Climate Theology
Photo from Disuko: https://open.spotify.com/track/0W11b3HwbRPH7fVNZNVm6y
Floating in the Clouds???
Sermon written for St Columba's Presbyterian Church, Havelock North, November 2023
1 Thessalonians 4:17 is the cause of massive problems for the church and its mission ever since. Why? Because Paul here paints a picture of ultimate hope and ultimate glorious future at the return of Christ, and in verse 17 he describes his vision that we
“will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord for ever.”
Oh dear, really, Paul!? In the clouds? Floating in thin air?
As an eco theologian I have a big problem with this verse. Because I see the damage it has done through the centuries in disconnecting people of faith from the land. If our ultimate hope and ultimate future is to be found somewhere floating up in the clouds, then why would we care about the earth?
Also discusses climate preparedness, and Matthew 25:1-13: The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids
Sermon written for St Columba's Presbyterian Church, Havelock North, November 2023
1 Thessalonians 4:17 is the cause of massive problems for the church and its mission ever since. Why? Because Paul here paints a picture of ultimate hope and ultimate glorious future at the return of Christ, and in verse 17 he describes his vision that we
“will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord for ever.”
Oh dear, really, Paul!? In the clouds? Floating in thin air?
As an eco theologian I have a big problem with this verse. Because I see the damage it has done through the centuries in disconnecting people of faith from the land. If our ultimate hope and ultimate future is to be found somewhere floating up in the clouds, then why would we care about the earth?
Also discusses climate preparedness, and Matthew 25:1-13: The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids
What Time Are We In?
God, our changing climate, and implications for faith & mission
A workshop presented for Presbyterian Affirm, July 2023
God, our changing climate, and implications for faith & mission
A workshop presented for Presbyterian Affirm, July 2023
Four Resources in the Church for addressing climate change
Resources that the church holds that are incredibly important for facing climate change:
1: God’s glory in creation – our love and enjoyment of nature, our passion and compassion for the beauty of it all.
2: I remind you of the suffragettes, because their story is also your story, and it is a story of courageous sustained action. Brave determination. Keeping on keeping on despite being abused and belittled, until they won the day.
3: Christian hope. Not hope that governments or business or strategy will save us from climate change, but hope that is a bottomless well springing up from the heart of God, hope for what God will do ultimately one day, which God is already in the business of getting on with in our time.
4: Caring for one another and being community.
I am hoping you might agree with me that these four are pretty impressive resources. In fact, they are all we need to be effective in our time as missional communities, as the people of Christ, here and now, no matter what disasters come our way.
Resources that the church holds that are incredibly important for facing climate change:
1: God’s glory in creation – our love and enjoyment of nature, our passion and compassion for the beauty of it all.
2: I remind you of the suffragettes, because their story is also your story, and it is a story of courageous sustained action. Brave determination. Keeping on keeping on despite being abused and belittled, until they won the day.
3: Christian hope. Not hope that governments or business or strategy will save us from climate change, but hope that is a bottomless well springing up from the heart of God, hope for what God will do ultimately one day, which God is already in the business of getting on with in our time.
4: Caring for one another and being community.
I am hoping you might agree with me that these four are pretty impressive resources. In fact, they are all we need to be effective in our time as missional communities, as the people of Christ, here and now, no matter what disasters come our way.
Warnings of climate change: Genesis 41
I would like to draw what seem to me to be rather four obvious parallels between Joseph & Pharoah and our current moment in history.
As we look in the face of climate change, we are warned. There is disaster coming. There will be sea level rise. There will be massive storms and floods. There will be heat and drought, famine and social disruption. And here we are, trying to be people of faith and hope and courage right here. We are Joseph people, trying to be in the right place at the right time and working in the power and light of the Holy Spirit so that we too might stand and say, “God sent me.” God is working his purposes out, even through us, in each and every place.
I would like to draw what seem to me to be rather four obvious parallels between Joseph & Pharoah and our current moment in history.
As we look in the face of climate change, we are warned. There is disaster coming. There will be sea level rise. There will be massive storms and floods. There will be heat and drought, famine and social disruption. And here we are, trying to be people of faith and hope and courage right here. We are Joseph people, trying to be in the right place at the right time and working in the power and light of the Holy Spirit so that we too might stand and say, “God sent me.” God is working his purposes out, even through us, in each and every place.
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Good news in the face of climate crisis: John 11
Eco Theology, Climate change and the Resurrection and the Life A sermon on John 11, the raising of Lazarus. I have summarised John 11 with four short verses, four words – and tears- of Jesus. “Let us go to him.” “I am the resurrection and the life.” “Jesus wept.” “Lazarus, come out.” I have used these as stepping stones to summarise Eco theology in response to the climate crisis: 4 invitations:
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Ultimate hope in the face of climate change: Life revealed
Colossians 3:1-4
From where we stand the future looks bleak. In our time the planet tilts and threatens to tip us headlong into massive disaster. Young people find little to hope or plan for. As a pastor active in the climate space people often ask me – What can we place our hope in?
... So if Christian hope is not just sitting back and waiting for God to miraculously intervene, then what is it? What do I hope for?
Colossians 3:1-4
From where we stand the future looks bleak. In our time the planet tilts and threatens to tip us headlong into massive disaster. Young people find little to hope or plan for. As a pastor active in the climate space people often ask me – What can we place our hope in?
... So if Christian hope is not just sitting back and waiting for God to miraculously intervene, then what is it? What do I hope for?
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Fire and Brimstone and Climate Change
Genesis 19 A Narrative and Pastoral reading of Sodom and Gomorrah in the face of a warming world. |
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Talk by Silvia on climate psychology and theodicy (1/2-hour)