What does Bible say about caring for the environment 4 Biblical Reasons to Care for the Environment . . . Is Creation Important to God? Genesis 1:1: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word (Jesus) . . . He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. Psalm 24: The earth is the lords and everything in it, the world and all who live in it How Important is Creation to God? Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. . . . all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Job 38&39: "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?. . . 5Who marked off its dimensions? . . . I said, . . .‘here is where your proud waves halt'? 12"Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place . . . 25Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain, and a path for the thunderstorm, 26to water a land where no man lives, a desert with no one in it, 27to satisfy a desolate wasteland and make it sprout with grass? . . . 35Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? . . . 41Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out? Psalm 65: You care for the land and water it, You enrich it abundantly Is our well being connected to the environment? Genesis: We’re created from dust; share animals food; created on the same day; have the same breath of life as animals; Gen 1:26-28 We are stewards Gen 2:15: God put man in the garden to serve, protect and nurture it. Hosea 4:1-3 The land mourns and all who live in it waste away. Loving our neighbours . . . Mark 12: 30: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength and love your neighbour as yourself” What does this mean in todays globally connected world? What does it mean in the context of climate change and environmental damage? Implications for our future Rev 21:1: Then I saw a new (renewed) heaven and a new (renewed) earth Romans 8:19-21: creation waits with eager longing . . . in hope that the it will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into glorious freedom What can we do? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Pray/ repent! Live simply/ sustainably Share our story/ Advocacy Low carbon development Climate Change Adaptation Environmental Audit