
* Bottles, cans, paper. (38 billion plastic bottles are put in U.S. landfills every year! 30+ containers now around CCC)
* Plastic bags.
* Use "green" cleaning supplies.
* Pick up trash wherever and whenever you see it. (Bus stop in London.) CG project!!
ENJOY AND SIMPLIFY
* Take walks and/or bike rides (Dr. Sleeth: Group of teenagers. 3 day. Passed around picture of a Hummer -- all but 2 could identify. Maple leaf, most common hardwood tree in N. America -- only 2!) If we don’t get out and see it, we won’t value it. If we don’t value it, we won’t care for it.
* Clean out closets. (Wait a month to buy; borrow.)
* Turn off the T.V.
