The Greater Commission?Creation & Christian Mission

1. The Context

2. Biblical Resources

3. Implications

The Environment & Mission

“What’s the point?”“It’s too late …”“Climate Change will destroy us”“Our politicians are too corrupt… our parents are too lazy …the Church is simply irrelevant”

National Tour of 20secondary schoolsFeb.-March 2008

Just in case you’re still unsure …

•300,000 people a year dying by 2030.•200 million environmental refugees by 2050.

• Arctic Ocean ice-free in summer, by 2015-25.•Up to a million species extinct by 2050.

•“abrupt & irreversible” Climate Change …"If there's no action before 2012, that's too late. What we do in the

next two to three years will determine our future. This is the defining moment.“ Rajendra Pachauri (IPCC)

Projected Impacts of Climate Change

the effects on the planet

Climate Change

the tip of the iceberg?

DeforestationS. Bahia (Brazil)

1945

DeforestationS. Bahia (Brazil)

1990

Percentage of species threatened

with extinction

If everyone lived like us, we’d need 3+ planets

world’s richest 20% consume 16x poorest 20%

The Biggest Issue ..Over-consumption (greed)

Planet Earth …are we bothered?

Christianity – Part of the Problem?

• Puts humans on a pedestal?

• Proclaims spiritual vs. material?

• Teaches cosmic destruction? • Has a poor track record

Other Christians / Church

Jesus and Me (bible & prayer)

Heaven

•Environment•Business•Politics•Arts & Culture•Other Faiths

The Dualist Gospel

“This dichotomisation blocks us from

seeing who Jesus really is.

It is deeply embedded in the western church &

western education.”

Bishop Zac Niringiye

Jesus is Lordin Nairobi!

-70%+ Christian-Many churches

-Poverty (Kibera)-Crime-Corruption -Eco-disaster

1. Creation2. Fall 3. Israel 4. Jesus5. The present and future age

The Bible as a 5 Act Drama

1. Creation

The earth is God’s, not ours!Psalm 24.1; 50; Leviticus 25:23

God cares for creationPsalm 104; Genesis 7-9; Job 38-

42Humanity is part of creation, related to everything else

Genesis 2.7; Psalm 8Humanity is called apart - to image

God in caring for creationGenesis 1.26-28; 2.15; Psalm 8

The land ‘suffers’ (Jer. 12.4), ‘mourns’ (Hosea 4.1-3), ‘vomits’ (Lev. 18.25-28) & ‘groans’ (Romans 8.19-22)

“The time has come for destroying those who destroy the earth.” Revelation 11.18

The breakdown of relationships, between God, humanity and creation“Cursed is the ground because of you” Genesis 3.17

The environmental results of sin

God’s judgement on ecological sin

2. A Fallen World

The breakdown of relationships, between God, humanity & creation

2. Fall

God

planetpeople

XX

XX

XX

Modelling God’s purposes in the land of promise

Leviticus 25; Deut. 22.6; 1 Kings 21

Belonging where God plants usJeremiah 29.4-7

Worshipping God in caring for the landFestivals, Sabbath, Jubilee

Land as a spiritual barometer2 Chronicles 7.14

3. Israel

“all things” reconciled to God through the cross” Colossians 1.19-20

“all things in heaven and earth under one head, even Christ” Eph. 1.9-10

Birth

“He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters” Luke 8.22-25

Death

Future glory

4. Jesus – Saviour of the World

“Peace on earth” Luke 2.14Life

ResurrectionThe first-fruits of a new creation

• Following the biblical map

God’s covenant & promises• On earth as in heaven

Signs of the Kingdom – humanity’s re-calling (Romans 8)

• Destroyed or purified?

Romans 8.19-22; 2 Peter 3• New or renewed?

Isaiah 65:17-25: Hosea 2.19

5. The Present & Future Age

“God will redeem the whole universe; Jesus’ resurrection is the beginning of that new life, the fresh grass growing through the concrete of corruption and decay in the old world. That

final redemption will be the moment when heaven and earth are joined together at last, in a burst of God’s creative energy for which

Easter is the prototype and source.”Bishop Tom Wright, “Surprised by Hope” p.134

Christianity – Part of the Problem?

• Puts humans on a pedestal? Genesis 1.28 ff – we image God in creation care

• Proclaims spiritual vs. material? William Temple – “the most material religion”

• Teaches cosmic destruction? No! God’s home is with mankind

• Has a poor track record Yes! Let’s put this right!

The Top Five

5. Local energy generation4. Beyond Kyoto …3. Solar power2. Faith groups getting active1. Energy efficiency

Dare to rethink …Discipleship

WorshipLifestyleMission

… as if Creation Matters

Lifestyle …as if creation matters

www.livinglightly24-1.org.uk

• based on Psalm 24.1• start where you’re at• take one step at a time• flexible & web-based

Surprising fruit …

Mission …as if creation matters

“Go into all the world and preach the Good News

to all creation” Mark 16.15

The Five Marks of Mission

•To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom

•To teach, baptise and nurture new believers

•To respond to human need by loving service

•To seek to transform unjust structures of society

•To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the earth

Mission as if creation matters …

Caring for God’s World Together

For 25 years, A Rocha has studied and cared for God's world. A Rocha is now working in 18 diverse countries around the world

The growing A Rocha family!

•Brazil•Bulgaria•Canada•Czech Republic•Finland•France•Ghana•India•Kenya•Lebanon•Netherlands•Peru•Portugal•South Africa•UK•USA … New Zealand, Switzerland, Uganda …

Kenya

Arabuko Sokoke ForestMida Creek

Watamu Marine Reserve

Sokoke Scops Owl

Golden-rumpedElephant Shrew

LebanonAmmiq MarshBekaa Valley

A RochaIndia,

based in Bangalore

India

A Rocha UK workingwith a local Council

to transform a derelict site into a

Country Park&

Nature Reserve

Minet Country Park

A Rocha Living Waterways

Minet before …

A Rocha Living Waterways

Minet during …

A Rocha Living Waterways

Minet after …

A Rocha Living Waterways

A Rocha UK

Lewknor

Steyning

Dronfield

Lee Abbey

Southall & Hayes

http://www.west-cheshire.ac.uk/weather/msgvis.asp