Neil Harrison, PCI Mission Development Officer, reflects on how the pandemic and recent news coverage about climate change prompts us as global disciples to take another look at our world.

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it. Psalm 24:1

God’s own country

One thing I am grateful for in the past year is time outdoors. It has become a safer space to exercise and meet others and so we have seen parks, beaches and mountains being enjoyed more than ever. New outdoor hobbies have become popular such as paddleboarding (yes, we have jumped on the bandwagon) and open water swimming, that allow people to get even closer to creation and see our coastlines from a different perspective. Many of us have been reminded that we do indeed live in a very beautiful part of the world.

The restrictions around travelling abroad have led more people towards camping and caravanning in various parts of Ireland, and despite the unpredictable weather, I am hopeful many hold on to a love of the outdoors beyond the pandemic. Creation and everything in it, including ourselves, belongs to the Lord (Psalm 24:1). It is one of God’s gifts to us that calls for appropriate responses.

There’s worship. The beauty and wonder of creation compel us to worship the creator (Psalm 148). Enjoyment. The Lord delights in his creation (Job 39-41) and so we are to enjoy it and not simply consume it. There is no doubt that time outdoors is good for our health and wellbeing. We are called to work the land around us as well (Genesis 2:15). That is vital for food production and survival.

Good stewards of God’s gift

We are also given this unique responsibility and privilege to be good stewards of creation.

God blessed them and said to them,

“Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Genesis 1:28

The Hebrew word ‘radah’ is translated here as ‘rule over’ which perhaps gives the impression that we can treat the world in whatever way we like, extracting its resources for our benefit. However, in its broader context ‘radah’ suggests caring, tending and looking out for everyone and every living thing in creation. In Psalm 72 good kingship includes the balance of ruling [radah] ‘from sea to sea…’, but also, ‘delivering the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help’ (Psalm 72:8;12).

We are not to see ourselves as superior consumers of an inferior creation, in a position of power over every living thing, but nor are we created equal with animals and plants as some would have us believe. Instead, we are invited by the creator into a special role to care for, to protect, to guard, to keep all living things, including our sisters and brothers.

The rising temperature of a crisis

How well are we caring for the world?

If you watch the news at all it is hard not to be aware of the climate crisis we are facing. Regarding the recent UN Climate Change (IPCC) report, Dr Friederike Otto from the University of Oxford, and one of the many authors of the report says, "climate change is not a problem of the future, it's here and now and affecting every region in the world."

An increase in temperature by a few degrees might be welcomed on this island, but we should not allow this sort of apathy towards climate change to permit us to ignore and neglect our God-given responsibility to care for other parts of the world that are impacted in devastating ways.

Heavy rainfall, floods, heatwaves, hurricanes, droughts, storms, wildfires are a normal and natural part of life on this planet. However, the warmer it gets, the more frequent, stronger and more damaging these events are getting. While we are mostly sheltered from these extremes, the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world are disproportionally affected in ways that are unimaginable. This is because these countries are already struggling with poverty, hunger, lack of education, basic health care and poor housing. So, when a storm or drought hits hard, it takes these issues and makes them worse often leading to large scale destruction, homelessness, famine and loss of life.

As climate scientist Katherine Hayhoe explains,

climate change isn’t just an environmental issue, it is a poverty issue, a hunger issue, an issue of inequality and injustice. Climate change is a human issue.

Taking on our responsibility as global disciples

As global disciples with a mandate to care for creation which includes humankind, we must act in ways that seek to reduce its effects. Here are some simple suggestions that will help us individually and corporately, to be global disciples who care for God’s world.

Individually we can:

1. Use sustainable energy sources; turn down the heat and wear another layer
2. Switch off appliances
3. Purchase ethically produced and sustainable goods
4. Reduce, reuse and recycle as much as possible
5. Reduce driving: walk/cycle more or consider public transport.

As a congregation we can:

1. Proclaim creation care and affirm God as creator in our worship gatherings
2. Use ethically sourced and recyclable materials
3. Make and tend a ‘community garden’ or adopt and take care of a park area
4. Complete PCI’s Environmental Audit* and consider ways to be more eco-friendly.

As a wider culture we can:

1. Talk about climate change and the issues it raises

2. Email your MP/MLA asking them to prioritise climate matters.

Together let’s be thankful for the gift of this world and respond in worship to God with lives that demonstrate, as John Stott puts it, that ‘our care of creation reflects our love for the Creator’.

A prayer:
God help me to better see and appreciate the wonder of your creation and my part in the work of caring for it and all of its people.
Amen

Congregations across PCI are being encouraged to set aside a Sunday in autumn, possibly the Harvest service, for a climate focus. Click here for resources. 

In addition, Evangelical Alliance, Tearfund and Christian Aid have produced some helpful resources related to creation care, that have helped shape some of the content for this blog and are linked below.

Evangelical Alliance

Tearfund

Christian Aid

More information on the resource: click here Another look? 

*PCI’s Environmental Audit form is available by request from mission@presbyterianireland.org

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Neil Harrison is PCI's Mission Development Officer.