This week a landmark report into the ‘broken’ water industry was issued, which among other things highlighted that our rivers, lakes and seas are polluted with record levels of sewage. The UK has an old Victorian plumbing system – something that, at the time, was revolutionary. It helped to stop the spread of disease, but now it is causing a few problems. The way the system works is that both rainwater and sewage go into the same pipes, and the ageing infrastructure cannot cope with both. Sometimes it becomes overwhelmed and sewage overflows into our waterways creating health hazards and environmental contamination.
From the beginning it was God’s intention that human beings take care of our environment (Genesis 2:15) in a way that sustains, protects, and enables all creation to fulfil the purposes God intended for it. We must manage the environment not simply for our own benefit but for God′s glory.
God is concerned with the physical world as well as the spiritual world, and restoration of the creation is part of the gospel message (Romans 8:19-23). In sharing the good news of Christ’s redeeming work in our lives we shouldn’t neglect the work of taking care of God’s creation which is part of our service to God.
As we remember that ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it’ (Psalm 24:1 NIVUK), let’s live in a way that protects our environment – it will be a witness to others as they see our faith in action, and our concern for our world may just open up opportunities to share that our care for the creation overflows from the love of God, the creator.
In Christian love,
Barry Robinson
About the Writer:
Barry Robinson is the Deputy National Ministry Leader for GCI in the UK & Ireland