Environmentalism and Looking Forward to Getting Left Behind

Last updated on: April 26, 2012 at 7:40 pm by Amy Julia Becker

Environmentalism and Looking Forward to Getting Left Behind 2012-04-26T19:40:13-04:00 Amy Julia Becker

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Two articles about caring for the earth in the most recent issue of Christianity Today…

First, an interview by Andy Crouch with Eugene Peterson and Peter Harris, “The Joyful Environmentalists.” It’s not yet available online (I’ll try to remember to post a link when it is), but for now, Peter Harris on a specifically Christian care for the earth:

We do many of the same things as do secular environmental organizations, but we do them for very different reasons… If… you do what you do because you believe it pleases the living God, who is the Creator and whose handiwork this is, your perspective is very different. I don’t think there is any guarantee we will save the planet… But I do believe it gives God tremendous pleasure when his people do what they were created to do, which is care for what he has made.

Second, an article by Matthew Dickerson, “Who Gets Left Behind?” In response to Harold Camping’s belief that “the rapture” would take place a few weeks back (I wrote about it then, “Would You Rather Be Left Behind?“), Dickerson reexamines the Biblical texts often used to support an idea that some people will be whisked away from planet earth into the heavenly realms. Instead, he writes:

The entire passage (Matthew 24:37-39) strongly suggests that the ones “left behind” in Jesus’ description of the Second Coming, will not be the wicked ones but the followers of God. They are rewarded by being left behind to enjoy, as embodied creatures, God’s new kingdom. The wicked are “taken away,” losing the chance to experience the new creation.

Read the rest of the article here. I for one am inspired to l consider today what I can do today to delight in God’s good creation, to participate in God’s work, to get ready to be left behind.

Articles

Faith

Uncategorized

Previous Post

June 10, 2011

The Story of Beautiful Girl: Humanity Laid Bare

Next Post

June 13, 2011 Lessons from Losing Dessert

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Articles Books Disability Down Syndrome Faith family Perfectly Human Uncategorized

Select a Month February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 September 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz