Have churches exchanged ecology for theology? Some commentators and theologians believe that they have.
Frank Furedi (at the University of Kent in the UK) suggested this in a recent article that has brought concurring response in this country. He believes that churches have replaced theology with ecology and are using ecological virtues as a platform to assert their moral authority in society.
He said: “In recent years, some in the church have sought to gain the public’s ear through the greening of traditional doctrines, and Christ the Savior is fast becoming Christ the environmental activist.” One example he used was the Church of England that launched an “eco-crusade” entitled Shrinking the Footprint last year.
Albert Mohler (president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) agrees with that assessment. He believes that ecological concerns appear to be a replacement for “abandoned doctrines” and “outdated concerns” of biblical Christianity.
Dr. Mohler has noticed that many churches and Christian organizations have been talking about creation care and climate change. While focusing on these important issues is good, the problem arises when they replace orthodox doctrines of the church. And they have often been divisive issues. When a U.S. Senate committee convened hearings on global warming this summer, Christian leaders from various denominations debated the issue from different perspectives while each cited the Bible for support.
Katharine Jefferts Schori (head of the Episcopal Church) said she believed global warming is real and mainly caused by humans. Jim Ball of the Evangelical Climate Initiative and Calvin Beisner of the Interfaith Stewardship Alliance are both evangelicals and share similar theology, but they disagree about some of the basic facts concerning climate change.
A healthy debate about social and political issues is good. But we should be concerned when ecology replaces theology in the church. I’m Kerby Anderson, and that’s my point of view.
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In John 3:16 "For God so loved the world.." the word world is 'cosmos' which means 'order'. This means God so loved the order in which He created His universe to run by. He didn't send Jesus just to die for man alone but His whole creation. Only a redeemed people correctly grounded in a complete biblical theology can run the world correctly. If you will notice the only people God made covenant with to govern were His chosen ones (Adam, Noah,Moses etc.). The heathen can not properly steward this earth nor can Christians ignorant of the whole gospel. "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof". Satan does not own this planet he is only the prince of the powers of the air. He can only operate on the earth when Christians do not exercise the authority given to them through the sacrifice of Christ. One of the most damaging doctrines to cause Christians to abandon their responsibilty to God's creation is the 'rapture' doctrine. Instead of walking in dominion (at whatever level given us) we allow things to get worse and worse thinking this will speed up Jesus' return. Kind of sounds like the Muslims and their doctrine of the return of the Mahdi or whatever the call him. This is not to say that we can bring creation back to like it was before the fall but we are to work at redeeming as much as is given to us as a person, a family, a church and a nation. Bottom line is we do have a responsibility to steward God's creation but it can't be done with out preaching that we must repent of our sins and turn from our wicked ways for sin defiles creation. Click here to reply to this post
green
Posted On: 01/19/08 07:30:18 PM
Age 57, AR
Of course Christians are supposed to take care of the world. It would be rediculous to take care of your house and your stuff, and trash the world. We should do it as a practice. BUT, in my thinking whis old world is going to hell, and there isn't much we can do about it. I may sound like a pessimist, but the word says it will get worse and worse. I think the world is getting hotter and hotter because men are going to be scorched in the later days, then God will shorten the days to show mercy on his chosen. But as a practice we should do what is good and right to take care of the area in which we live, but not going green stuff. The liberals raise money to save the animals, but kill babies. I don't agree with anything they do. Click here to reply to this post
Stewardship of ecology is part of theology.
Posted On: 01/17/08 04:41:16 PM
Age 26, IL
The church has long forgotten and ignored the responsibility given to mankind in Genesis 2:15 to keep or take care of the Garden. Because stewardship has not been taught for generations, yes, there does need to be teaching in the church where there was none before. Think of a school that taught math without teaching how to add. When the school realizes that an important step in mathematics was missed, should they not then go back and teach everyone who was not taught how to add? Would they stop teaching everything besides adding? No, but there would have to be much more put into the teaching of the missed part of the whole to everyone, not just the new students. Stewardship is a part of theology, just as adding is a part of math. Caring for God's Creation, which He said was good in more than one place, is one of the responsibilities we are given, one that needs renewal in the church.
