The state of our environment is a global issue, and something we should all be concerned with, but if we believe in an all-powerful, all-loving God, does this add another dimension to our concerns with ‘green’ issues?

Our theology actually has a big impact on the way we view the world, and our place in it. Traditional Christain thought has often viewed the world as existing for the sustaining of the human race, but ultimately doomed and one day to be destroyed as we are whisked off to ‘heaven’, leaving  the damaged Earth behind us. But other theological perspectives can throw different light on this. If we believe that one day the Earth itself will be redeemed, and that we can be part of bringing God’s kingdom on Earth here and now, then this presents a very different way of viewing environmental issues. And besides the eternal perspective, we arguably must protect the environment for the sake of future generations, and of other nations who may be much worse affected by issues such as climate change.

Old testament theology presents humans and the planet as much more intimately connected. In a culture where we are so distanced from the earth, it is easy to forget we still rely on it for our existence. It seems that God’s plan was always that humans would work in harmony with the rest of creation, and would be restored and redeemed with the rest of creation.

Another thing to remember is that creation is wonderful in its own right, existing as testament to its creator. The universe existed long before humans did, and could well exist long afterwards.  The world is not ours to plunder, bur rather ‘the Earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it’.

So actually, it is really important to concern ourselves with these issues – from the little things like turning off lights and reconsidering taking flights, to the big things like getting involved with the people and policies that will make change happen.

As you can probably tell, I don’t actually know too much about this, but it’s definitely worth thinking about.