Christ Still Suffering in Nature

If I’m not mistaken, Christians believe that “in the beginning” God gave us a job to do: take care of the earth. We are stewards and caretakers appointed by God to manage “the garden.” We’re doing a lousy job. I think God expected more from us. We owe God and the environment a huge apology.

It’s time for Christians to stop obsessing about heaven and get back to taking care of earth—our first task, according to God’s command. Furthermore, Christ isn’t in heaven. He is still hanging on the cross. He is still dying for the sins of the world, and those sins are worse now than ever.

Christ is still suffering on the cross in solidarity with all who suffer, including nature itself. We should not think that Christ is indifferent toward nature. God created a pretty good world. We’re screwing it up. With every ecological disaster, Christ bleeds more. With every dying animal or bird, every polluted river, every stinking chimney or gas-guzzling vehicle or oil spill disaster, Christ bleeds more.

The apocalyptic sufferings of the Crucified Christ continue with every apocalyptic ecological disaster.

Now, however, the enemy is not “the Jewish leaders” or “the Roman Empire.” The enemy now is corporate power, greed, and the “American dream” of unlimited natural resources. Here’s the deal, folks, we are running out of oil and our days are numbered. We have constructed a society based on fossil fuels, and time is running out.

We have constructed a lifestyle based on massive consumerism, and time is running out. We have glorified the “American dream” as if it came from God himself, and time is running out.

But what is time to the crucified Christ? He has been up on the cross a long, long time. He has always suffered with those who suffer. He has always symbolized resistance to evil, injustice, and self-interest. He favors no nation. He is on the side of God alone—and God’s abused creation.

--Brad