Scripture & Creation
Leviticus 26:39
Obedience to God Brings Fruitfulness in Creation
The quality of human obedience to God determines the quality of creation's fruitfulness and therefore the ability of human society to prosper. This means that when “hard times” are upon a people, they must examine first the quality of their relationship (i.e., their obedience) to God to find a healing remedy.
The implication for issues of land and ecology is that Biblical commands equate to the type of actions that allow human society to integrate into the ecosystem of the planet. When human actions become selfish or forgetful of their Creative Source, then the degradations which result in society and creation become a teacher to remind people of their duty. Therefore, to “walk in my [God's] statutes” is to keep God’s commandments. These bring order to human society and carry God's blessings into creation. Then the land is fruitful and human society flourishes.
A further implication is that technological “fixes” for agricultural or climatic problems represent avoidance of the primary cause for these ecological imbalances. Similarly, legislative approaches which attempt to make law out of those practices that might heal the earth cannot address the fundamental cause of ecological problems because these emerge out of the human heart and spirit. These external solutions may provide temporary respite, but they cannot substitute for obedience to God. Faithfulness to God’s ordinances brings healing and regeneration that techniques or rules alone done out of self-interest can never produce.
At root ecological problems are the evidence of a people who have forgotten God. All the erudite strategies and tactics cannot put the integrity of creation back together. The large lesson here is that permanent healing does not emerge from exterior actions alone. The sinful attitudes that are the root causes of pollution and degradation are what must change. Otherwise the causes that created degraded or abused conditions
in the land or in society will continue to be alive. Thus, despite manipulation of the external circumstances, the abuse of the land may continue because the root causes have not been eliminated. Without addressing the root causes, new and perhaps worse conditions can sometimes emerge.
To heal creation, people must be bound back to God. A fundamental sort of lifestyle repentance is required. God must be accorded his position of honor. Humans must seek a way of living that institutionalizes virtue and respect for God, their neighbor and the natural order of creation. Without this basic level of obedience we will not solve ecological problems because we will not touch the core of the problem of massive individual, institutional and social disconnection from the principles of life. This is because the ecological problem is fundamentally a moral and a spiritual problem.
Many people will acknowledge that this is true in principle, but difficult in practice. How, they ask, can anyone push against the systems of society that cultivate such virulent strains of individualism, consumerism, materialism and cynicism?
The answer is simply that you have to start. You begin with prayer. This is prayer for direction and guidance. You might describe this as a call for help. Somehow, inspiration will follow. A “door” or perhaps just a “window” will open.
In the process of real prayer made with a commitment to become part of the solution to ecological degradation, insight for change will emerge. Humans are always changing anyway. Change is woven into our physical and mental natures. By cultivating prayer and work as two parts of the restoration of creation, the diligent disciple will find inspiration that leads to both personal healing and the ability to bring healing to our ecological predicament.
There is further importance in this approach. The message of this passage to our generation is that we will not make substantial headway in earth healing and regeneration without making corresponding headway in spiritual repentance, healing and regeneration.
