We now turn the blog over to Allie again for part 8.
We’re almost done with going through this article http://www.alternet.org/belief/9-truly-evil-things-right-wing-christians-do?page=0%2C2 . We’re now at part 8. Destroying Earth’s web of life and impoverishing future generations is evil. The writer of the article didn’t write much on this section, so I’ll go ahead and quote them:
“The book of Genesis may say that only man is made in the image of God and that God gave man dominion over everything that grows or walks the earth. The book of Matthew may say that the return of Jesus is imminent and that his disciples shouldn’t worry about tomorrow, which will take care of itself. The book of Revelation may teach that this world is just a prelude to streets of gold.
But some of us think the lives and loves of other species have moral weight of their own. And some of us think that the intricate web that gave us birth is both precious and precarious, and that the wellbeing of future generations matters. And we think those verses in Genesis and Matthew and Revelation reveal more about the hubris and flawed humanity of the Bible writers (and of Bible believers) than they do about divinity.”
The verses they are using from Matthew are 16:28 and 6:34 –
(Matthew 16:28 NLT) “And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”
(Matthew 6:34 NLT) “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
Yes, Genesis does say man is made in God’s image and they have dominion over the creatures of the world. Genesis 1:26 (NLT) reads:
Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”
There’s more to that than just ruling. It’s not like ruling with an ironfist. We are to care for them as well. God created everything and saw that it was good – including all the animals. Even though man is most precious to him, he loves animals too or why would he have created them and wanted us to care for them? You do have corrupt people who will abuse their power of ruling over the creatures – that’s because of sin, not because God said that it was okay to do that. A king rules over the people in his kingdom, but a good king doesn’t abuse his power in ruling over them. He takes care of them. We may have dominion over the animals, but we are to take care of them, not abuse them.
Yes, we’re not supposed to worry about tomorrow. It’s not necessarily because Jesus could be coming back any day now though! In Matthew 24:36 (NLT), Jesus says:
“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.”
We don’t know how soon Jesus is coming back. People have waited for him to come back ever since he ascended into heaven. He could come back today or he could come back 2000 years from now. We don’t know. Only God knows. Plus, when Jesus said this, he didn’t die yet. He had told his disciples more than once before he said this that he was going to die, but they didn’t understand. When Jesus told people not to worry, he was just starting his ministry. There was no predicting his death or anything like that. If anything, the people who believed in Jesus thought he would lead them as their king in defeating the Roman Empire – not being the King of the universe! But Jesus was not out to destroy the Roman Empire. What Jesus was saying here is “Why are you worrying about tomorrow? Doesn’t today have enough problems already? Why add more problems on your plate when you already have enough on there?” The reason we don’t have to worry is because we know that Christ is with us. We aren’t going through our problems alone. (Psalm 23:4 NLT) Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
As for the Book of Revelation, there are different interpretations of it and what’s going to happen in the end. I agree, writer (of article), if people are just waiting for Jesus to return and for the world to be destroyed, that’s not right. If people are thinking, “Well everything is doomed anyway,” even if you’re under that opinion, you still do the best you can to save it! We are supposed to take care of the world, so do it! Whether you’re a Christian or not, do it! Of course, there are things only God can take care of, but do your part too! God doesn’t condone laziness, which is something I even need to work on. God approves of working hard, not laziness, so do it!
Our final part will be 9. Trying to suck vulnerable people into your poorly researched worldview is evil.
In Christ,
Nick Peters