It was very good to see the title
It was very good to see
Genesis 1:31-2:3
2005. 6. 5, Environment Sunday
Pollution threatens the survival of mankind. The economic development of 200 years since the Industrial Revolution is now destroying the one and only Earth. Now, humanity has had to launch a fierce anti-pollution campaign to escape from the formidable threat of pollution, along with the nuclear and population problems. Therefore, it is the most important issue for us to solve the pollution problem. Christians are the people who should take the lead and work hard to preserve and protect the environment with a lot of interest in environmental conservation.
I. Pollution problem (:31)
Natural is good. Let's leave it as it is. Let's buy naturally.
Nature (自然): It happens spontaneously, and there is no embellishment or falsehood.
or a phenomenon that exists or occurs without human intervention.
Yan (然): Denotes the meaning of ‘pretending to be what it is’ or ‘showing off as if it were it’.
Biblically speaking, it is the most natural and most beautiful thing to look at as it was created by God. (Yes, flower arrangement)
Why is the pollution on this land getting worse day by day?
① This is because excessive industrial promotion policies have intensively fostered resource-wasteful, environmental-destroying, and heavy chemical industries such as steel, petrochemical, and energy industries.
② This is because companies that generate a lot of pollution, especially monopoly capitalists colluded with political power, neglected their investment in pollution prevention.
③ The public's lack of awareness of pollution and the renunciation of rights are also related.
What caused this?
As we well know, many people around the world make economic development the top priority of their country. However, economic development is predicated on the destruction of nature. In order to develop the economy, new technologies must be developed, natural resources such as forest products and minerals must be consumed more, and wastewater and soot from factories inevitably pollute water, air and land.
What caused this crisis?
The root cause lies in humans. It is not an exaggeration to say that since the people were expelled from the Garden of Eden, it is no exaggeration to say that the most precious purpose of life is to possess more material things. As a result, we need to produce newer products for more consumption and enjoyment. This will lead to further depletion of natural resources and polluting the natural environment.
Everyone! It is a sin to destroy nature that God has created. Anyone who loves God passionately has no choice but to love nature and preserve nature. The world that God had created was said to be “good,” he said. It was a world where all things were in harmony and the Creator's will was full on all the earth. Some say that Christianity has justified the destruction of nature by comparing it to the command to "conquer the land". The problem is that many Christians today only take the land as an object of conquest, but they do not actually protect and nurture it.
However, there is one thing we Christians need to remember clearly. What we are trying to do to protect the environment is that it should be a faith movement that seeks to preserve the order of creation, not just a movement to protect the environment. With this in mind, the church should reflect deeply on its failure to protect and manage the entrusted environment as a steward who was called to be a manager. And in the face of an ecological crisis, we will have to try to solve this problem from a religious standpoint. In other words, the church should focus on restoring the relationship between God and humans and between humans, that is, the restoration of the original order of creation in which God, humans, and nature are in perfect harmony and harmony, which has been the focus of the church so far.
What should we Christians consider first for environmental protection?
① First, we must teach the relationship between God, humans, and nature. This is the way for humans who were created in God's image to restore God's image.
② You should remember the limits of nature's (earth) self-cleaning ability. For thousands of years from the creation of humans on earth until the Industrial Revolution, nature had the ability to self-clean relatively well to handle the various burdens that humans put on it. However, due to rapid population growth and human overconsumption, along with dazzling industrialization after the Industrial Revolution, nature could no longer support human greed and lost its ability to self-clean.
③ We must realize that the preservation of creation order is fundamentally related to basic human ethics. In other words, environmental education should be the ultimate goal of changing human attitudes, values, and consciousness.
Why should we take the lead in eradicating air pollution?
① Because God is pleased.
② Because it is the mission of believers.
③ It is because we see the image of God through nature.
What are the specific things we need to do for environmental issues?
How to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
Above all, it is important that we all unite for good.
There are many things that the country needs to do, but there are many things that we can do ourselves.
The easiest and surest way is to conserve energy and conserve materials.
Let's put it into practice. Our small actions can save the planet.
- Reduce the use of cars and use public transport.
- Enjoy walking or biking in close proximity.
- Get into the habit of saving things once you buy them.
- Cultivate the habit of recycling things.
- Use high-efficiency fluorescent lamps instead of incandescent lamps.
- Unplug appliances that are not in use to prevent power loss.
(Standby power in general households accounts for 10% of total consumption.)
- Be sure to turn off the lights when going out and in unused areas such as empty rooms.
