CARE FOR CREATION

Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Canada (NCM Canada) encourages “Compassion as a Lifestyle”. Compassion is most evident when we love our neighbour. As a ministry of the Church of the Nazarene, we work for the transformation of individuals, families, and communities (our neighbours) such that they thrive and become all that God has designed for them to be. One of the ways we love our neighbours is by caring for the environment in which we all live and upon which we are all dependent.

WHY SHOULD WE CARE ABOUT THE EARTH?

There is much discussion and news these days concerning environmental issues and care of our environment including climate change.

Such discussions are often politically and ideologically polarizing.

Environmental issues are complex and controversial and Christians, particularly evangelistic Christians have tended to avoid discussions about the environment.

But should we?

Here are six points to consider when thinking about why and how we as Christians should care for the earth:

God cares for creation and has charged humankind with the stewardship of His created world. God cares for His creation and therefore we as Christians and the Church ought to care for His creation. Genesis 1:26-28

God’s mission is the redemption of all of creation including the created world. This therefore is our mission and the mission of the Church. Romans 8:19-23a

Every generation has a role to play in caring for God’s creation and this is grounded in the first and second commandments. Caring for creation is one way we love God and love for our neighbour. John 3:16, 1 Corinthians 3:22

When we abuse our world, we all suffer the consequences, but particularly those who are poorest and most vulnerable. Manual, Church of the Nazarene Section 924.

Everyone is our neighbour whom we are commanded to love. We are to help them thrive and become all that God has designed for them to be. Luke 10:25-37

Our actions prove our love for God and love for neighbour. We can accomplish more together. 1 Peter 1:21-22

GET INVOLVED

RESOURCES

Two aspects of creation care that Canadian Nazarenes have identified as particularly important are:

FOOD AND FOOD SECURITY

Ensuring that everyone has enough to eat. This means providing food for those who have little or none but also working with the hungry to help them to produce or access enough food year-round so that they become food self-sufficient.

NCM Canada is a member of Canadian Foodgrains Bank whose byline is “A Christian Response to Hunger” and whose mission it is to END HUNGER . To learn about our work through Canadian Foodgrains Bank, visit www.ncmcanada.ca/canadian-foodgrains-bank.

NCM Canada supports conservation agriculture projects in Malawi. Read about these at www.ncmcanada.ca/africa-projects.

WATER AND CLEAN DRINKING WATER

Ensuring that everyone has access to clean drinking water. NCM Canada supports the NCM International Water, Health, and Sanitation project in Africa. To learn more about this project, visit www.ncmcanada.ca/africa-projects.

NCM Canada also funds the installation of tube wells in Bangladesh. Read about them at www.ncmcanada.ca/south-asia-projects.