Is Creation Care Really a Gospel Issue?
By Ed Brown | Natural disasters, agricultural problems, and environmentally linked health crises impact many of the world’s least reached peoples. These provide pragmatic reasons for missionary engagement in creation care. However, if we look closely at the recent history of evangelicalism, we can find an even stronger reason for involvement. The concept of integral mission, introduced in the ’60s and ’70s, positions creation care as a core gospel issue that is a necessary part of integrated work with the world’s unreached.
Redeeming Nature’s Song
Throughout the Scripture, we can read about the response of all creation to God’s glory. It is commanded to praise, rejoice, sing, and testify of who God is and what he has done. However, God’s creation is also permeated with the effects of our sin, and, today, that is more obvious than ever. But what does this have to do with missions? Can we consider that the work for which Christ calls us does not end with saving human souls?