A Christian Environmentalist’s View of the World

“Don’t wanna be, stitched up; out of my mind. Feeling strung out; laggin’ behind. All trapped in; can’t do a thing because…I’m Locked down” — John Mayer

That song may be about a beautiful woman, but I often feel similar about Christianity and Environmentalism. As my blog readers know I don’t mind calling myself an environmentalist… but a Baptist one?

What is Christian Environmentalism? Well, first I would say it is a belief that Christianity demands stewardship. We have an obligation to care for God’s creation as best we can. Genesis makes it clear that God put us in charge of this earth. It is our duty to gently nurture it into a state of health.

Second, I would say it is a belief that the Earth shows us something of God’s character. It is an intricate piece of artistry that is almost unparalleled in beauty. It is to be admired. He made it simply because He took great joy in it. The creation all around us tells us a great deal about what type of God we serve, creative by default!

Third, I would say it is a belief that the Earth is broken. It does not agree with the Gaia Hypothesis in the sense that all organisms promote life in general. Indeed, many parts to the earth are harmful to itself. This is a result of our decision to sin. We created the brokenness around us.

Lastly, it is a viewpoint that demands we be unselfish in our roles. Christians should be the loudest proponents in taking care of the entire world. This sometimes comes at a cost. If we Christians are part of a group that creates harmful elements to other groups (such as our massive amount of greenhouse gas emissions compared to our population size) we need to work hard to heal the situation.

Sometimes, I admit I am torn between two groups. I think it is silly how many followers of Christ view the environmental movement as a big lying monster, and have allowed it to become synonymous with certain figures they disagree with. However, in my experience more and more Christians are beginning to allow themselves a fresh look at environmentalism.

On the Will of God, and how to know it

I, like everyone, am constantly trying to figure out what the will of God is. Who doesn’t want to know the Will of God? Should I go to this school? Should I go to that school? Should I take this job? Should I take that job? Should I go to this church? Should I go to that church? Should I go to church at all? Everyone does, right? Lots of people who claim they don’t even believe in God…when their life gets rough and they are all by themselves they will pray for guidance.

Why do you think this is? Is it perhaps that we innately know there is an order to things and a will beyond our own?Both believers in God and atheists want to know there is a benevolent being out there who can help us in our time of need. Who though wants to hear what He has to say when it isn’t what we want to hear?

The truth is we are all very confused when it comes to knowing the ‘Will of God.’ Most of us don’t really even know what the means much less how to know it. We all want the quick and short of it. Give me the answer. Show me the way…now!

I have to admit that I struggle with this a lot. As a young single man I am making all kinds of choices right now that will affect the rest of my life. I want to make wise ones. The choices I make need to be grounded on truth and centered on God’s guidance. As to what is the ‘Will of God’…well that can be a complicated thing indeed. If you make it complicated that is.

From scripture I believe we can see two different types of “Wills” when the bible talks about the ‘Will of God.” These two different types of ‘wills’ play out differently in our lives and often people will confuse one for the other adding to their original frustration. The two types of ‘wills’ in the New Testament are: God’s will of decree (God’s sovereignty) and God’s will of command. Take a look at descriptions of both types.

1. The will of decree or God’s sovereign will. This is God’s sovereign will of EVERYTHING that comes to pass. Nothing in this world happens that is not in His will.

a. Matthew 26:39/Isaiah 53. God’s will was for Christ to die, yet God hated it. God’s will sometimes is for horrible things to happen. Always in these horrible things, however, God is looking for some other greater good to come out of it. In Christ’s death it was so that we could all gain eternal life.

b. 1 Peter 3:17. Sometimes it is God’s will the Christians should suffer when they don’t deserve it.

c. Matthew 10:39/ Proverbs 16:1/Daniel 4:35. Everything is the will of God. God is never like…”Ohhh dang I didn’t expect that!” No one can hold back God’s hand or say, “What have you done?”

2. The will of command. This is what God commands you to do and what you ought to do. This command, unlike God’s sovereign will can be thwarted. He allows it to be.

a. Matthew 7:21. There are wills of God that are not done.

b. 1 Thessalonians 4:3/1 Thessalonians 5:18/1 John 2:17. We have a choice to follow the command of God or not to.

So, sometimes in scripture ‘will’ is referring to what God is going to cause to happen (or caused in the past). Other times it is a command that He expects you to obey yet gives you the choice not to. When we refuse to follow God’s will of command we sin. This is free will. It is your choice.

The real question then is how can I know what God’s will is for me. First, it should be obvious that God does not expect you to know His sovereign will. Only He knows all He is planning. You can know something about it however such as Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”"

My opinion is that we should not fret about what God’s sovereign will is. It is going to happen anyway…fact. That is like wanting to look into a crystal ball and learning the future. God wants us to learn to trust Him. If God simply threw out the answers to us every time we were faced with a problem we would never grow.

That is not to say that God never reveals His sovereign will. I do believe in prophecy.

This brings us to the second type of will, God’s will of command. This is (in my understanding) where God directs us and gives us answers the answers we are seeking. Sometimes these answers are spelled out in scripture. For instance, “Should I have sex with a woman that is not my wife?” Scripture tells you. No. Or, “Should I kick this puppy?” Ok, so maybe that one isn’t in scripture, but you get the point.

Other times there are choices that are not explicit in scripture. An example would be, “Should I study Engineering or Sociology?” You will not find a direct answer in the bible. God does, however, listen and He will give you direction.

Romans 12:1-2, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.“

Romans says that we need to be able to test and approve what God’s will is. This is God’s will of command. I believe this is one of those things that grows with time. Phillipians 1:6 says that God is constantly making you more and more like Him.

If you want to make a decision and you want to know God’s will then ask Him what His desire is. Then ask Him for the ability to see it.

