Brethren Witness - Care for Creation - Articles for Newsletters

Articles for Newsletters

Caring for God's Earth: Reach for Your Dreams

In July 1999, Eileen Collins became the first woman to command a US Space Shuttle mission. In response to the official announcement that she would command the flight, Eileen said, "When I was a child, I dreamed about space—I admired pilots, astronauts, and I've admired explorers of all kinds. It was only a dream that I would someday be one of them. It is my hope that all children, boys and girls, will see this mission and be inspired to reach for their dreams, because dreams do come true!" As a Church of the Brethren community, we share many dreams: dreams of justice for the oppressed, dreams of hungry children being fed, dreams of peace in the world, dreams of more and more people accepting God's grace and living peacefully, simply, together.

After Eileen's first flight into space, she said, "I saw how fragile and beautiful the earth was, and I thought—we have to take care of it." Indeed. "The earth is the Lord's, and all that is in it" (Ps. 24:1). And, "The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till and keep it" (Gen. 2:15). Let's dream of a day when we will live in harmony with God's good creation, when we will sincerely appreciate the beauty of the garden and faithfully respond to our call to keep it.

For more information about Church of the Brethren Care for Creation programs, contact the Brethren Witness/Washington Office at washington_office_gb@brethren.org or (800)-785-3246

Caring for God's Earth: Living More Simply

Most of us are aware of the Church of the Brethren's historical heritage of simple living. Perhaps we have studied the simple lifestyles of our forefathers. We have included the simple living theme in our modern denominational motto, "Continuing the Work of Jesus: Peacefully, Simply, Together." Yet, we recognize that most of us do little (if anything) to distinguish ourselves from our mainstream, consuming neighbors in society. We are too busy, willing participants in crazy, rat-race lifestyles. We buy new cars and clothes just like everyone else, and we live in the best, biggest homes we can afford.

And yet, many of us recognize and talk about the nudge of guilt, or just knowing better, that plagues our daily lives. We look around at the world and we look inside ourselves and we know there is a better way, as taught by our Lord Jesus. The Gospel of Matthew says it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. "Give all that you have to the poor, and follow me." We know that God's good earth cannot support our lifestyle for everyone on the planet. For the reward of joy, peace, and salvation... can we choose the path of a simpler life? With God, all things are possible. Buy what you need, not what you think you want. Consume less, and spend more time with family. Give to those who need it most. Make a conscious choice to slow down, and perhaps you will suddenly see the sun shining brighter, hear the birds singing louder, and feel the presence of God more fully in your life. The earth and our world will be grateful.

The earth is the Lord's, and all that is in it! (Ps. 24:1) For more information about Church of the Brethren Care for Creation programs, contact the Brethren Witness/Washington Office at washington_office_gb@brethren.org or (800)-785-3246

Caring for God's Earth: Driving the Earth Crazy

When it comes to negative impact on our natural world, car use is perhaps the single most destructive action by North Americans. Vehicle emissions contain carbon dioxide (CO₂), contributing substantially to global warming. With scientists predicting as much as a 10-degree warming of the earth by 2100, there is reason to be alarmed. In addition to the global warming trend, driving our cars increases dependencies on foreign oil. The manufacture of cars is responsible for 10% of all global materials consumption. Consider more facts:

Each mile we drive sends approximately one pound of CO₂ into the atmosphere.
There are 500 million cars in the world; 215 million are in the US
With 4.5% of the earth's population, the US consumes 43% of the gasoline.
The US consumes 25% of all fossil fuels consumed in the world. Two billion people around the world (one-third) do not have access to electricity.

Is this behavior consistent with God's plan for how humans should care for the earth and care for one another? Think! And Act. Drive less. Live close to your most frequented destinations. Improve planning so you make fewer trips (and have more free time). Ride a bicycle or walk to work, to church, to the store—good for the earth, and good for you.

Caring for God's Earth: Curb that Consuming Appetite

On average, US citizens consume their weight in stuff every day. While we don't drink, buy, or use that amount of material directly, this is the per capita sum of all we consume daily in our nation—metals, minerals, fuels, food, wood, etc. That's over 60 times the consumption of a typical person in the world's poorest nations. Sound like a lot of stuff? Keep in mind that the typical product requires 30 times its weight in materials to produce, ship, and market. All this consuming results in each American discarding 1,300 pounds of trash per year.

If everyone on earth consumed at the rate of the world's consumer class (the wealthiest 20% of the world's population), we would need two more planets like this one to meet our needs.

Think! And Act. Buy less and consume less. Avoid products that damage the environment; cut back on throwaway packaging and use reusable dishes and towels. Live simply, that all may simply live.

Caring for God's Earth: Global Warming Is a Religious Issue

Do you think Global Warming is real? In the last two years, the media has revealed that the skeptics are wrong. There is no uncertainty about global warming or accelerated climate change, and there are no positive side effects. Instead, within the next 50 years, we will have to deal with shifting and expanding deserts, rising ocean levels, extended ranges of disease-carrying pests, and increasingly violent weather patterns—all resulting from an unimpressive increase in global warming of a few degrees. Already, 100 of the 150 glaciers in Glacier National Park are gone, and severe storms, flooding, and drought have increased in frequency and impact. The West Virginia Council of Churches has published a very simple statement regarding Global Warming:

The scientific facts are in.
Global warming is real.
The results are severe.
This is a religious issue.

This is a religious issue because we are called as caretakers of God's creation, and caretakers of one another. We are called to work for justice—justice for the earth, and justice to all humanity, even those who are marginalized and on the edge. Think! And Act. To curb global warming, use less energy: reduce consumption, turn off the lights, bike or walk instead of driving your car, buy locally grown food, reuse and recycle, plant a tree.

The earth is the Lord's, and all that is in it! (Ps. 24:1) For more information about the religious perspective of global warming, see www.webofcreation.org/ncc/climatechange/faith.html. For more information about Church of the Brethren Care for Creation programs, contact the Brethren Witness/Washington Office at washington_office_gb@brethren.org or (800)-785-3246.