Hope for the Planet
Please use the following pages to help you think more deeply about God's relationship with His creation and Jesus mission for the world.
Starting with a time of worship
Confession
Look afresh at our relationships with God's creation
Redemption of the world
Worship
"Worship is the proper response of all moral, sentient beings to God, ascribing all honour and worth to their creator God precisely because he is worthy, delightfully so" - D.A. Carson
A time to reflect and confess
Genesis 1 : 31 " God saw all that he had made, and it was very good" "God created humans in God’s image and according to God’s likeness and told humans to steward this new creation. And what is God’s likeness? Throughout the Scripture, God shows us mercy that we do not deserve, grace that we have not earned, and love that we cannot imagine. We are made in that likeness and are charged with reflecting those qualities to the whole of creation. Being made in the image of God is a call to caretaking, compassion, mercy and service."
"Human arrogance and greed quickly damage the connection between God and creation. God acknowledges the new, human-created reality in Genesis 9 “The fear and dread of you shall rest on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of the air, on everything that creeps on the ground, and on all the fish of the sea ….” Creation has been damaged, blood is being shed, and instead of coexisting in the peaceful partnership that God designed, humans choose to use their power to exploit the planet, animals and each other."
https://www.petalambs.com
We live under the effects of that broken relationship today.
Our relationship with the earth
Our relationship with non human animals
Living a life of justice and compassion
On Earth As In Heaven – Brian McLaren
"Animals are conscious, we know it, and we should use this well-demonstrated scientific fact to protect them rather than cashing out their value in terms what they can do for us. The latter view is a case of arrogant and misguided anthropocentrism that demeans innumerable other animals and who they are -- conscious, intelligent, and emotional beings. Even if we're not sure about whether some animals are conscious, intelligent, and emotional beings, they also matter because they exist, not because of their service value to us"
Marc Bekoff PH.D - www.psychology.com
What does the Bible say about animals?
Prayer of Compassion (By St. Basil the Great, 330-379).
"O God, enlarge within us the sense of
fellowship with all living things,
our brothers the animals to whom thou
gavest the earth as their home in
common with us.
We remember with shame that in the past
we have exercised the high dominion
of man with ruthless cruelty
so that the voice of the earth,
which should have gone up to thee
in song, has been a groan of travail.
May we realize that they live not for
us alone but for themselves and for
thee, and that they love
the sweetness of life."
Can Christians break the silence on animal suffering?
Read more here: Break the silence.
Being good stewards
"We are facing an unprecedented global emergency. Life on Earth is in crisis: scientists agree we have entered a period of abrupt climate breakdown, and we are in the midst of a mass extinction of our own making." - rebellion.earth
"Why should we be concerned about the environment? It isn’t just because of the dangers we face from pollution, climate change, or other environmental problems—although these are serious. For Christians, the issue is much deeper: We know that God created the world, and it belongs to Him, not us. Because of this, we are only stewards or trustees of God’s creation, and we aren’t to abuse or neglect it. The Bible says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Psalm 24:1). When we fail to see the world as God’s creation, we will end up abusing it. Selfishness and greed take over, and we end up not caring about the environment or the problems we’re creating for future generations." Billy Graham
Tearfund “Hope for Creation” prayer
Lord, make us people who recognise, nurture and act towards a more sustainable world for the benefit of all who draw life from this planet.
Raise up campaigners who will speak out for wisdom, restraint and compassion.
And teach us to partner you in protecting this precious world and the lives of our most vulnerable global neighbours. Amen
Link to the Hymn: Take my life and let it be
Redemption for all of creation
"God's love and salvation is for the world: not only people but the whole natural environment, which is also suffering"
"We are challenged to embrace a way of living, which stems from our relationship with God." jri.org.uk
"Mission is focused on the cross where Christ confronts the powers of evil in the world, including the abuse and misuse of power, political, economic . The cross highlights the struggle for justice and presents the offer of forgiveness leading to a renewed relationship with God" jri.org.uk
Renewing our understanding of mission.
"Mission involves the whole person engaging with the whole of creation- all that I am, all that I see, hear, say, smell , touch and think as I experience the place where I live and the world of which I am a part. It has been said that Christians need to experience three conversions: a conversion to Christ; a conversion to Christ's body on earth, the church; and a conversion to the world for which Christ died."
"Christians disciples are called to participate in the mission of Christ. Central to this mission is the redemption of creation." jri.org.uk
Prayer:
Father forgive our self centeredness, teach us how to serve, to see your creation afresh through your eyes.
Open our eyes to injustice, cruelty and exploitation.
Show us the weak and vulnerable in this world so that we will act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with you.
Song - "This is the air I breathe"
Our Prayers for the PlanetSend your prayers to prayer@kidlington-baptist.org.uk to be added to this document
Resources
A Rocha - a Christian organisation engaging communities in nature conservation
Family
Youth
