Christians believe that God gave human beings free will, which is
true, because we’re not programmed robots. We think for ourselves. With
that free will comes responsibility. Unfortunately, most humans have
traded their “free will” for a “free ride.”
God wants us to lovingly care for his creation. Instead, we wantonly
exploit and destroy while justifying our violence by lying to ourselves
and by placing blame.
Thankfully, there are some thoughtful people who care and who do
their best to live responsibly, causing as little pain and suffering as
possible. These people bring to mind the following passage from the
Bible, where the Apostle Paul speaks of “…the revealing of the sons of
God.” and “…the children of God.”
Romans 8:19-22
19. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the
revealing of the sons [and daughters] of God.
20. For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own
will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope
21. that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery
to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
22. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the
pains of childbirth together until now.
(New American Standard Bible)
Since Paul wrote this nearly 2,000 years ago, why is it so difficult
for most Christians, who consider themselves to be “children of God,” to
wake up to the fact that they aren’t behaving as God’s children. Instead
of helping to free creation from its corruption, they add to the pain
and suffering.
It’s time for Christians to wake up and become the loving and
compassionate, peace-making children of God that we are called to be
(Matthew 5:9), and begin to free the whole of creation from its present
suffering.
