Responsible Stewardship of God's World

(Psalm 8:1-9. 2 Cor 5:16-20)

INTRODUCTION

Let me begin by stating my appreciation to your Pastor for the kind invitation extended to me to share in your worship this morning and to preach the Word.

Allow me at this time to also bring you the warm greetings of the Council of Churches of Malaysia. We are truly appreciative of your prayers and support of your church in our work, most especially in our current building project.

As far as I can remember there has been a longstanding relationship between the church leaders in Sarawak and the Council. Many important meetings took place between the heads to resolve issues of importance to the state in the past. In fact, it has been decided by the Heads of Churches recently that the next CCM General Assembly will be held in Sibu for the first time in June 2010.

THEME

Every year the CCM related congregations are invited to observe a CCM Sunday to promote Christian unity among the churches.

A theme is chosen every year. This year the theme is “The Responsible Stewardship (Care) of God’s Creation.

From the two bible passages read to us this morning, we can note that God has not abandoned his creation. In fact, God loves his Creation so much that He sent his Son to preach the message of God’s Kingdom.

The need is urgent today for all nations and the churches to do everything we can to care for this earth by protecting the environment and promoting ecologically sustainable development.

LET US PRAY ....

A CRITICAL TIME

As far as the well–being of earth’s resources are concerned, we stand at a very critical moment in human history.

Recently, when President Obama addressed the United Nations he highlighted how serious the situation is in his speech. He pleaded that all nations in the world work together to arrest the ecological crisis.

Today, we are able to talk about the Ecological Footprint of humans on earth.

As human beings develop the land and use modern technology it is having devastating effects on the environment. Nature’s ability to sustain itself and its ability to sustain itself and its ability to recover from human abuse is under severe threat.

Here are some significant data on the degradation of earth’s resources over the past 100 years.

Whether we like it or not, every human society on earth would need to fashion the development of their society in such a way in order to not worsen the already dire situation.

God is the Creator and Sustainer of the world.

God created the world in such a way that it can sustain itself.

In Genesis, when God created the world he said it was good. The skies, the seas, the land, all living creatures lived according to the order God has set forth.

Genesis 2:15 reads: “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it”. 

In 2 Cor 5: 16-20, Paul reminds Christians that they are “a new creation in Christ”, and we are to live in peace and harmony in God’s world.

In Psalm 8 and 104 we learn that God’s creation is a gift we can be thankful for and we can enjoy. That is why in the O.T. people brought the produce of the earth at harvest time as a thanksgiving to God.

In Lev.19:23-25 and Deut 22:6-7, God commands his people to not exploit the earth, but respect it.

In Job 12:7-9 human beings are called to “Ask the animals and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or, let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this.”

OUR TASK

If we have received such a gift from God, we must care for it so that future generations can continue to enjoy it.

The Council of Churches appeals to all Christians and congregations to do what they can to protect and live in harmony with God’s creation.

WHAT CAN WE DO:

1. We have to teach Christians to live a spiritual life that respects the earth. Do you know that John Wesley wrote a book about using natural medicine because he believed God has provided cures for human sickness in creation itself.
2. Declare our congregations to be a “ Green Zone” that means the members of the church will be encouraged to reduce, reuse and recycle what they have.
3. The CCM is also working together with NGOs and the government to promote an ecological - friendly agenda in national development.
4. On the international level, the CCM is part of a large network to advocate for international laws to arrest carbon emission.

CONCLUSION

All our efforts will be in vain if we are not raising our voices against the indiscriminate destruction of our forests.

In August, CCM organized a Conference of indigenous pastors, at that conference all the participants shared about the growing destruction of their living environment. Their rivers are polluted, their waters are no longer clean, and their forests are gone.

They called on the churches of CCM to speak on their behalf of the destruction of their environment. CCM has facilitated for them to meet Tan Sri Bernard Dompok so that their concerns can be expressed in the Cabinet.

In the history of the church, we can learn that the more holy people become, the more simple are their life-style. John Wesley lived a simple life. He organized his early Methodist congregations to live simply and share with one another.

I feel as Methodists we must reclaim this tradition.

The earth is the Lord’s, we must so live that we do not burden God’s creation with pollution and destruction of his creation.

In Christ we are a new creation. Let us so live so that we can guarantee a good earth to our future generations.

As Ambassadors of Christ, let us work for the protection and sustainability of our earth.

Let us live and we sing,

“For the beauty of the earth ...
Lord to thee we raise our hymn
of grateful praise.”

Rev. Hermen Shastri

Preached at Trinity Methodist Church, Kuching, Sarawak

25th October 2009.