SINS AGAINST THE EAERTH

During this Season of Creation (Sept 1 – October 4) we want to reflect on some of the consequences of humanity’s activity upon the earth. Unfortunately, the past four hundred years have limited our salvation only to personal acts on the part of each individual. There was almost no consideration given to the social consequences (i.e., in justices) to others or the complete absence of any consideration of how our understanding of salvation might apply to the earth.

 

Scientists, during the past sixty-five years, have pointed out some of the disastrous consequences of human activity on the health of the earth. The most obvious consequence is the burning of fossil fuels. The earth is warming up and human life, to keep the focus on ourselves at the moment, may be very difficult a century from now. How will humans be able to live in a very warm and dry earth?

 

In our Christian understanding of life and salvation we recognize clearly the reality of evil. We have a simple label for evil: it is sin! No matter what label you give, the evil is very painful and disastrous for so many people. We have the great evil of war, but we also have the daily evil of selfishness and using others for our personal gain, no matter what the consequences for the other. 

You can change the name for evil, but the painful reality by any other name is still very hurtful.

 

Now, as we live into the narrative of the survival of the earth and humanity we have to take responsibility for our sins (i.e., evil exploitation) against the earth.

 

We are trying to reshaped by an expanded understanding that all creation is interconnected. The earth and all it provides for human thriving is gift. The earth is our mother and the source of our life. If it is mother, then we have a responsibility to treat the earth with respect and care, just as we would care for our aging mother. The world looks completely different when we live in her vast expanse as mother.

 

One of the alarming signs of harming the earth happened in the Yukon, February 17, 2025. The process of using cyanide (a very strong and destructive chemical) in the separation of the mineral gold from the mined ore, broke loose from the holding ponds and flowed into the fresh water steams. This chemical is unbelievably destructive to the salmon in the rivers but also leaches into the underground rivers that flow within the soils. Even if this mining disaster happened in a very remote part of Canada, it is a blatant indication of how human activity can wreck havoc on the ecosystem and the fresh waters of our earth. This must never be moved to the side of unconcern. This accident has very harmful consequences for the earth.

 

Is this not one example of sin against the earth?

 

Now, as we take responsibility for the harmful effects of human activity on the earth, what are we going to do about it?