Commentary on "The Environment"

STEVE PITCHER

 

Day 1: Sabbath Afternoon, April 24, 2010

 

The lesson for this week focuses on the environment. In today’s lesson, the author points out the fact that the world as we know it is not what God originally intended for us. He points out that God “placed Adam and Eve in a garden (Gen. 2:8, 15).” All this is great for us to remember.

On day four (Tuesday’s lesson) the lesson author comes to the point that the sin of Adam and Eve had consequences. This will be addressed more fully in the commentary for that lesson. For today we will point out that it was the will of God to subject the creation to his curse. Although Adam and Eve and the rest of humanity are responsible for the sin that resulted in these consequences, we must always remember that it is God who has subjected creation to futility.

It is often claimed both within the Seventh-day Adventist Church as well as in other churches that the curse that resulted from the fall of Adam and Eve were natural consequences of sin – that there are universal laws at work that resulted in futility. This teaching is not scriptural. This is a philosophy resulting from an evolutionary world-view, that we act and the creation reacts.

God is not a “reactor” he is an Actor (I am not using this word in a theatrical sense, but in a philosophical/theological sense). God does not react to us or to any of his creation. He created all things, existed before all things, and reacts to nothing. The creation was not subjected to futility as a natural consequence of the sin of Adam and Eve. Creation was subjected to futility as a supernatural act of almighty God.

The restoration of creation to a state of glory and the redemption of our physical bodies are related. They, also, will be a supernatural act of God. This is made clear in Romans, specifically talking about the present condition of created things. Romans 8:18-23 reads:

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

As we continue the lesson for this week, it is good to remember that God did put us in charge of his creation. He did give us specific responsibilities, and mankind in general has been a very poor steward of the resources of creation provided by God.

How these responsibilities relate to the gospel and the responsibilities of Christians must be studied. As we look at each of the studies during this week we will attempt to keep the gospel of Jesus Christ as our central focus and identify how the gospel does, and does not, relate to environmental issues.

 

Summary

1. God placed Adam and Eve in a garden.
2. The sin of Adam and Eve resulted in the subjection of the creation to futility.
3. God subjected the creation to futility; this is not a natural consequence of sin, but a supernatural act of God.
4. The restoration of creation and the glorification of our bodies are related as pointed out in Romans 8:18-23.
5. Let us keep the Gospel central to the discussion this week as we learn how it does, and does not relate to environmental issues.

 

GO TO DAY 2

 

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