Rethinking Creation Care in the Gospel Narrative
Summary
In the keynote session of the Creation Care Conference 2022, the speaker, Mr. Yawnping, challenges the audience to rethink their understanding of the gospel, creation, and creation care. He presents a narrative that weaves creation into the grand story of sin, judgment, and salvation, beginning with the origin story in Genesis 1. The repeated acts of separation in the creation account are highlighted as crucial for understanding God's purposes in creation.
Mr. Yawnping emphasizes that Christ's second coming is not the end of creation care but marks the continuation of efforts to care for God's new creation. He invokes the imagery of a new heaven and a new earth from Revelation, where creation is not discarded but renewed and refreshed. The speaker underscores that believers, as the first fruits of God's creatures, are the first to experience this renewal, setting an example for the rest of creation.
The sermon asserts that creation care is an essential spiritual discipline for those saved by the gospel, not a modern-day work of the law. Mr. Yawnping takes the audience through the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, to demonstrate that creation is integral to the salvation story. He insists that creation care should be a regular part of church life and not ignored by churches.
Mr. Yawnping shares his background in creation care and disability theology, expressing his passion for the topic. He clarifies that while creation care is important, it should not be equated with the gospel, which centers on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The speaker also explores the theme of salvation through new creation in the story of Noah and the flood, where God saves Noah and initiates a new world. He explains that God's creative purposes focus on order and that human actions impact creation. The sermon further discusses the connection between creation and salvation, with the New Testament building upon the Old Testament's logic. Jesus, as the creator, is capable of making a new creation out of the fallen one.
Mr. Yawnping discusses the promises of a new creation in Isaiah 65, where God will create new heavens and a new earth, bringing peace and joy. He connects this to the rest of the Old Testament, where judgment is seen as uncreation and salvation as new creation. The speaker then reflects on God's creative actions, emphasizing that God creates by arranging, structuring, and ordering, which extends to the moral realm.
The sermon addresses the consequences of human actions, showing that sin affects humanity's relationship with the rest of creation. The speaker highlights the interconnectedness of humanity and creation, suggesting that salvation must include both. He also discusses the significance of the phrase "all flesh" in Genesis, pointing out that creation is not morally neutral and requires renewal.
Mr. Yawnping concludes by emphasizing that creation care is an integral part of our mission as humans and a necessary part of discipleship. He acknowledges unresolved questions about creation care but affirms its legitimacy and necessity.
Key Takeaways:
- The creation narrative in Genesis is foundational for understanding God's purposes, emphasizing the importance of order and separation in the physical and moral realms. This order is not only aesthetic but also ethical, as seen in the commandment in the Garden of Eden, teaching us that our responsibility towards creation is rooted in God's original design. [42:25]
- The resurrection of Jesus is pivotal for the renewal of all creation, as believers are united with Christ in his resurrection power. This unity signifies that the church is the first in creation to be renewed, setting a precedent for the eventual renewal of the entire creation, which eagerly awaits its turn to be refreshed and recreated. [01:10:52]
- Creation care is not an optional Christian activity but a fundamental aspect of living out the gospel. It is a spiritual discipline that reflects our gratitude to the Creator, our obedience to His purposes, and our participation in His reconciling work towards creation. This understanding aligns with the early church's inclusion of God as creator in the Apostles' Creed. [01:16:33]
- The interconnectedness of humanity and creation is evident in the biblical text, with the wordplay between "adam" and "adama" underscoring that humanity is part of creation. This relationship implies that salvation and renewal must encompass both humanity and the rest of creation, challenging us to consider our role in maintaining God's creative order. [45:29]
- The concept of new creation is central to the Christian hope, with the promise of a new heaven and a new earth where God's ethical and spatial order is fully restored. In this renewed creation, only those written in the Lamb's book of life will enter, and God's presence with His people will signify the ultimate fulfillment of His purposes. [01:13:57]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Genesis 1:1-4, 7, 9, 11, 21, 24, 27 - The creation narrative emphasizing separation and order.
