Mike+ and Charlie+,

I'll take the via media by agreeing with what you both say!  I think that
while everything Mike+ says about our being at the pinnacle of creation and
stewards is undoubtedly true, too much of an enphasis on mankind without
regards to creation leads to a dangerous dualism.  Too many Christians take
a "ho-hum" attitude towards our environment because they believe that when
they die they will forever be whisked away from the world.  The old
modernist Christian view that creation was given primarily for our use is a
dangerous one.

Let's not forget that while humans certainly have a special role within
creation, namely as stewards bearing God's image, nature itself recognizes
its Creator.  That's why in the psalms the hills can leap for joy, the trees
sing, etc.  Romans 8 also suggests that this same nature is longing to be
freed from the bondage of death and decay, is longing for us humans to be
good stewards once more.  To me, that's a heart-wrenching concept.  That
human pig-headedness not only caused us to fall, but caused the rest of
God's beautiful creation to fall with us.

So, I think we ought to be just as outraged by polluted rivers, toxic air,
and rubbished landscape as we are by moral and doctrinal decay.  I think we
ought to be outraged by the terrible destruction we quite blithely cause the
world so that we can have all the comforts and amenities of a modern life of
consumption.  And I think we ought to speak out more against the abuse of
the nature for the sake of extra profits.  Sure, that falls ridiculously
short of what is meant by stewardship in Scripture, but at least it would be
a step in the right direction.

Mark+