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Naomi commented on yesterday's post and I wanted to pick up a thought that she mentioned. She said that some people think that Global Warming (and other disasters and calamities) are a result of the 'end times' and is what is supposed to happen before Jesus returns.
Time and space is too limited for a long discussion on eschatology (belief about the end times) but I think that the idea of God's destruction being wrought on the earth is important in the context of an ecological theology or a Christian response to global warming and other environmental issues.
Genesis 1 tells us that God created the world and it was good. The idea of the world being evil is not a biblical idea, it is a Greek philosophical belief. Paul tells us that all creation groans for the redemptive work of Christ. That doesnt just relate to all the people (otherwise it would have said that). Paul is here suggesting that the redemptive work of Christ relates to creation. God is wanting to redeem creation.
Another problem we have is we think of God as a creator. God created the world and left it to go. The Hebrew understanding of God was one of re-creator. The work of creation is not finished. The biblical story is one of God interacting with creation. In the flood narrative we see God changing the way the creation works (the first time it rained).
I think end times belief is a classic example of Christian culture winning out over a Biblical understanding. A lot of Christians I know would be able to tell me the theology of the 'Left behind' series but would struggle to outline a biblical theology of the end times.
I have decided to stop adding links to what I have been reading each day because no one seems to have been looking at them. But if you want to check out some photos of my hike on the weekend check here.
