The book has 13 chapters with an interlude between 7 and 8. This interlude was like a poem based on Psalm 150; Ecclesiastes 1–3; Genesis 9; Psalms 18:26; Ephesians 1:10, 2:10; and 1 Peter 4:10. I found this an artistic way of putting out Biblical truths in a poetic way. The section before the interlude showed how the church over time suffered a theological divorce between heaven and earth, seriously shrinking its sense of mission and its practice of discipleship. The second section laid the groundwork for the recovery of a vision of salvation as creation healed. The gospel is the complete cure for the dreadful disease of sin.
At the outset, the authors claim the book to be a
radical shift of his (Synder) earlier writings. Salvation as healing is the
main point of the book, what it means for the church, mission and society
today. Their basic question is how do we see heaven and earth? This is a valid
question in today’s world because Christians today see matter and spirit as two
different worlds. Most Christians accept this understanding but deep inside
there is that unresolved tension. But they never try to understand it. To some
the spirit is irrelevant because spirituality is unattainable anyway. So they
focus on matter instead. And yet others are so spiritual that they ignore the
material world. Another group of people hold a split-level worldview who see
matter and spirit as two unconnected worlds that are incompatible. While all
these views are unbiblical, the authors claim that the fourth one is the most
popular in American Christianity. They do not mention other country’s kind of
Christianity. But I would assume that since Filipino Christianity is very much
akin to American Christianity, then the same worldview holds true to this
country.
What does the Bible say? In the Bible “heaven and
earth” means one whole - the entire physical creation, not two different
realisms (p41). To be able to make sense of this wholeness, we need to see that
the planet is sick and needs healing. Although the church is infected, it can
still be an agent of healing.
The church needs to recognize this sickness.
Therefore, this book is a must read because it gives the Church the prophetic
truth about God’s redeeming act of creation. The church has been deceived by
the belief that spirit and matter, heaven and earth are two separate worlds.
God created one world (heavens and the earth) and He intends to redeem, save,
liberate and heal it in its entirety.
The authors lead the reader back to the Bible and
history to understand the cause of the disease which is sin and to salvation
through the gospel as the cure to this disease. The effect of this disease
is felt by society, not just by the Church. However, society’s effort to cure
this disease by piecemeal solutions won’t work. Everything is related to
everything else.
This book contributes immensely to the Church’s
effort to recover a Biblical vision of God’s mission for the redemption of
creation. Our world is so messed up that we seem to have nothing left for the future
generations. I personally have viewed my responsibility for the created world
around me in a more selfish way - so that I can contribute something for the
generations that will come after me. This book has opened my eyes to the fact
that the gospel and creation are intertwined.
The authors also provide a comprehensive ecological
approach, seeking intentionally and consistently to overcome gaps, bridge
polarities, and heal blind spots that often constrain the telling of the
Christian narrative.
Further, there is the challenge to the church to take history seriously,
tracing trajectories that must be understood if the church is to be
comprehensively faithful and healthful today. We need to take the earth
seriously. Biblically speaking, the gospel is about God’s people and God’s
land, but often land simply disappears or disintegrates in Christian theology
and is largely ignored in our discipleship. Finally, the book provides new
images, and deepens traditional images, of the church.
The book does not cover environmental
ethics. I believe there are secular organizations and agencies that can cover
that. It does, however, cover environmental stewardship.
I love how the authors flow the topics of
identifying the disease and eventually leading the readers to tangible actions
that the church can and should do. Actions that are based on faith, hope and
love as the key marks of the church of Jesus Christ. Church history tells us
that these three were not so visible then because the church seemed to have
been engrossed with building structures and struggling with doctrinal issues.
These issues are even still felt today. Later in the book, it was also pointed
out that the church, as God’s healing community on earth, is a global and local
church. Some missiologists call it glocal. This glocal church is “all at once
one and many, holy and charismatic, universal and local, apostolic and
prophetic” (p196). The church acts out its apostolic and prophetic role by
ministering the gospel to and among the poor, in fidelity to the words, work,
and life of Jesus. This makes the church visible to the world. And this is part
of the redemption plan of creation through salvation. The gospel visibly
working among the poor is thus a key sign of the church’s faithfulness—a test
of apostleship (p197). The growth of the gospel among the poor puts flesh and
blood on faith, hope, and love.
The book quotes Christian biologist Calvin DeWitt
Part who identifies four principles rooted in Scriptures that should be woven
into the church’s self-understanding and practice. DeWitt’s principles lay out
the practice of the marks that we can see today. These principles are: a) The
Earthkeeping Principle; b) The Sabbath Principle; c) The Fruitfulness
Principle; d) The Fulfilment and Limits Principle. These principles succinctly
describe man’s relationship with creation. As humans we always recognize
homeostasis. I think creation is likewise crying out for homeostasis. This may
explain why there are so many calamities around. The earth is crying for rest
and balance.
The authors further provide practices on
stewardship of creation which I think provides climax to the entire book. a)
Bible Study with creation-care eyes. I believe most Christians are unaware of
this important aspect of life because of ignorance. We always try to see the
Bible as God’s Word except its link to creation care; b) Prayer for the healing
of the land and the nations. Again, this needs intentionality especially on the
leaders. We need to create more awareness and participation in prayer; c)
Recycle - this goes on a personal level, and I need to be intentional here. My
daughter is very conscious of minimizing our carbon footprint and somehow, she
has influenced me; d) Support local, government legislation and international
agreements that protect the environment and promote creation care. There are
many environmental organizations around that we can join; e) Make Sundays (or
another day) real Sabbaths. I remember Earth Hour every March. This is a good
project and should be participated in by many; f) Join or start a group; g)
Write a poem, hymn, song or meditation; h) Form creation-affirming habits -
moderate eating, regular exercise, walking, appreciating nature, gardening.
These are very good practical ways of caring for creating; i) Eat locally by
supporting the local economy; j) Practice energy conservation; h) Join an
organization or network that promotes the healing of creation from a biblical
standpoint.
Conclusion
This book is a timely call for the church to
go back to the Missio Dei as the restoration of all creation. Let the ministry
of reconciliation of the church include the entirety of creation. The authors
provide practical ways in which the church can do this and to me the checklist
is the highlight of the book because it addresses what can be done to change
the worldview of Christians today. The book does not just talk about Biblical
basis but also bring the reader to what can and should be done as an
application and solution to the problems raised. The damage to the earth’s
resources may seem to be irreversible to some but I believe that the authors
provide a ray of hope of little ways that each Christian can bring healing to
creation.
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