Biblical Evidence For Thinking Ecologically and Spiritual Formation

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Feb 20, 2024

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Discussion Thread: Biblical Evidence For Thinking Ecologically and Spiritual Formation Ecologies of Faith in a Digital Age: Spiritual Growth through Online Education states that “In the natural world nothing grows alone, isolated and disconnected from its ecological habitat. Instead, everything grows ecologically through connections to and interactions with other living and nonliving things producing mutual growth and fecundity.” 1 While it is true that nothing grows alone its equally important to note that society has a range of beliefs regarding who God is or if there is even a God. Christians have a biblical worldview leaving the rest of the world to believe who they want to believe in and how they want to live out those beliefs. Christians have the job of living consistent lives that represent the standards outlined in the bible. When an individual rejects the interconnected and interactive nature of the physical and spiritual ecologies God has created, the individual is rejecting the very nature of God. Genesis 2:18 is a great scripture that shows how God made male and female to compliment one another simply because it was not good for man to be alone. “ The   L ORD   God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” (Genesis 2:18, New International Version) The relationship between a husband and a wife proves through scripture that interconnected and interactive nature of the physical and spiritual ecologies. Adam was not to grow alone, instead he was to have a companion, a helper that he was to share his life with. From the beginning scripture points to how God’s love for humankind formulates a perfect habitat for man to live in. (Genesis 1:1) Scripture gives no reason to believe that God created man in isolation, instead, God creates man with the ability to interact with other living being, namely the helpmeet Eve. 1 Stephen D. Lowe and Mary E. Lowe, Ecologies of Faith in a Digital Age: Spiritual Growth through Online Education (Downer’s Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2018), 4.
Scripture also points to nature as another example of interconnected interactions. Hosea 4:1 talks about how God was angry with His people Israel due to Israel being unfaithful to Him. Imagine, Gods chosen people choosing to do the very opposite God required. God then reveals to the people of Israel that “There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. Because of this the land dries up, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea are swept away.” (Hosea 4:2-3) Notice the connection God makes between Israel disobedience to Him and how their attitude is a direct result of natures reaction to Israel’s immoral lifestyle. It is important to remember that the bible is our final authority and within the pages of the Word of God you will always be able to find scriptures to support how God designed the physical and spiritual ecologies to work together.
Bibliography Lowe, Stephen D., and Mary E. Lowe. Ecologies of Faith in a Digital Age: Spiritual Growth through Online Education . Downer’s Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2018.
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