Jesus Is Coming! GO GREEN PLANT A TREE 10/1/2015 1

Transcription

1 Jesus Is Coming! GO GREEN PLANT A TREE 10/1/2015 1

2 The Public s View Of The Environment American s worry about environmental problems 10/1/2015 2

3 Survey Of Biblical Theology On Creation Care Question: Is Environmentalism a Christian Value? Gen 1:1, Gen 1:26 God creates and made us in His image. Gen 1:28 As God s stewards, we are to make the earth s resources beneficial for mankind. Deut 14:23, 22:6 Celebrate the land s blessing with wise, respectful (i.e.,free will) use of creation. Lev 25:4 A Sabbath rest for the land signifies that God bestows freely on all His people. Job 38:12,16 We have neither the full knowledge or ability to govern or shape creation. Psalm 104:24-28 The Lord delights in the care of the land and His creatures. Hosea 4:1-3 The whole land suffers (and mourns) when God s people break His covenant. Romans 8:19-21 Creation displays its wonder over the future glory of mankind. Rev 21:1 The new heaven and earth will be places where righteousness will dwell. 10/1/2015 3

4 A Biblical Ethic For Creation Care Our stewardship under God means that we are morally accountable to Him for creation care that best serves the wholekingdom of God. We care for our world because we love its Creator. As responsible stewards of God s creation, we should protectthis gift from unwarranted defilement and inappropriate use. Our wisecreation stewardship involves thoughtful and active dominion over such factors as environmental disaster, sustainable development, and stability in gratitude to God and in accordance with His moral laws. 10/1/2015 4

5 Three Men Named Francis So we have seen that a truly Biblical Christianity has a real answer to the ecological crisis. It offers a balanced and healthy attitude to nature, arising from the truth of its creation by God. It offers the hope here and now of substantial healing in nature of some of the results of the Fall, arising from the truth of the redemption in Christ. (Pollution and the Death of Man) Praise be You, my Lord, through Sister Earth our Mother who sustains and governs us. Praise be You, my Lord with all Your creatures especially Sir Brother Sun If we are truly concerned to develop an ecology capable of remedying the damage we have done, no branch of the sciences and no form of wisdom can be left out, and that includes religion and the language particular to it. (Laudato Si) Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love, Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; And where there is sadness, joy. 10/1/2015 5

6 Top Five Environmental Issues We can make choices in addressing them. Faith Science Sequential Paths Clean energy Climate Change / Global Warming Pollution/Air and Water Biodiversity Loss Dying Oceans And as we discuss and make choices there are. Ramifications complex consequences Side effects, often unseen Limited resources to fix the problems Inequitable distribution of benefit 10/1/2015 6

7 Issue: (Clean) Energy Our best solutions for lowering environmental impacts from energy usage are cleaner fuels, conservation, and efficient use. U.S. DOE efficiency standards project 14% reduction in electric use and $1.1T net consumer savings by 2035 (NRDC fact sheet). EPA s Clean Power Plan (2015), capping and reducing CO2 emissions will require Alabama to reduce emissions by 30%. 10/1/2015 7

8 What About Renewable Sources of Power? Installed Wind Generating Farms Stanford Study: Shift to Renewables by 2050 Installed Solar Generating Farms MIT Study: Low Carbon Nuclear, Wind, Solar Renewables supplied 12.9% of domestic US electrical energy in 2012 (Source EIA) 100 MWe 10/1/2015 8

9 Issue: Climate Change/Global Warming Most Critical Issue Of Our Time: Just look out the window!! 1 Earth s energy balance indicates heat radiated out. 2 Atmospheric C0 2 absorption partially closes the radiation window. Multiple Sources Of Evidence, Both Observed and Simulated, Predict a 3 C rise with a doubling of CO 2 concentration in the atmosphere. Do We Know Enough To Act Now? 3 Current models accurately predict the warming due to CO 2 absorption. 10/1/2015 9

10 Issue: Climate Change/Global Warming So where is all the heat going? A lot ends up in the oceans. 10/1/

11 Issue: Pollution/Air and Water Air Pollution Worldwide, Alabama, and Madison County Jefferson and Madison Counties in Alabama Worldwide Small Particulate Matter /1/

12 Issue: Biodiversity (Aquatic) Loss Tennessee River Basin UN designated biosphere Over 650 miles of rivers 230 species of fish and aquatic animals many other species on endangered list Active conservation groups in 6 states World Oceans Weak or non-existent governance and advocacy 70 % of the earth s surface Some species 90% depleted from overfishing Technology-enabled exploitation in deep waters Ocean acidification from atmospheric CO 2 absorption Global Ocean Commission (initiative of the Pew Charitable Trust) 10/1/

13 Issue: Dying Oceans Technology and Abuse Have Pushed the Oceans To The Ecological Brink Ocean Acidification Commercial Over-fishing Plastic Pollution Off Shore Drilling Maldives: Indian Ocean 10/1/

14 Issue: Dying Oceans Ocean Acidification: The Other CO 2 Problem National Resources Defense Council 10/1/

15 Issue: Dying Oceans Let s make a covenant to give up bottled water!! Global Oceans Commission 10/1/

16 Issue: Dying Oceans Overfishing On The High Seas Has Nearly Extinguished Popular Species Global Oceans Commission 10/1/

17 Issue: Dying Oceans Remember 2010 and BP - Deepwater Horizon? Global Oceans Commission 10/1/

18 Presbyterians For Earth Care We have a voice for earth care in our denomination! Let s get involved. 10/1/

19 Questions For Discussion 1. What does a Christian view of nature look like? 2. Do you think environmentalism is a Christian value? 3. Should environmental concerns have priority over economic progress? 4. As humans, is there a tension between our uniqueness from and our connection to creation? 5. Is it more important to care for people than creation? 6. The Book of Order, Section W , states, Worship leads people to seek justice and make peace. How does this relate to Earth Care? 10/1/

20 Useful References On The Internet /1/