creation-atics

A friend has recently posted about concerns at how some people's love for the environment can go to extremes, especially blurring one's priority in loving God.

Though I believe Christ followers should naturally care for this world - their creator's creation - I can see his concerns.

Paul lets us know in Romans that people can discover God as he is witnessed through creation (Rom. 1:20). His invisible qualities can be seen by looking at the visible things around us. Creation is a pointer to God. But God is definitely the focus.

Later, Paul says this in 1:25 "they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator-who is forever praised."

NT Wright shows the difference b/w creation pointing us to God and creation becoming our god. Scot McKnight quotes him here: instead of a “seeing-through” creation there is a “staring-at”creation that becomes idolatrous. Instead of seeing through creation, they see creation and stop right here.

I like the metaphor here. I think it gives us clarity in discerning the difference b/w honoring God's creation (because we honor and love God) and just honoring creation (allowing it to become God).

Thoughts?