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Reflection on Romans 8:18-25

Our God is both the transcendent creator and the ever present sustainer of the whole universe. God has created and is creating (Genesis 1:1-2:3), and he declared that the whole created world was good (Genesis 1:31).

We understand from the Bible that human beings are created in the image of God, sharing God’s creativity and God’s care of the planet (Genesis 2:15). But things didn’t work out too well, selfishness and wanting to play God got in the way, and still does. The result is that God had to redeem human beings and the planet. God has done this in Christ and redeemed human beings are called to be channels of God’s redeeming love for all creation (Romans 8:19-21).

It is in Christ that creation is redeemed. Our involvement and call to stewardship implies caring management, not selfish exploitation; it involves a concern for the present and the future as well as self.

Stewardship is not only a matter of how wealth is distributed, but also how it is acquired. Wealth is acquired from the finite resources of the planet, so stewardship must be concerned with issues of ecological and political exploitation; respecting the integrity of creation.

The world is set to face a global eco-crisis within the next 50 years as a result of human activity.

The path to follow is neither too difficult nor too costly, but does require a change of life-style. The demand of consumers can have far-reaching effects. It is a matter of what we want and are prepared to pay in both costs and consequences. John Houghton believes that the practical problems of stewardship of the earth are beset by problems of human selfishness and greed which lead to overexploitation of the earth’s resources, and by human impotence – we know what to do, but lack the will to do it. This is a spiritual problem, and this task is not ours alone – God partners us.

When we speak of stewardship we need to understand this in terms of God working through us, rather than of God as an absentee landlord. Stewardship can be understood in terms of:

• to be in the image of God
• to become children of God
• to be in Christ

We have a contribution to make. God created and entrusted the earth, and will redeem the whole of creation (Rom.8:19-22). We learn to think and act ecologically. There is a need to be re-awakened to the Gospel ethic, and recognise that human greed is at the root of the environmental crisis. Understanding and perceiving the situation and moving to a change of heart or mind is repentance. There are steps that we should take in sustainable consumption, which involves ethical choices in our buying and lifestyle. We will need to recognise our ecological footprints on the earth – our impact on our local and global environment. We can take environmental audits of our church and community, and establish eco-congregations.

For western Christians there is a need to develop a global perspective that recognises the impact of their lifestyle choices, and their economic, trade and industrial decisions on the rest of humanity. In accepting their relationship with the developing world, western Christians must actively seek to address the issues of justice and poverty, which are an integral part of global environmental concerns.

The call of Christ is expressed as “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34)

This is a different sort of life, a Christ-like life, a life that is evn Cristw|. It is to deny self – move away from a selfish materialistic life style; take up the cross-shaped life of sacrificial love – sharing God’s good gifts of creation with all; and follow Jesus – in his compassion for others and for the world. The call is to join in Christ’s redemptive mission.

So to be co-redeemers – for Christ’s redeeming love to flow through us, in the power of the Spirit we must:

Deny self: live more simply, use less of the world’s resources; treat the created order with care.

Take up the cross: live sacrificially for the sake of others; give up our greed; sacrifice our wants

Follow Jesus: see the created world as an expression of God’s order and love; see everyone as equally valued by God; take special care of the poor and the outcast; and love our neighbour as ourselves.