CO-OWNING THE EARTH (1)
I start this series with some trepidation, because I know that what I will write may sound unfamiliar to many. I am reading Karen Armstrong’s new book The Case for God in which she continuously stresses that what we believe needs constant updating. It is my sincere opinion that we live in entirely new times, where the old answers don’t work anymore. I am comforted by George Bernard Shaw’s remark that “all evolution in thought and conduct must at first appear as heresy.” So, in starting my new column “Co-owning the Earth”, expect some unorthodox opinions. I trust that if I stray too far, no doubt you will rise in brotherly – sisterly – love and gently correct me, giving valid reasons, of course, where I have erred.
I state that we co-own the earth, that we are not stewards, but owners. I base that on Psalm 115:16 which says that (NIV) “The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth He has given to man,” which means that we live in a huge condominium where we together are responsible for its wellbeing.
But, you will object, doesn’t Psalm 24 say that “The Earth is the Lord’s”? Not so fast. I don’t deny that. Suppose I have a very valuable painting, say a van Gogh. Its my personal possession and I can do with it whatever I want, maim it, neglect it, even sell it! However, though I own it, it still is a ‘van Gogh.’ That’s how it is with the earth: it still is the Lord’s. He is still the creator, the architect, the maker of heaven and earth. But he gave it to us and – here comes the tragic news -“We sold it.” Writes Dr J.H.Bavinck in De Mensch en zijn Wereld, and I translate (page 53) “God has surrendered his world to vanity, to destruction with the result that we humans who wanted to be kings no longer live in a world that as God’s beautiful kingdom no longer wants to be subject to Him. Something happened in creation, something we can’t fathom, but which we experience daily in the form of terrible happenings. Demonic powers have thrown themselves onto nature, onto humanity, onto the radiant creation.”
Henri J. M. Nouwen echoes this when he writes that “Indeed the powers of darkness rule the world. We should not be surprised when we see human suffering and pain all around us. But we should be surprised by joy every time we see that God, not the Evil One, has the last word.”
We, as the human race, in the Garden of Eden, changed partners, and pledged allegiance to the Great Adversary, and, instead of relying on God, mortgaged the earth, in effect, sold it to Satan, who now calls the shots. Jesus acknowledged when He called him “The Prince of this World.” Matthew 4:8 proves that conclusively.
So it’s not surprising that we, as co-owners have not done a very good job: we have eaten the seas, mined the mountains, wasted its waters, ruined its rivers, and now are changing its climate. We are on the way to hell. C. S. Lewis once wrote, “The road to hell – the road away from God – is the gradual one, the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without mile posts, without sign posts. The road away from God is the do nothing road.”
We have been on that ‘do nothing’ road thanks to our fossil fuel slaves. That has to change. When Christ returns and claims his kingdom we must be ready for Him. That means that we, as much as is humanly possible in this inhuman world, live a pollution-free life, so that our transition to the holy state of the Kingdom, is smooth.
We often pray, “Your Kingdom Come” perhaps not fully grasping the implications of that request: it is a prayer for the speedy arrival of the New Earth. Writes Isaiah – and here comes another possible heresy – (Isaiah 62:4) “No longer will you be called Deserted, or name your land Desolate, but you will be called ‘My delight is in you,’ and ‘Your land “Married,”‘ for the Lord will take delight in you and your land will be married.” Married to whom you may ask? Revelation 21 picks up that theme, where it says that “The Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” Yes, the land will be married to us. The Bride is not the church, the Bride is the Land, the New Creation, to which we, the human race will be married, together with Christ – the Son of Man, humanity personified, as the Primus inter Pares, the First among equals.
Enough heresies for one column.
This column and many other writings can be seen at https://www.hielema.ca/. Comments to bert@hielema.ca