Contributed by Adeline Ting • Feb 25, 2025
This sermon resonates deeply with me. It is similar to the reflection piece I wrote back on July 19, 2022, on “This is My Father’s World”. I am thankful for the privilege to be able to once again, reflect on creation, earth, and environment, a subject that is close to my heart.
The sermon is another great wake-up call, as Christians unfortunately, hardly view biodiversity and the environment as an area needing care. Perhaps, many felt that environmental degradation and climate change is a distant issue, because the direct impact is not quite severely felt, as yet. The most we hear are, how intense the sunlight has become nowadays, how much heavier the rains are, how Mt Fuji’s snow cap appeared much later, or how Sakura blooms have been delayed in 2024. The knowledge on biodiversity loss is even lesser known as we hardly throng the jungles. The only way our eyes are open is when we examine the scientific data provided. The evidence-based sciences will reveal that the earth that is entrusted to our stewardship has not been doing well. Over the years, climate change has become inevitable, with natural resources depleting at an alarming rate and biodiversity loss driving species to extinction. This will impact all areas of livelihood as we rely heavily on all creations to co-exist. Without proper care and intervention, the problems we face will eventually culminate to socio-ecological and socio-economic issues, consequently leading to more severe issues related to food security, and maladaptation to climate change.
This message by A Rocha shows that science and Christianity can merge and work hand in hand for creation care. Biodiversity, ecosystems, and the environment, are no longer left to just the people in science. Everyone can be involved. And as Christians, we are expected to take better care of God’s creation. God has given us His wonderful creation and we are commissioned to take good care of it. There are, therefore, many roles for us to play. Some of us are able to infuse creation care messages and disseminate them through lessons and research studies. Some of us can be involved in raising awareness and advocate for conservation and restoration efforts and influence policy changes. Some of us can be citizen scientists that learn to appreciate the richness in biodiversity and work together on how to care for the spectacular handiwork of God’s creation. Some of us can lead by exemplary actions on responsible use of resources and in promoting sustainability. And some of us can learn to inspire others to do the same for creation care, by volunteering in community projects.
Creation is indeed waiting for Christians to make a difference. And so, let’s not make creation wait any longer. Embrace creation care regardless of your background. Recognize that wherever God placed you, serve faithfully for His creation.