Let Creation Rejoice: A Growth Series Reflection
This is the second post in a series of Growth Series reflections. In this post, Tom Barker writes about what he gleaned from taking Let Creation Rejoice: Caring for God's Creation, People & Church, which was taught by Adam Hubert and Tony Nguyen during the summer 2021 session of our Growth Series courses.
It’s funny to me how easy it is to ignore the water you swim in. Such feels the case with our relationship to creation. A delicate and beautiful balance of systems, forces, and unique creatures. Even the lowly earthworm serves a purpose that our world would be poorer without. Our call is to steward creation. It is our gift and occupation. In their growth series, the illustrious Adam Hubert and venerable Tony Nguyen led a meditation on what it means to be a steward.
A steward serves and protects their charge. Just as we care for our bodies with food, water, and shelter to preserve it, so too does creation need preservation. Our worlds have become increasingly chaotic with numerous voices crying out for our attention constantly. To cope, we have learned ways to distract ourselves and the means to do so has grown easier and more efficient. Our pursuit of security even allows us the freedom to ignore our bodies, the very material that ties us to creation. And given what we have gone through recently, this is all too relevant and understandable. The drive to gain mastery over the land is central to the story of people. But, a master does not protect, he controls; nor does he serve, but takes.
All creatures look to you
to give them their food at the proper time.
When you give it to them,
they gather it up;
when you open your hand,
they are satisfied with good things.
-Psalm 104:27-28
Psalm 104 reminds us of God’s role in the world, painting a picture of a Maker who passionately participates in his Creation. We do not worship a God who is absent or demands tribute. Out of His good nature, He gives life to plants who feed animals who are fed on by other animals which return to the earth thus feeding the plants. Despite how little we know about certain areas of the planet the life cycle remains reassuringly consistent. creation is flexible, but all things have a breaking point. Christians live in tension between the coming kingdom of God and the present reality, the “already” and the “not yet.”
It is easy to ignore the “already” because of the hope of the “not yet.” Yes, all things will be made anew at the end of story, but we’re still in the middle. How can we be a true friend of Jesus if we don’t do the task He gave us? That’s like expecting to be paid without doing the job you accepted. But, as much as I want to fix all the problems, I know that ultimately, I cannot. I will never be Christ. But I can be His friend, and good friends work together. God clearly is passionate about creation. When we share the passion, we draw nearer in friendship to the one who loved us first.
