How to Rescue the Earth Without Worshiping Nature

            I chose to review this book for two reasons.  I didn’t realize a Christian writer was concerned about the environment in 1994.  The other reason is the author, an evangelical conservative Christian best known for his passion for social justice issues, centering mostly around the poor. 

            “Being concerned about the environment is a biblically mandated command, and acting to rescue creation….is a Christian obligation,” writes Campolo in 1994.  In true conservative evangelical style, he refers to doing something about caring for the environment in anticipation of the second coming of Christ.  That wouldn’t be my prime motivation, but among evangelicals, it probably resonates.

            Campolo recommends churches and individuals take an “environmental audit” to measure conservation efforts, turning church camps into ecological camps, church member pledges to commit to environmental responsibility, beyond personal morality.  He speaks directly to evangelical pastors: “Our sermons have taught that God loves people and wills to rescue them from sin and Satan, but in our homilies, we have ignored the message of God’s saving work for the rest of His creation.”  How true has that been for the mainline wing of the church as well?

            “This book is not only about a Savior who came into the world to make us into people who can love and worship His Father; it is also about a Savior who came to deliver the rest of creation from its ‘groanings’ so that it too can offer up worship to God.  This book is about a Jesus whose salvation has cosmic dimensions.  It is about a call to Christians to participate with their Lord in making salvation known.” 

That intention stated in the preface made me think of the current thoughts of writers like Sally McFague, Richard Rohr and Kristin Swenson, and Ilia Delio, whose books I have previously reviewed.  I would hope that more evangelicals would heed voices like Tony Campolo, and join their voices to the chorus of all nature praising the mighty works of God in Christ.

Here we are, twenty-seven years after this book’s call to heed “the message of God’s saving work for the rest of creation”.  How’s that been going?

Rev. John Hanson