BEHOLD! I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW

BEHOLD! I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW

“I am very concerned about the members in my church, said the pastor of a local church during a recent conversation with him. He went on to describe that even though many of his members were good citizens, they simply lacked basic civic sense which sometimes reflected in a careless attitude towards environmental concerns. They throw garbage anywhere and do not switch off the lights when not in use. And inspite of the growing concern about the receding water levels, there is no apprehension among people about wasting water. The attitude was – why care if the wicked world is going to be destroyed anywhere.

Who will educate them?
Recently we had a party for our Christian friends along with their families in our home. We put up two bins for garbage disposal – one for wet and another for dry – so that the garbage could be disposed appropriately. However, it took strict supervision to ensure that our friends understood the garbage segregation concept and made use of the provision.

Who will create awareness?
“Should we use air-conditioners in our homes and offices?” was the debate among my friends a few years ago. On one hand the argument was that we need to save electricity and avoid pollution, while the other argument was that we should not shy away from using technology to make our lives comfortable and modern technology would solve the side-effects of our constant use.

Who cares?
There is generally a lack of awareness and understanding about environmental issues among Christians. What we believe about the end times influences our views and responses to environmental concerns. The foundation of our theology should start in our understanding of God as the creator, sustainer and redeemer of the earth and all in it. The vision of a new heaven and earth should inspire us to care for the present world. The recent frequent natural disasters often are the consequences of our neglect and our greed in our care for the creation.

Can we the church make a difference?
Interserve India is one of the pioneers engaged in sensitizing the church at large on environmental concerns. Come partner with us as we seek to serve the creator God through our missions. John Amalraj,

2011, January-April, INFOCUS

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