WorldView - Creation
Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 1:25:51
0 ratings
· 3 viewsFiles
Notes
Transcript
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
Today we are going to talk creation. Specifically how is a Christian to steward creation, exercise dominion over creation.
No plugs for electric cars, vegetarianism, or Mother Earth.
Not going to be like the church that prays to its plants and confesses sin to them.
But we are called to steward all God’s gifts, even this one we call home
A few points in our dominion talk.
Creation is good and we should thank God for it. We do not thank the creation, but the creator. We do not worship the creation but the creator. Paul will tells us the worship of creation is proof of how sin has distorted everything.
One way we worship is by enjoying it. Think if all our meals were freeze dried pouches or jerky. Instead think of all the varieties, and tastes and flavors. Did you ever think to thank God that our food is not bland, boring, the same thing every day.
Can start the days with an omelet full of cheese and bacon and peppers. Then a sandwich (and ice cream for dessert) and grill a steak for dinner.
What about a walk along a trail or beach or a hunting trip. Imagine if every tree and plant were exactly the same, no mountains and valleys and a beige sky.
Instead God says look at all this around you. It sure is not boring.
Exercise stewardship by thanking God for the riches of these blessings.
Turn off your screen and enjoy God’s multi media presentation?
2. Another thing is to use creation for its intended purpose. Animals for labor, food, clothing and yes companionship.
We do not thank an animal for givings its life to feed us, we thank God for feeding us.
Fields and natural materials worked and fashioned into housing.
Plants for everything from food to fragrance to medicines.
3. And to steward creation we have to exercise dominion. Because of sin creation runs wild. Weeds are just one example. Adam was told to name the animals.
There are times where animal and vegetation needs thinning for the benefit of the creation itself.
This is not an excuse to abuse creation. Tolkien, Mordor, Ents
We use it responsibly. We use it for its intended purpose. We steward it so other generations can enjoy what we enjoy.
Old commercial
We don't just level forest and kill animals wihout purpose.
To something as simple as if you toss your Mt Dew bottle at the trash can in the park and miss, pick it up. Don’t toss your trash out the car window or in the neighbors yard.
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
You see, we are not just hanging out on this rock until God disintegrates it and we relocate to heaven. We are stewarding our home which is also under the curse of sin.
Why else can the Elders be sitting in Birdsboro and wonder what that strange rattiling sound is. Creation groaning as evidence by an earthquake in New Jersey is just one example (along with weeds) of sins curse on earth.
And the earth awaits its redemption just like we do.
And so we love God by enjoying and using this gift to its fullest.
And we love our neighbor as we steward and care responsibly for this place.