Twice in Genesis 1, God looks at what has just been created and gives the commandment, “Be fruitful and multiply.” It has always been God’s intention for this earth to be the home of abundant life. With the introduction of sin in Genesis 3, death is also introduced, and we see throughout the Bible a constant conflict between death and abundant life. Even Jesus clarified, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10; NRSV)
In a recent article, Dr. Norman Wirzba wrote against the un-Christian notion, found in many Christian circles, that Earth is only a temporary home, that we are designed by our Creator to one day escape this doomed place for something better. The Bible offers a different perspective: that Christians are to serve and protect Creation in such a way that this Earth becomes as like Heaven as it can be. The abundant life that Jesus provides is not a life waiting for us upon death, but a life that begins in the here and now.
With this in mind, we must be mindful of the life lived in the place God has placed us. We must care about the land we live on, because this is where our lives and the lives of all of God’s creatures is rooted.
As we wrap up Season of Creation 2021, we have a few more opportunities to learn where, how and why God is working out our redemption in the venue of Creation.
The first is ReGenesis 2.15: Tools for Regenerating the Soil and Soul of Your Community. In this webinar, Rev. Keith Sexton and Rev. Jacob Dye will be introducing The Regenerative Agriculture Toolkit, a useful resource for Christians to understand how they, individually and as churches, can be involved in healing the land that they possess, as well as sustaining life in their community. This webinar is offered at 7:00 or Tuesday, September 28; register in advance here.
Two nights later, the chair of the NCC creation care committee, Rev. Jarrod Davis, will be joined by Duke professor Dr. Ellen Davis to discuss Living as Resident Aliens in God’s Land. This Bible study will focus on Leviticus 25, and explore the connection between land, God’s people, and the commandments for Sabbath and Jubilee. You might be surprised at how applicable Leviticus 25 is for us today. The webinar starts at 7:00 on Thursday, September 30; register here.
Finally, Dr. Steve Jurovics, author of Hospitable Planet: Faith, Action and Climate Change, will be leading us in the webinar, Climate Change: Where Religion and Science Meet on October 5 at 7:00. Dr. Jurovics will expertly guide us to understand how climate change is a spiritual, scientific and societal concern, and will focus on three effects of biblical teaching concerning climate change. Register for this webinar here.
We look forward to wrapping up Season of Creation 2021 with you over the next few days. If you have missed any of our events so far, you can find links for the videos below.
Season of Creation Worship Service
Coal Ash, BIPOC Farming, and Everything In Between: An Environmental Justice Panel