Genesis, 1:1-31, Psalm 104, Romans, 8:19-22.John 1.1-3
Today on Creation Sunday we turn our hearts and minds to the wondrous works of God's creation and the profound responsibility we carry to care for it.
Creation is not just a backdrop to our lives, it is a gift, a reflection of God's glory, and it reveals His creative power, wisdom, and love.
As we explore the themes of creation and ecology, we'll consider how our stewardship of the earth is part of our calling to live in harmony with God and with all that he has made.
We read in Genesis chapter 1, verse 1 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth”.
These familiar words remind us that all we see around us, the sky, the oceans, the mountains, the animals, and even ourselves, were brought into being by the Word of God.
In the Creation account of Genesis, we see a God who forms, orders, and blesses. He calls the light into existence, separates the waters, and brings forth every living creature according to its kind. He takes delight in what he has made calling it “good” repeatedly.
And when humanity is created, made in God's image, he declares the whole of creation to be “very good”.
The natural world is not a random accident or an afterthought. It is intentional, vibrant, and brimming with divine purpose.
Psalm 19 tells us “The heavens declare the glory of God. The skies proclaimed the work of his hands".
His creation speaks to us daily, showing His grandeur, creativity, and love as we walk in nature.
How wonderful it was to walk to Church for this Creation Sunday Service, listening to the sounds of nature, seeing the leaves tinged with yellow and oranges giving a hint of Autumn. How truly blessed we are to live in such wonderful countryside, sharing the full glory of God’s creation.
A creation often, dare I say, we take for granted. A creation that on the surface, especially on a day like today, in the area we live in, appears to be thriving.
A creation that God has entrusted to us. What a wonderful gift and what a huge responsibility for each and every one of us.
With such a beautiful and sacred world, it's no surprise that humanity was entrusted with a specific role. Stewardship.
In Genesis chapter one verse 28, God says to Adam and Eve, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea. And of the birds of the heavens, and over every living thing that moves on earth”.
The terms “dominion and subdue” are often misunderstood. We are not called to exploit or abuse the earth, but rather to care for it, to protect and nurture it.
Yet we have often forgotten this sacred task. Our pursuit of progress and convenience has sometimes come at the cost of the environment, leading to pollution, deforestation, species extinction and climate change.
These consequences are not just environmental issues, they are spiritual issues. When we harm creation, we harm ourselves and dishonour the God who made it.
We are all implicated in the current ecological crisis. As those who contribute to it or as those who are affected by it.
I'm sure, like me, you’ve read and watched reports about climate changes affecting our planet. You may have seen the devastating film footage of communities struck by famine, fire, floods and the problems caused by pollution and deforestation.
Often although very upsetting these issues and problems can seem so very far removed from our own lives. We may well have been influenced to change some of our own habits. To shop more responsibly or to recycle more fervently. But we must ask ourselves what more can we do and why?
As Christians we are called to be environmentalists.
God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden to work and take care of it. Our relationship with the earth is one of service, not mastery. Like gardeners tending to a delicate garden, we are called to cultivate creation in ways that sustain its beauty and bounty for future generations.
Romans 8:19-22 speaks of a creation that “waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed”. It tells us that creation itself has been subjected to frustration and is groaning as it waits for liberation from its decay.
The pollution, destruction, ecological crisis we see around us are part of this groaning. Just as sin entered the world and broke the harmony between humanity and God, it also disrupted the harmony between humanity and the earth.
But this passage also gives us hope. Creation is not destined for destruction, but for redemption. Just as we are made new in Christ, so too will the heavens and the earth be renewed and restored.
In Colossians, we can read Christ described as being the image of God, the first-born over all creation.
We are told that all things were created in heaven and on earth for him and through him and that in him all things are held together. That through Christ, God reconciles himself to all things by making peace through the blood shed on the cross.
Christ died for all of creation, we are rebalanced and reconciled through our saviour with all creation.
Christ died for all creation.
What a revelation this is. We all bound by this sacrifice.
I was recently lucky enough to attend a lecture by Husband-and-wife Dr Martin Hodson and the Reverend Margo Hodson.
Martin is a researcher in environmental biology. At Oxford Brookes University. Margo is a vicar and also teaches environmental ethics at Oxford Brookes University. Together they have numerous publications on environmental issues and climate change.
They discussed creation, community, and the church and covered theological and ethical response to climate change in a rural context, such as ours.
I’m going by to read a few paragraphs from one of the books they have written together, Climate Change Faith, and Rural Communities.
For me, why we should care as Christians about the climate crisis is captured in these few paragraphs.
‘If Christ is the source of every element of the universe, then no part should be treated dismissively. Our role should be to interact with the world to enable all to flourish. Our leadership of creation should be for mutual benefit and not solely for our own gain.
If we, as redeemed humans, are the body of Christ and he is the one who sustains the cosmos, our task is to be active partners in renewing our earth. We're not left to work out our stewardship alone but are strengthened by Christ to fulfil the role of Co-creators.
As Christians we have a responsibility to add our hands to the many fighting environmental causes. We have a crucial role to play as Christ’s Body demonstrating His resurrection, and power to bring peace and the hope of restored creation in an age to come”.
Christ died for all creation.
Our task, then, is to live in the light of this hope. If we believe in the restoration of all things, we must actively participate in the healing of creation today. We are called to care for the earth in ways that reflect God's Kingdom, a Kingdom marked by peace, justice, and love.
What does it look like for us, as follows of Christ to care for God's creation in practical ways?
We must cultivate a greater awareness of our impact on the environment. Every action we take, whether in the way we consume, travel, or use resource is has an effect on the planet. Small choices like conserving water, reducing waste, especially on plastic, and choosing sustainable products are tangible ways we can honour God's creation.
The work of restoration begins in our own communities. We can plant trees, restore natural habitats, clean up polluted areas, and support conservation efforts. We are invited to join God in the renewal of the world, bringing healing to places that have been damaged or neglected.
We are also called to be advocates for larger systemic changes that promote environmental justice. This may mean supporting policies that protect endangered species, reduced carbon emissions, or promote renewable energy.
As Christians, we should raise our voices to protect the most vulnerable in creation, including those people whose lives are affected by Environmental degradation.
Finally, we must pass on the love for creation to the future generations. Our children and grandchildren need to grow up understanding that caring for the earth is part of their faith. We can teach them through example, through the time spent in nature, and through explaining the connection between their faith and ecology.
Are we not, as a matter of faith called to environmentalist?
In the beginning, God created a world of beauty, balance, and abundance entrusted to our care, calling us to be stewards of this incredible gift.
As we look around at the ecological challenges facing our planet, we must remember that we are part of God's redemptive plan. Not just for humanity, but for all creation.
And as we care for creation, let us do so with hope, knowing that the God who began his good work will one day bring it to full and perfect completion.
Amen.