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Look at the major world crises and you’re likely to find their roots in the environment, says Ben Lowe, author of Green Revolution, in a recent interview with ThinkFwd host Spencer Burke. Whether it’s a food, water, or energy crisis, natural disaster or disease—these significant problems likely stem from environmental issues, and affect much more than the environment—they affect the lives of people in our neighborhoods and around the world.

Lowe was born and raised in Singapore, the son of missionaries from a conservative Christian background. Although he heard many sermons about God and creation, he never connected caring for the earth with his faith until he was in college. There his thinking crystallized when he realized that caring for creation and for people go hand in hand. “I can’t love God and my neighbor if I don’t care for what God made (the earth and all creation) and what my neighbor needs for survival,” says Ben. You can become overwhelmed if you think of the world’s problems, for example, the number of children who die each year from water born diseases which are entirely preventable. But caring for the earth is doing something about it, and this has become Ben’s passion.

Spencer and Ben discuss how science and faith have been at odds with each other, and how the debate about creation versus evolution has sparked a divide between the two which didn’t used to exist. But Ben is seeing scientists and spiritual leaders working to repair the relationship between faith and science. He is encouraged by unlikely partners coming together for creation care. He recently participated in an advocacy effort in Washington D.C. which brought together the Christian Coalition of America, the National Wildlife Federation and the Evangelical Environmental Network. The coalition of these three unusual partners “freaked congress out,” said Ben. He saw that these politicians care about the earth—because of their faith and because they want to make a difference. And they need the support of all constituents—conservative and liberal Christians—to tackle environmental issues.

So is “green living” just a fad or can we create something that is longer-lasting? Ben believes that if we are living green because it’s the popular thing to do, it will fade. But he believes it is a matter of faith and of community. If we realize the scriptures are full of encouragements and commands to care for creation, then we will do it not because it is popular but because it is right and that won’t change over time. We need community and the work of the Spirit to keep us from feeling burdened, or isolated and lonely in that care. And in community, we can ask “How can we lively sustainable in the city, in the suburbs, in our community?”—and pursue it together.

Personal Reflections:

1. How has my background influenced my perspective or point of reference on the environment?
2. What can I do to take small or big steps to care for creation?

Small Group or Staff Questions:

1. Caring for creation is caring for people. Do you agree or disagree?
2. How can the current economic and environmental crises help us live in community, and discover new opportunities? What new partnerships can we imagine to help explore creation care?

Resources

1. FREE DOWNLOAD: Chapter 1: Incompatible Foolishness - (551)
2. plantwithpurpose.org
3. renewingcreation.org
4. arocha.org
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5 Responses to “Ben Lowe – Sustainable Creation Care”

1. Jack Hafer Says:
   July 28th, 2009 at 7:29 pm

   Good job, Spencer. And good for Ben to be headed towards the suburbs, where Xy’s real alternatives must be modeled. Who is encouraging Xns in the suburbs to learn how to live out the Cultural Mandate? Go get ‘em, Ben.

2. Dennis Clanton Says:
   July 29th, 2009 at 1:18 pm

   Thanks Spencer for the interview with Ben. I enjoyed reading his book a month ago. I will be recommending it to many.

   I’ll especially looking forward to hearing more on the subject of “the suburbs.”

   Dennis

3. Matt Soerens Says:
   October 31st, 2009 at 6:32 pm

   Ben has a great perspective on this pressing issue. And now he’s running for Congress: http://www.loweforcongress.com.

4. tiny host Says:
   January 9th, 2010 at 9:00 pm

   any updates coming?

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   December 16th, 2011 at 9:20 pm

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