Bethany Burk Click here to reply to this post
"Global warming" Fraud
Posted On: 01/22/08 12:00:29 PM
Age 61, VT
Please tell mr how perpetuating a very expensive worldwide fraud constitutes good Christian stewardship/theology?! Click here to reply to this post
No offense, but from what I read here I'd rather go to Burk's church than Lou's. Worshipping God involves more than singing hymns and reciting church phrases. Taking care of the the natural environment plays a part. The reason "ecology has replaced theology" is because the church has abandoned the Bible and therefore gave its principles to Satan to twist around against God. Looking for ways to cut pollution for the love of The Supplier versus areas where pollution can't be cut because of the curse - what's heretical with talking about that? Over the church's indifference Satan has convinced people to worship "mother earth," assault people who eat steak or own pets and try to get the government to abolish private property, ban bug repel and ban hunting/fishing (what's next - regulating farting?). The "climate change" thing is another distraction Satan has added. Factoring environmental conservation CORRECTLY into the Biblical worldview does not replace "theology with ecology." Click here to reply to this post
WHAT DID THE AUTHOR SAY
Posted On: 01/23/08 02:44:37 PM
Age 64, OH
I think you need to reread the article again. the author NEVER claimed that the environment was not important but that it should NOT be the focus, but the Jesus Christ crucified should be the focus. Lou Click here to reply to this post
Addition is the single fundamental function of math--the basis thereof. However, ecology is not the single fundamental doctrine of Christianity. Good stewardship is important to teach, but not at the expense of the center of Christianity: Christ's life, death, and resurrection.--Mrs. Pilgrim Click here to reply to this post
WORSHIP THE CREATOR NOT THE CREATION
Posted On: 01/18/08 11:25:11 AM
Age 64, OH
Give me the Inventor of all math and have Him come and live with me and go everywhere I go for the rest of my life. Also give me The Book that he has written and His promise to be my private tutor. Now what need do I have of any other math teacher who is going to concentrate only on addition and also teach me things that are not true. The Inventor of addition can teach me all of the Truth without any lies. Is there any better teacher than the Creator of the Universe. Paul said to preach nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified. When I give my life to the crucified Christ I get the best Tutor to come and live in my heart. I have been taught by no man. But He has taught me very well and not without result. My electric bill is $23.00 a month and I use about a tank of gas a month. I walk and run about 10 miles a day and am 64 years old. I eat nothing but organic food so as to not pollute the earth and my body with toxins. Can you say as much. I do not go to church to hear about the earth but I go to church to hear about the CREATOR of the earth. Lou Click here to reply to this post
PREACH NOTHING BUT JESUS CHRIST CRUCIFIED
Posted On: 01/18/08 11:09:25 AM
Age 64, OH
Some say they believe the Holy Scriptures but then they follow their own inclinations as the person below. The Holy Scriptures tell us what we should preach. Paul says, 2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And again when the Greeks demanded knowledge and the Jews a sign, Paul responded to them both the same; 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, -- if a person truly gives their life to the Creator of the earth, and all that exists, and then The Lord Jesus comes to live in their spirit, and that person walks and talks with Him everyday all else is taken care of. For the promise of the Lord of Truth is for His Holy Spirit to guide us into ALL TRUTH. To concentrate on any teaching of the Lord is foolishness. For if we introduce people TRULY to Jesus Christ he will lead that person into all TRUTH. The trouble here is that these men do not think Jesus Christ is all that a person needs. They are trying to gather men after themselves for they do not trust Jesus to do as he has promised. Lou Click here to reply to this post
nice change of pace
Posted On: 01/17/08 11:42:57 AM
Age 21, MI
This was one of the most intelligent, even-handed, and informative article I've seen on this web site. It stuck to the facts, cite sources plainly, and left me with a better understanding of the issues as well as a poignant exhortation for future engagements with the topic.
Thank you! Click here to reply to this post
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