Changing Rivers
Wolves change rivers. I know, we’re talking about wolves again, but who is really keeping track anyway. One of the most amazing videos I’ve ever seen is a miniature nature documentary talking about the effects that wolves had on Yellowstone when they were reintroduced in the 1990’s. Not only did they hunt and kill some deer, thus reducing the population, but they drastically changed the behavior of the deer. They started avoiding places where they could be more easily hunted and tracked, which kept them out of the valleys. This resulted in the vegetation in valleys recovering leading to a massive explosion in biodiversity. Furthermore, the river banks were stabilized enough to slow erosion. The very behavior of the rivers was changed by the return of the wolves. This is an incredible success story of nature, but the sad fact is that we were the ones to remove wolves in the first place. The damage to vegetation and the unnatural behavior of rivers that resulted is ultimately the fault of humans.
Sometimes Christians are great at taking care of Creation. Sometimes, we aren’t, and unfortunately passages like our second reading for this week can be interpreted badly with some bad implications for nature. 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 portrays us as wasting away with glory to come. However, it isn’t hard to extend this out to Creation in general. When taken together with Romans 8:22-23, this passage seems to speak of a contrast between the imperfect temporary world and the perfect world of coming glory in which God will reign eternally. This all sounds good, but what does that mean for the temporary world and its inhabitants?
The answer to that question depends on who you ask. There are some who would say that the flora and fauna we find in the wild ought to be protected as much as possible. However, for others the Creation is not particularly important. It isn’t really their concern what happens to the plants and animals of the world. They are all wasting away anyway. There is a greater glory coming. The trees of the new world will be better. The ferns and fawns and fruiting trees, the hawks, the snakes, the weeds, the bugs, and everything else in all creation will just become new when God remakes the world. If we get really lucky, maybe God will leave mosquitoes out of the new Creation.
The unfortunate result of this way of thinking is a tragic apathy. Who cares if this mountain is destroyed for mining? The new mountains God makes will be better. Who cares if a few species disappear due irresponsible forestry? If they disappear, God didn’t want them anyway. Who cares if the rivers get contaminated with pollution? If we die, God is calling us home. If not, whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Creation becomes a means to an end. Nature is the path, the bedrock of productivity, not the artistic wonder that God created to enjoy.
The problem with this way of thinking is that it doesn’t take the process described in this passage seriously. Paul speaks of our “inner nature” continually being renewed. Every day, we become someone new. We are in a constant process of becoming, of rebirth. If we can see nature as temporary, we must also see it as part of God’s renewal process. For us, new Creation isn’t about us ceasing to exist. It’s about us being renewed daily and ultimately sanctified.
Every tree, every hill, every bug is part of God’s Creation. God made all of them to be a beautiful part of the fabric of the World, each a chord or note or phrase on the great Song that God spins out into space and time. We are part of Creation, servant leaders of something bigger than us. God is renewing everything, and it is our duty to participate in that renewal, not only for ourselves but also for all the world.
The Bible is clear about God’s care for the earth. God built opportunities for the land to rest in the legal code of ancient Israel. God called all of Creation “Good.” A fruit bearing tree of life and a clear river feature prominently in the new Creation promised in Revelation. God cares for trees and rivers, mountains and hills. Creation is not something to be thrown away, just as we are not things to be thrown away. Together with the natural world, we are renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Most people I know love nature. It isn’t hard to like. There is something for everyone from the tiniest bugs to the tallest mountains and out to stars in the farthest reaches of space. Everyone can stand inspired and awestruck by the beauty of the world God has made. And through faith, we move from seeing God’s action in the cross to seeing God’s action all over the world. Life springs anew from barren ground. Things work in harmony to balance each other. Wolves restore rivers.
God’s world is wonderfully made, and we are fortunate enough to participate in it. It is beautiful. Sometimes it is scary, but God makes all things work together for good. With eyes of faith, we can see God’s care for Creation. We can see God renewing the world just as God renews us. And with this vision of God’s love for humans and nature, we can turn away from interpretations that would see Creation as disposable. God cares. God renews. And so, we care too.
If you’ll bear with me as I make this comparison once again, maybe we should be like wolves. When we are unnaturally removed from our place as part of Creation, the whole Creation suffers. When we see ourselves as separate or better, nature is hurt. When we become domineering masters of the world instead of loving caretakers, we fail to take seriously our God given duty to steward the Earth. We pray for God to put us back into nature, to feel the earth beneath our feet, to look in awe at the stars above, to smell the clean air. We pray that God would introduce us to our important place in the world as loving stewards. When we reintroduced wolves to Yellowstone, they changed the rivers. Imagine what we could do if we were reintroduced to the entirety of God’s wonderful creation.
