Christians and the environment Environmental concerns remain among the most important of our day. As with other pressing modern issues, a church that ignores the environment is considered irrelevant. Adventists should care for the environment for the same reason they care for their own bodies— for God's glory. Although we wait for resurrected bodies we do not ignore our present ones. For the same reason while we wait for a new earth, how we care for this one says something about our character and values. Caring for our environment must be part of today's church standards.
The following books have come to the Ministry office for review. They represent a plethora of books now available concerning the Christian's responsibility to nature and a healthy environment.
While Creation Waits: A Christian Response to the Environmental Challenge, Dale and Sandy Larsen, Harold Shaw Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois, 1992,197 pages, $8.95, paper.
This volume answers the question How can we be ecologically minded without falling into earth worship? The Larsens give a history of the ecology movement and then focus on the related ethical aspects of our lifestyle, responsibility, and stewardship as Christians.
Fifty Ways You Can Help Save the Planet, Tony Campolo and Gordon Aeschliman, InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Illinois, 19'9'2f 144 pages, US$6.95, Cdn$8.95, paper.
These well-known Christian authors bring ecology into the realm of everyday life and tell us what we can do to save our resources. These modern "standards" are important to all Christians.
Environmental Stewardship, Ruth Goring Steward, Global Issues Bible Studies, InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Illinois, 1990, 48 pages, $4.99, paper.
Through the six Bible studies in this guide the author helps us look at the crucial issues involved in caring for the environment from a biblical perspective.
About Stewardship of the Environment, Channing L. Bete Co., Inc., Deerfield, Massachusetts, 1991 (available in quantities, call 1-800-628-7733 for details).
This 15-page scriptographic booklet illuminates the relationship between Christian stewardship and environmental responsibility. The booklet provides church leaders a way to present a theological basis and motivate members to become involved.
Celebrating Earth Holy Days: A Re source Guide for Faith Communities, Susan J. Clark, Crossroad, New York, 1992, $14.95, paper.
Though produced for liturgical churches, this volume gives the pastor ideas on what he or she can do to inspire members, through worship and study, to care about the world they live in.
The Gift of Creation: A Discussion Guide on Caring for the Environment, Virginia Vroblesky, NavPress, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 1992, $5.99, paper.
In eight sessions designed to pro mote lively discussion around biblical texts, this book will help you develop your own views on the environment.
God Is Green, lan Bradley, Image Books, Doubleday, New York, 1992, US$8, Cdn$10, 118 pages, paper.
Bradley rebuts the charges against Christianity's alleged arrogance toward nature. Though this indictment may have merit in a perversion of the Christian message, the author shows from the Bible how at its heart Christian belief recognizes the sacredness of nature and the interdependence of life. A problem with this book is that some might read a subtle pantheism in some of the material.
Earthkeeping in the Nineties: Steward ship and the Renewal of Creation, Loren Wilkinson, ed., William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, 1991, $19.95, 391 pages.
The original Earthkeeping came out in 1980 when few people were discussing the environment. This revised edition reflects the insights of Christian scholars in many fields. The book describes the state of the planet and explores views of creation. The authors examine biblical and theological views of ecology and offer guidelines for an earthkeeping Christian ethic. Several good cartoons throughout the text add spice to the reading.
This updated edition discusses re cent cultural and religious ideas on ecology. The authors make a clear stand on pantheism: "Christians have always dis associated themselves from all such con fusions of God and creation, and they always should. . . . Biblical religion is abundantly clear, it is that God is the maker of all things; thus He is not to be confused with those things."
Earthkeeping includes a bibliography, index, and a list of Scripture references for further research.