2. Isaiah 65:17-25 - The promise of new heavens and a new earth, bringing peace and joy.
3. Romans 8:19-22 - Creation's eager longing for renewal and freedom from corruption.
#### Observation Questions
1. What repeated acts of separation are highlighted in Genesis 1, and why are they significant? ([41:54])
2. How does Isaiah 65 describe the new creation, and what are the key elements of this promise? ([01:02:17])
3. According to Romans 8, what is creation eagerly waiting for, and why? ([01:04:54])
4. How does Mr. Yawnping describe the relationship between humanity (adam) and the ground (adama) in Genesis? ([45:29])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does the repeated separation in Genesis 1 teach us about God's purposes in creation? How does this relate to our responsibility towards creation? ([42:25])
2. In Isaiah 65, what does the imagery of peace between animals (e.g., the wolf and the lamb) signify about the new creation? ([01:02:57])
3. How does Romans 8's depiction of creation's longing for renewal challenge our understanding of the impact of sin on the natural world? ([01:04:54])
4. How does Mr. Yawnping's explanation of the interconnectedness of humanity and creation (adam and adama) influence our view of salvation and renewal? ([45:29])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflecting on the creation narrative in Genesis, how can you incorporate the principle of order and separation into your daily life to honor God's creation? ([42:25])
2. Isaiah 65 speaks of a future where peace and joy reign. What practical steps can you take to promote peace and joy in your community as a reflection of this promise? ([01:02:57])
3. Romans 8 describes creation's longing for renewal. How can you participate in creation care to align with this biblical vision of renewal and freedom from corruption? ([01:04:54])
4. Considering the relationship between humanity and creation (adam and adama), what specific actions can you take to improve your stewardship of the environment? ([45:29])
5. Mr. Yawnping emphasizes that creation care is a spiritual discipline. How can you integrate creation care into your spiritual practices and church activities? ([01:16:33])
6. The sermon suggests that creation care is not an optional activity but a fundamental aspect of living out the gospel. How can you advocate for and implement creation care initiatives within your church or local community? ([01:16:33])
7. Reflect on the concept of new creation in Revelation. How does this vision of a renewed heaven and earth inspire you to live out your faith in practical ways today? ([01:13:57])
Devotional
Day 1: God's Design in Creation's Order
God's intentional design in creation establishes a moral and physical order that humanity is called to uphold. This order, first seen in the separation acts of Genesis, is not merely aesthetic but deeply ethical, reflecting God's nature and intentions for how creation should function. As stewards of creation, humans have a responsibility to maintain this order, which includes caring for the environment and all living things within it. [42:25]
Genesis 1:31 - "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day."
Reflection: How can you actively participate in preserving the order and beauty of God's creation in your daily life?
Day 2: Resurrection and Creation's Renewal
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone for the renewal of all creation, symbolizing hope and restoration. As believers, being united with Christ in His resurrection means participating in the first fruits of this renewal, setting a pattern for the eventual restoration of the entire cosmos. This unity with Christ's resurrection power is a call to live in a way that reflects the coming fullness of God's new creation. [01:10:52]
Romans 8:21-22 - "That the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time."
Reflection: In what ways does your life reflect the hope and renewal found in Christ's resurrection?
Day 3: Creation Care as Gospel Living
Living out the gospel includes caring for creation as a spiritual discipline, reflecting gratitude to the Creator and obedience to His purposes. This care is not an optional activity but a fundamental aspect of Christian discipleship, mirroring the early church's recognition of God as the creator in the Apostles' Creed. It is an expression of participating in God's reconciling work towards all of creation. [01:16:33]
Colossians 1:19-20 - "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross."
Reflection: What are some practical steps you can take to integrate creation care into your daily spiritual practices?
Day 4: Humanity's Interconnectedness with Creation
The biblical narrative reveals a profound interconnectedness between humanity and the rest of creation, with humanity being part of and responsible for the created order. This relationship implies that salvation and renewal must encompass both humanity and the environment, challenging us to consider our role in maintaining and restoring God's creative order. [45:29]
Job 12:7-10 - "But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind."
Reflection: How does your understanding of the connection between humanity and creation influence your actions towards the environment?
Day 5: New Creation as Christian Hope
The promise of a new heaven and a new earth is central to Christian hope, where God's ethical and spatial order is fully restored. This new creation is the ultimate fulfillment of God's purposes, where His presence with His people is realized in its entirety. The anticipation of this future reality should shape how believers live in the present, striving for a world that reflects God's kingdom values. [01:13:57]
Isaiah 65:17 - "See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind."
Reflection: What actions can you take today that align with the values of the new creation God promises?
Quotes
"We watch in awe as God creates not with paint or with clay as human artists do, but with His word. 'Let there be,' He says, and there was. And it was good." [41:17] (Download)
"I seek to challenge our existing mental frameworks about the gospel, about creation, and about creation care, and I do so with some hope as well, hoping that any unresolved questions might take you beyond this conference to learn more and to do more." [40:12] (Download)
"Importantly, I'd like to direct your attention to words of separation in Genesis 1 that perhaps we have missed or overlooked in our own Bible study." [41:54] (Download)
"Loving God means obeying this obedience includes caring about what happens to God's creation because God cares about it and because God gave us the job of caring for it. We worship God by caring for creation." [34:35] (Download)
"Salvation comes through new creation, and so [John] begins his gospel by declaring to his Christian audience that the one who saves is also the one who creates." [01:06:06] (Download)
"Truly, Jesus coming again will not conclude our creation care efforts; instead, borrowing a phrase from Winston Churchill, we might say it is not the end, it is not even the beginning of the end, it is simply the end of the beginning." [01:20:15] (Download)
"Even in punishment, the Adam and the Adama continue to be deeply intertwined; the actions of the Adam result in the Adama being cursed, but the curse of the Adama results in the Adam toiling and laboring to work on it." [48:25] (Download)
"The poetic wordplay between Adam and Adama is not just for show; it is a theological assertion that humanity is not set apart from creation, but very much part of it. It tells us that humanity and creation are inextricably linked and mutually interdependent." [46:06] (Download)
"Creation will be renewed, not thrown away like an old rag, not burnt up like rubbish, but renewed, recreated, and refreshed. And in this renewed creation, there will also be a renewed Eden." [01:12:46] (Download)
"God creates by arranging, by structuring, and by ordering. He is putting things in their place. This organizing applies to flora and fauna as well, so in verse 11 for example, we are told that the plants are organized according to their kind." [42:59] (Download)
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