- Adequate cooling and heating (26-28 degrees in summer, 18-20 degrees in winter).
- Select and use products with high energy efficiency ratings.
- Save fuel for cooking by having the whole family eat together.
- The flame of the gas stove should be adjusted appropriately.
- Use a pot with a wide bottom that absorbs heat well.
- Reduce cooking time by using a pressure cooker.
- The refrigerator door is not often opened and closed.
- When putting food in the refrigerator, be sure to cool it before putting it in.
- Plant a lot of trees and protect them well.
- Share the importance of environmental conservation with other friends and family members. ?
Monitoring of nearby polluting facilities such as factories, garbage, incinerators, waste disposal facilities, livestock facilities, and cage farms should be strengthened.
Now, as Christians, we must become strict observers of the local environment and seek the way of life while rejecting all policies that oppose life or forces that pollute the environment. We must take the lead in the environmental conservation movement so that we can leave beautiful rivers and mountains as a legacy not only for ourselves but also for our children and grandchildren. This is what pleases God, and it is also fulfilling our mission as a Christian. So, I pray in the name of the Lord that God will be glorified through this work, and the peace of Christ may be with you in your life.
II. rest
There is a western proverb that says, “A Jack who works nonstop is a fool.” That's right. Since humans are not machines, they cannot work without rest. Therefore, you must rest. In fact, if you keep running the machine without a break, it will break easily. People need rest (rest). However, this rule of rest was not created by man, but by God the Creator who made us humans.
God created the heavens and the earth and created man on the sixth day. And when he saw all that he had made, "It was very good in his sight." Genesis 2 records, “He rested” on the seventh day because the heavens and the earth and all things had come to pass and the work that God had created was completed.
Why did God rest? Was it because he was tired of creating the universe? no. Because God is not like us, He is not like us, who gets tired and exhausted as soon as he works a little. Because he is omnipotent and omnipotent, God never gets tired.
“Have you not known or have you not heard? Eternal God, the LORD, who created the ends of the earth, does not tire or grow weary, who knows no bounds; he gives strength to the weary, and strength to the weak” (Isaiah 40: 28-29)
Then, why did the one who was not tired at all rested? It is for the sake of our whole fragile life.
Therefore, God's rest is not for himself, but entirely for our people. Even in this way, God meticulously considers and considers our weaknesses. Therefore, even though He gave us the Sabbath, they are foolish people who do not know the deep will of God and work tirelessly.
“God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on that day he rested from all the work that he had created and made” (Genesis 2:3).
It is said that he blessed this day and made it holy. How grateful and grateful are you? If I told you to rest for just one day without working, you would say that you are ignorant of thanks. Hallelujah!
In this way, God's rest comes from God's love to rest, bless, and sanctify our lives.
Our Lord also found a quiet place to rest and meditate. Therefore, as disciples of Jesus Christ, please do not become “idiots who work and do not stop.” Don't let it burn you out while you're working. We need rest more than anything else. I hope you imitate Jesus who was looking for a quiet place.
So how do you take a break? It's not just standing still, it's just getting out of work. And having a quiet time. Recharging more actively. It is to replenish the spiritual power, mental power, and health that have been exhausted from working so far before you fall down from exhaustion.
The way to refill is to stay before God and be with God. To that end, Jesus also went to a secluded place. We, too, should have our own time, have deep fellowship with the Lord, and let the joy of being with the Lord overflow within us.
But in order to rest, people seek nature. There is rest when we look for the natural nature that God created. We want our church to be that kind of church.
Ⅲ. Harmony: It was good to see
Let God and man, man and man (neighbors), man and nature live in harmony with each other.
It is best to be natural, even between parents and children. When parents are too greedy and burden their children, it is easy to get upset. Just like flowing water, I sleep, eat, go to school, come home, rest, read a book, pray, and read the Bible.
Nature is just there whenever you see it. It is always beautiful to look at.
It brings joy to people and even gives valuable lessons to life.
A famous Buddhist monk said it!
"A mountain is a mountain, and water is water."
I don't know what he meant, but I did not know what he meant, but I interpret that saying, "Mountains never change and are always there and do their job, and so are water. Water is also ancient and still, and it always flows from high to low." I want to do
But unfortunately, there is one thing that is changing, do you know what it is?
Human. We humans are unhappy because it is not natural. You will be happy if you naturally trust and encourage each other, accept and love each other as you are, cover up your shortcomings, praise the good, develop your individuality, and live naturally.