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Commentary on "The Environment"

STEVE PITCHER

 

Day 4: Tuesday, April 27, 2010

 

Today the lesson is about "Changes in the Environment After Sin."

Although today’s lesson is specifically about what man has done to the creation after the fall of Adam and Eve, there are some points made by the lesson author that need to be examined. It is true that man has generally not been a good steward of the earth. It is also true that man has not been a good steward of anything given to us by God. We are fallen creatures, and even when redeemed our fleshly natures still cause us to stumble in the area of stewardship. (Read Romans chapter 7 for a fuller treatment of this issue.)

First, the quarterly states:

With the entry of sin into their lives, Adam and Eve faced some hard consequences. First, as Ellen White wrote, the clothing of light that had covered them disappeared.

This is a 19th century myth that has been perpetuated by many over the years. There is no indication from scripture that Adam and Eve were clothed with light. In fact, the very statement that they were clothed with anything is in direct contradiction to the Biblical statement that “the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.” (Genesis 2:25) Adam and Eve were not clothed with light, or anything else for that matter.

The lesson continues by pointing out the sinfulness of mankind and his exploitation of the creation. God is good and man is bad. This is a good point for all to learn. But it must also be pointed out that without Christ we are incapable of doing good. Although the lesson this week does a decent job of pointing out the sinfulness of man, the good news of Jesus Christ is virtually absent.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the only solution to the problems of the environment. And this solution is not by humans becoming better stewards of what God has given us. The solution is the future redemption of the physical creation by God when all things are made new.

Being a better steward of what God has given us is a good thing. Yet being a better steward of creation has its God-ordained limits. The futility we see is an act of God. Remember Romans 8:18-23 from the commentary for Day 1. As Christians we must be much more concerned about bringing the Good News (Gospel) of Jesus to the lost.

At the end of the lesson for today, the author presents the following:

Years ago, a political leader made a statement to this effect: “We don’t have to worry about the environment because Jesus is coming back soon.” What is the logic of that argument? How would you respond to it?

First, the political leader being quoted is not identified. Second, his statement is not a political one but a religious statement. Third, most Evangelicals are not in alignment with this statement. To be sure, there are some who do believe this. However many of us Evangelicals, who do believe that Jesus is coming soon, also believe that we must be good stewards of creation.

This commentary for this week’s Sabbath School Quarterly lesson should not be construed to mean that “we can eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow Jesus comes.” It should be construed to mean that our primary focus must be on the cross and gospel of Christ. Christians can be “green” but that should never be the primary focus of a Church. The Church has been given a commission to preach the gospel and baptize believers in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Individuals may engage in various activities in which the Lord leads them. But the Church must remain true to the commission given by her Lord.

With this in mind, let’s look at the Teacher’s Comments on page 59 of the Teacher’s Quarterly. Here we find the following:

Discuss: Why is it fair to say that our efforts to protect our environment serve ultimately to preserve opportunities for our fellow human beings to see evidence of God’s existence and His creative power? Why should ensuring that our earth reflects its divine origins as closely as possible in a sinful environment be a bigger component of our Christian witness?

It is not “fair to say” this. Simply because God cursed the creation in no way implies that “evidence of God’s existence and His creative power” are in any way obscured. Sure, caring for the environment may be something noticed by unbelievers when it is known that Christians are concerned for the environment. Stating that we could ensure “that our earth reflects its divine origins as closely as possible” is taking an attribute that belongs to God as creator and applying that attribute to man. When God created all things, he stamped it with his signature.

Psalm 19:1-6 declares the continuing revelation of God through his creation. Here we read:

The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

We must never forget that although there have been “changes in the environment after sin” none of these changes has eliminated the proclamation of the creation. Both heaven and earth declare his glory. As Christians we must not allow the conditions of this abused planet cause us to think that the witness created by God about himself is in any way marred by what we have done. The Psalmist under direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit here has told us in no uncertain terms that the heavens still declare Gods glory.

 

Summary

  1. There have been changes to the environment after sin. One of the results is that, because of our fallen natures, we are generally poor stewards of what God has given us.
  2. Adam and Eve were not “clothed with light.” This is in direct contradiction to the Word of God which states that “the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.” (Genesis 2:25)
  3. Being better stewards of creation is a good thing, but has its God-ordained limits. God subjected creation to futility. No matter how hard we work, “thorns and thistles” will always be produced.
  4. Gods curse of the creation in no way mars the witness of the creation to its Creator.
  5. The Church must remain true to the commission given to her by her Lord.
  6. The Lord is clear in Psalm 19 and elsewhere that the creation declares his glory.

 

GO TO DAY 5

 

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