Christian service, environmental science, and a burp that wouldn’t burp part 2.

 Part 2. Christian Service

Recently I have been really convicted of several things that I consider central to Christianity, but have basically no part in my life now that I am in grad school. I have realized that I have become a hypocrite about these things because I proclaim them, but I never do them. Here are some examples:

• Giving to the poor
• Taking care of the widows/elderly
• Mourning with those who mourn
• Hurting with those who are hurting
• Being merciful
• Loving everyone…UNCONDITIONALLY
• Hundreds of other ways to serve

I was mentioning these to an older man in the church that is discipling me, and he suddenly became quiet and looked contemplative. I asked him what he was thinking, and he mentioned that he was trying to figure out why his first thought was, “Well, we can’t do everything.” I immediately caught his drift. This is exactly what I use to convince myself that I don’t need to be serving others right now.

My schedule is crazy. I know that every college student says this, but I mean it. Here is my normal day.

I get up at 5:30 and spend time with Christ for about an hourish.

7:00 I get ready and eat breakfast

8:00ish I arrive at school and do homework in my office

11:00 Go to class and then eat

1:00 Work in the lab on projects

2:00 Go to class again

4 or 5:00 Go back to the lab or study

7 or 8 Go home and Eat dinner

10 or 11 Go to bed

That isn’t including bible studies or things like that some evenings. Usually I am sprinting from one thing to another. I am constantly late for class. I am not complaining. This is what grad school is. I knew that going into it. But I am starting to realize. If I am so busy that I don’t have time to serve others then what is the point?

One of my friends has clinical depression and has tried to commit suicide 3 times. Most recently she tried to cut her wrists before Christmas. She doesn’t live in America, but I see her online fairly often. If I don’t sit down and encourage her and listen to her then who will? Seriously, is she not worth me doing slightly worse on my next test?

I was talking to one of my friends yesterday. He was telling me that he and his roommates have started really spending a lot of time with their neighbors. They invite them over and hang out. They play with them. Take care of their kids (one has an autistic child) to give them a break. They even just started having a weekly dinner where they have a bible study before the meal. That brothers—you know if I am talking about you— is super encouraging. You are getting it right, and Jesus is shinning through you.

God seems to be answering my prayers also. I just joined a home group from church. I assumed it would be a bunch of older people with kids who like to sit around, it is totally not. Right off the bat they started talking about all the ways that we can serve others as a group. They have all these ideas. It was crazy. One of the couples has like 700 adopted kids in their house. One other lady is bringing a small orphan girl from Middle America to live with her for a couple months so she can get a medical examination and a hearing aid. That is doing it right. I mentioned that International Students at A&M tend to be very lonely and isolated. They immediately were asking for ideas on how they could serve the international students. I was blown back.

Thank you Jesus for putting people like this in my life.

Christian service, environmental science, and a burp that wouldn’t burp part 1.

 Part 1. A Burp that wouldn’t burp

The last two weeks of my life have really sucked and yet…well, they have been awesome at the same time. It seems like life is usually like that. We get the ups and we get the downs, but somehow the ups seem to be connected more with their downs than with other ups and the downs seem to be one the causes of the ups rather than the absence of ups. Got that?

I have had really good times with the Lord this week though, and the reason is because I have been brought to my knees. I have always struggled with anxiety you see, and these past two weeks have been a real knock down brawl street fight biting scratching spiting thing.

It started out with something I tried the Monday before last that kicked my butt. I woke up at like 3:00 in the morning the next day worrying like crazy. It didn’t even make sense type of worry. It was totally irrational. I talked to several people and they were like, “Dude that totally doesn’t make any sense.” Ok, maybe they didn’t say dude in real life, but they do in my memory. I knew it didn’t, but I couldn’t convince myself to let it go. It was there always…like a burp that wont burp. It just stays in your chest. Making you feel motion sick.

After a few days of feeling like total crap my roommate, Chris, pointed out to me in 2 Corinthians the difference between Godly sorrow and worldly sorrow. My sorrow fell completely under the description of worldly sorrow. Then, I was able to talk to my college pastor about it. He actually struggled to understand what I was saying. I bet he has heard like 500 whiny college students explain their struggles. He has known me since 2001, and he still struggled to understand me. What does that tell you?

I guess that is how it is when you struggle with anxiety. It is yours and no one else’s. You own it. You selfishly take it and nurture it until it is a full blown anxiety. My college pastor did figure it out (Actually I already knew all about it, but I needed somebody I trusted to say the same thing before I explained it), and he pointed out the parts that were legitimate fears that I could take to Christ and the parts that had gotten jumbled in with the rest. He pointed out that the enemy likes to keep things jumbled, general, and fear filled whereas Christ brings clarity, specificity, and hope.

That night I prayed before I went to bed that Christ would protect me from my daily ritual of waking up at 3:00 AM and sitting in bed worrying for 3 hours until it was time for school. Well, I still woke up, but I immediately opened up my bible and started having my quiet time with the Lord. He then took me to this passage. Check it out.

Tremble, and do not sin;

Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still.

Selah. 

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,

And trust in the LORD.

Many are saying, “Who will show us good?”

Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O LORD! 

You have put gladness in my heart,

More than when their grain and new wine abound. 

In peace I will both lie down and sleep,

For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety.

Psalm 4: 4-8

Wow, that had to be one of the most obvious answers to prayer I have ever experienced! I mean seriously…tremble…but don’t sin. I was trembling. Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Where do you think I was sitting? In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. For the rest of this week I have gotten up early to have my time with the Lord. I still struggle with anxietal residue, but I am learning that I need the Lord every single day. He gives peace freely. Just ask.

Part 2, “Serving Others” coming soon.