The Venal elements of Environmentalism.

[Guest]

I think he answered your question with Genesis 1:26,27. That is not a sentiment. And I would add verse 28 also.

[olger]

Thanks Richard - forgot verse 28. Now we got it in!

rejoice always,

g

[Mark Aurelius]

When that guy said "We advocate biodiversity for biodiversitys sake. It may take our extinction to set things straight" (David Foreman, Earth First!) he shows that me he be so self-loathing (as a human being), so traumatized by the abuse of our planet and so keen to see the kind of beauty and harmony in nature that we were designed to appreciate in the first place, that his priorities are all pushed out of shape. It's just typical human overreaction.

Don't we all feel an intense distress to see the pollution of the oceans, the destruction of the rain forests and other habitats of amazing but vulnerable creatures? I certainly do. It makes my blood boil, and I'm not a member of any environmental group, just a typical concerned citizen.

This guy is in fact thinking thoughts along the lines of Rev 11:18 "[God will] destroy them which destroy the earth." The greek word for earth there is γη (ge) as in geography, i.e. the physical world.

There is that pagan/atheist element in the environmental movement that claims that Christians are the reason for the destruction of the environment, with the passage from Gen 1:26-28 and its use of the verb "subdue". But maybe we have been remiss and not read enough of the Bible. In Genesis 2:15 Adam is given his home, the garden of Eden and told to "dress it and keep it". The verbs there are עבד [`bd] "to serve, be a slave" and שׁמר [shmr] "to guard, watch". That is about as custodial and environmentally protective as you can get. If you read the preceding verses Gen 2:8-14 is seems that this Eden was a vast and minerally rich place and would provide all the needs of the people. This is the place that Adam was to be a custodian and protector of, to treat with utmost respect.

The way you treat a gift shows how much you think of the giver. As we abuse the Earth we are showing contempt for the Creator, just as when we abuse people.

Edit: I noticed my Hebrew and Greek words had their unicode converted to html. If you are a language geek and want to see the original forms, go this this page http://www.online-toolz.com/tools/unicode-html-entities-convertor.php and under "Unicode Entities to Text Convertor" enter those words including the first ampersand and the last semicolon in the box "HTML Entities", then hit the convert button.

[olger]

"The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth he has given to man."

[Bravus]

Thanks Marcus, an excellent, balanced and Biblical perspective.

I knew there's a reason you've been a great friend, making me think for almost 20 years now!

And, btw, Gerry (olger) is also a great friend, also making me think, for something like 9 years already!

I'm blessed!

[LifeHiscost]

Quote:

Don't we all feel an intense distress to see the pollution of the oceans, the destruction of the rain forests and other habitats of amazing but vulnerable creatures?

"Lift up your eyes to the heavens, And look on the earth beneath. For the heavens will vanish away like smoke, The earth will grow old like a garment, And those who dwell in it will die in like manner; But My salvation will be forever, And My righteousness will not be abolished."

Isaiah 51:6 NKJV

"The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”"Revelation 11:18 NKJV

God blesses!

[phkrause]

Excellent, excellent post Mark.

[phkrause]

Thanks Marcus, an excellent, balanced and Biblical perspective.

I knew there's a reason you've been a great friend, making me think for almost 20 years now!

And, btw, Gerry (olger) is also a great friend, also making me think, for something like 9 years already!

I'm blessed!

Great post Bravus, we should never allow difference's change who we are friends with. But unfortunately some do allow that to determine who is a friend and who we wont be friends with. So far I consider all here to be friends, or even beyond that, brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.