Global Amen's View

We are the Caretakers

     As far as we know, we are the most intelligent creatures on earth. We are both aware of the earth we live in, as well as able to consciously influence many aspects of our (and others') lives upon it.  As such, it is our responsibility to make wise and just decisions about how we live and care for our home, planet Earth.
     The first instructions God gave to the people of the world were these:

"Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea, and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
                                                - Genesis 1:28  New International Version

What exactly is this passage saying? Oftentimes, we tend to look at the world we have been given as something to conquer and exploit. We don't need to look in a dictionary to see that the words "subdue" and "rule" have come to imply domination, vanquishing, and supression. So at first glance, this passage may seem like an excuse for using the earth in whatever way best fits our perceived needs. However, God rules over the earth with a firm but gentle hand. He does not exploit, or conquer his creation. Instead God attempts to act as a guide and shepherd to the entire world. As the Creator is the ultimate model for our lives and actions, we would do best to take a leaf from his book and follow His path. In Genesis 2:15, God places us in the world with a purpose:

"The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it."
                                              - Genesis 2:15  New International Version

God has given us the responsibility to wisely rule over and take care of the planet. We are his stewards here on earth, and are called to selflessly live and think and act in ways that help us fulfill our duties as the caretakers of creation.

Soap and Global Warming

Every day, we wash our hands with soap. We do this to take care of the body God gave us. We know that we may or may not get sick if we do not wash ourselves, but we do it anyway, as a precaution. At this point in history, the global warming issue can be looked at in much the same manner. The impact of allowing the globe to continue warming un-naturally may be next to nothing, however there's a fair chance that the earth and its inhabitants may feel extremely negative impacts. It is our duty as stewards of God's creation to be on the safe side. . . to learn about and attempt to prevent, in whatever ways are most fitting, the continuation of human-induced global warming.

Our Future Neighbors

In Matthew, Jesus says to us:

". . . Love your neighbor as yourself."

The people who will inhabit the earth in years to come are, in a way, our neighbors. Everything we do and say today has an impact (however big or small) on the generations to come. Once again, if there is a chance that our actions today will negatively impact our future neighbors, it is our responsibility to make amends while we still can.