Pave Paradise
In just under a month’s time, leaders from all over the world will be gathering in Glasgow for the COP26 climate summit.
It’s been described by its president the Rt Hon Alok Sharma as “our last best hope for the world to come together and tackle climate change”. He says “the eyes of the world will be on Glasgow when global leaders arrive in November”
I wonder whether you take any notice of talk of global warming, or whether you get on with life. Some say that climate change is overstated, or just that there is enough much closer to home to worry about.
But many today, including plenty of young people, are so concerned about what we are doing to the planet that they are willing to disrupt everyday life by climbing on train roofs or gluing themselves to the M25 to say protest.
Christians have lots to say about climate change. In fact at our church, Christ Church Huntingdon, we have been seeing in Genesis 1 on Sundays lately that this world is created by God, that it is good, and that we as humanity as God’s representatives and stewards are to take care of the planet and rule over it. It’s all there on page 1 of the Bible.
So we want to avoid on one hand worshipping the planet as if Mother Nature is our god, something the Disney film “Moana” edges towards.
But we also want to avoid seeing the planet around us as something to be exploited, trashed and discarded, leaving our grandchildren to pick up the pieces.
No, the creation is a gift from God to be taken care of, and we can all make a difference by choosing carefully the products we use, the electricity tariffs we choose, and the campaigns that we follow. But I guess we all know instinctively that there’s more to this life than this life, and that you it’s not just the planet that needs saving, but we do! Well Jesus Christ is the one who makes the broken whole and brings order out of chaos. Come to him for help to love God, love your neighbour, and love the planet.
Thanks for listening, and enjoy this Joni Mitchell 1970s classic with its concern for both the environment and people.