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CREATION HOPE
JS What do you think were the motivators for the people that you knew who loved creation and people but not Jesus ? Were they different to a Christian ’ s motivation to care for the planet ?
JK There is a lot of common ground , because obviously I wouldn ’ t have crossed paths with these people unless we had shared a certain degree of understanding . And so I feel that even if some of my former colleagues didn ’ t necessarily follow Jesus , they still understood the intrinsic value of creation . And I feel that is part of being made in the image of God , even if they didn ’ t acknowledge it .
AT THE SAME TIME , ‘ CREATION CARE ’ PROVIDES SOME TERMINOLOGY AND SUPPORT FOR COLLEAGUES WHO ARE ALREADY ENGAGED IN PRACTICE , BOTH IN LIFESTYLE AND IN MINISTRY .
I think there are also certain things inherent in us that we may think are just from us alone . For example , if we get involved in issues of justice , we might think , ‘ I ’ m just wired that way : if I see something unjust , I speak up .’ Or if we ’ re interested in the natural world , we think , ‘ I ’ m wired that way : I ’ m a nature lover so I love animals and plants .’ But what I ’ ve come to recognise , in terms of a Christian perspective , is that these things are linked to our Creator who cares about justice and creation care .
The motivation is not just about the ‘ what ’ ( like the value of creation , or that there ’ s a crisis and we need to do something ), it ’ s more about the ‘ who .’ I ’ m motivated because of the one who made me and loves me , but not just me : all of humanity and the rest of creation . So I think this is definitely one major distinctive when it comes to the Christian perspective on creation care , even though there is definitely common ground with others as well . And actually , I think Christians need humility to learn from others who have been engaged longer than we have on caring for creation .
JS As you know , this interview is for a magazine for preachers . Do you have any particular Bible passages that you would recommend they speak on ?
JK As I have been working in a creation care role , I ’ ve realised how I have been reading the Bible with an anthropocentric bias when actually the biblical narrative speaks a lot about the rest of creation , not just humanity .
I ’ ve discovered that a lot of the Bible also addresses the issue of creation care . But some special passages where God is speaking very directly about his creation and his relationship with it are worth meditating on further . I love passages like Psalm 104 and Job 38 . God asks ‘ Were you there when I laid the foundations of the earth ?’ I ’ m reminded that God ’ s creation goes beyond humanity . God also shares a special relationship with his wild creation .
JS There ’ s just such a sense of delight in those chapters as well ; God has so much joy from all of those different crazy creatures and what they do and how they behave . He sounds effusive and kind of bubbly !
JK I ’ m such a visual person too . The imagery evoked in these passages is detailed and vivid . It shows me that this is a God who really cares for what he has made .
JS You said earlier that creation care has been largely neglected by churches . And it ’ s your role to bring it back into its right position as part of what we ’ re about as followers of Christ and as his church . Have you had people challenge and argue with you on it ? And if so , what have been the resistance points ?
JK To be very honest , I expected more . I thought there would be more resistance coming from within the church since this topic impacts both our mindset and lifestyle . It ’ s uncomfortable to deal with something