Re: Resource conservation and Christ's return

George Murphy wrote:

>Robert Schneider wrote:
>>
>> I am happy to see this topic raised on the ASA list because I think it is a
>> critical one. I want to share with you a column which I wrote in the Berea
>> College student newspaper, "The Pinnacle," following a convocation address
>> given in September, 1999, by Sr. Elaine Prevallet, SL, on caring for God's
>> creation. Sr. Elaine had given three chapel homilies during this same week,
>> the "Accent on Christian Faith" week sponsored by Campus Ministry. Students
>> have to turn in a card indicating their attendance at convo, and may write
>> comments on the cards, which are then published on the campus email bulletin
>> board. My column was written to respond to the criticism of students who
>> took the position many of you have also critiqued in your notes
>>here...........................
>
> Bob's column is very good. I won't imitate Willis et al by
>trying to deny the
>Christianity of Christians who object to environmental stewardship,
>but will say that
>theirs is a minimalist & dessicated version of the Faith. In its
>more extreme versions
>such are a kind of gnosticism which imagine that our true selves are
>immaterial sould
>which are imprisoned in an alien world, & that salvation means being
>taken out of that
>world & going to an airy-fairy heaven. In reality, Christian hope is for the
>resurrection of the whole body-soul-spirit-mind human as part of a
>renewed heaven &
>earth.
>

George's comment here begins to discuss exactly some thinks I was
thinking on this topic. We look forward to a *renewed* heaven and
earth--not a re-created heaven and earth. Isn't the fiery destruction
that Peter talks about a purging of the old, evil, fallen world that
will leave remaining God's good and eschatologically fulfilled
creation?

While I'm not in the full preterist camp nor in the post-millenial
camp (I'm an old-fashioned amillenialist.), I do think that there is
to be considerable continuity between now and the new heavens and the
new earth. I cringe when I hear people say things like "the only
things that remain from this life is God's Word and people". While I
certainly don't want to minimize the importance of those two things,
I don't believe it's limited to that. A book that has influence my
thinking on some of this is *Creation Regained* by Al Wolters. He
argues that culture and civilization building are on-going aspects of
God's creation and that they will continue (after the purging away of
evil) into the new heavens and new earth. I always joke with my
minister/evangelist friends that they will have to learn a new trade
in the age to come, but we scientists will continue doing our work.

TG

-- 
_________________
Terry M. Gray, Ph.D., Computer Support Scientist
Chemistry Department, Colorado State University
Fort Collins, Colorado  80523
grayt@lamar.colostate.edu  http://www.chm.colostate.edu/~grayt/
phone: 970-491-7003 fax: 970-491-1801