wfn.org | TCN Editorial: Reviewing this century’s environmental challenges

["Lydia Ma" <enews@pctpress.org>]

>      Taiwan Church News

>2989 Edition

>June 8~14, 2009

Editorial: Reviewing this century’s environmental challenges

>Translated by Lydia Ma

This century’s environmental degradation has resulted in  severe climate change, new

viruses, strange illnesses, and other problems threatening the  survival of families and the

continuation of life in this planet. In light of these trends, the  PCT decided in 1997 to set

aside the first Sunday of June as “Environment Sunday”  to focus on the world God has

>called us to manage.

After this decision was made, the General Assembly of the PCT has  repeatedly sent letters

to local churches just before June of every year to remind them of  this occasion and suggest

ways in which local churches can remember the environment during  Sunday services. These

letters are also calls to pray for those who have continually  shown contempt for the

environment through destructive and wasteful lifestyles.  Unfortunately, though most churches

observe Environment Sunday, there are still some who forget this  occasion.

God is the Creator of this planet (Genesis 1:1~26) and humans have  been given the task of

taking care and managing the environment (Genesis 1:27~28, 2:15).  >From Scripture we

see that though humans and animals were both created by God and  both have a physical

body, only humans were created in God’s image and have a  special relationship with God.

Because of this exceptional characteristic, humans were given the  responsibility to look

after the rest of God’s creation and become God’s  representatives on this planet.

In light of these God-given responsibilities and powers, we should  be managing the earth

responsibly to bring honor and glory to God. This should be part  of how we obey, worship

and please God. We must remember that though we have been given  permission to enjoy

and manage the world, we have not been given authority to act as  though we own the

universe ourselves and can therefore decide whatever happens to  it.

Unfortunately, since the rise of individualism in the West, humans  have mistakenly come to

the conclusion that they have control over whatever happens to our  environment. This view

has led us to believe and act as though we are masters of the  universe and can do whatever

we want – including severely abusing and damaging our planet.  In response to our behavior,

Mother Nature has been unleashing disaster after disaster upon us.

Time Magazine did a special edition on planet Earth in November  1997 and explained why

saving the environment will be the biggest challenge of the 21st  century. The topic was

meant to raise awareness over deteriorating environmental  conditions. In retrospect, the

magazine’s prediction came true in view of daunting  challenges we face today. We can only

imagine what our planet will be like by the middle of the 21st  century – and shudder at the

>thought.

To save the environment and forests in Ilan, many Taiwanese  declared in 1998 that

Taiwanese culture would become less self-centered and more  nature-centered from that

time on. Though this response is 50 years late compared to the  rest of the industrialized

world, waking up and facing reality is still good news.  Unfortunately, governments and

industries in Taiwan are still ignoring this declaration and bent  on their self-centered and

>destructive ways.

In light of recent natural and human tragedies, we must understand  how fragile human life

truly is on this planet. It is our prayer that everyone can learn  to preserve the environment,

save energy, and live a balanced and simple lifestyle. Let us obey  God and follow the

Bible’s teachings by becoming good managers of the planet  instead of letting technological

advancements become mere tools for advancing our own selfish  desires and materialism.

Let us also pray for people who continually disregard the  environment in their attempt to

>increase their own profits.

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