sermon excerpts: "The Ecology of Faith"

(Genesis 1:1 - 2:4a)
Here in the creation story is where God sets limits and boundaries. The Creator carves out a little space for our human existence in the formless void of the universe. Amid the swirling and storming dark chaos that was the nothing from which creation came, God speaks and there is light, land, and life.

That is the task of the church, carving out a sanctuary of love, care and acceptance in a world that is driven by appearance, status and frivolous measures of success. As a faith community, we support people on the frontline of life, parents, children, spouses, friends, neighbours; and in return we find that same support offered to us.

We know that the rest of the Genesis reading will fill the land with animals and people, with the final day set aside for Sabbath and rest. Included is a command to humanity to be fruitful and multiply, subdue the earth and have dominion over all life. It is the short-sighted pursuit of this verse that has put our world into the tenuous environmental situation that we find ourselves in.

... After receiving an honours degree in Environmental Biology, one of the first of its kind in the country, I’ve learned something that is both frightening and reassuring at the same time. The green movement, the environmental movement does not want to save the earth. I say this because the earth does not need saving. We do. It is a push to preserve our lifestyle in light of the degrading and declining integrity of the global ecosystem. It is a selfish and self-centred campaign.

We would all like to do things to help the environment: reduce, reuse and recycle. But we are unwilling to make radical lifestyle choices that would make dramatic and effective differences. We want to keep our personal automobiles, our air conditioning, our variety and supply of groceries. Our present environmental movement is preoccupied on finding a way to have our cake and eat it too.

Still, life will continue on this planet, of that I am sure. We know from the Genesis story that this will be the case. Now, as to whether or not it is human life, that is another question.

Ecosystem theory asserts that our actions have an effect and impact that go beyond our little corner of creation. One change to the habitat or diet of any species will ripple through the food chain until a new balance is achieved. This connectedness is mirrored in our faith. What we say and do as people of God echoes and ripples through the lives of others.

As we study nature and discover the intricate and unexpected connections between diverse plants and animals, we can draw parallels in our lives as a community of faith. It is the connections and links to one another that bring meaning and learning into our own experiences.

Our faith tradition tells of a life-giving power inserting a little order into the primordial chaos and confusion. In the shelter of these boundaries, we find some solid truths with which to ground our being: we are blessed and good, we are part of something bigger and greater than just ourselves, we are not alone. We live in God’s world. Thanks be to God.