Both Jesus and the apostles sought to instill a sense of identity within the community of faith wherein believers are seen as visible representatives of the "kingdom" until that day wherein Christ returns to establish earthly rule and authority - hence the Church's present calling to promote the attributes of that coming reign in terms of "righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Rom. 14:17).
As the agents of righteousness, peace and divine will at large, this plays out in many ways. The apostle Paul, for example, views "good citizenship" in the present world as reflecting a valid dimension of divine cause (Rom. 13:1-7). Those in governance are thus to be seen (at least within the sphere of ordained intent) as "ministers of God to you" (vv. 1,4). Within the parameters of moral cause and integrity, the believer is accordingly called to active support and cooperation.
Again, as noted in the immediately preceding posting of this endeavor, "kingdom" responsibility involves stewardship of the "Father's world" as well. For, by right of creation, "The earth is the Lord's." Having thus shared, it was - perhaps somewhat ironically - our "hap" (archaic for unexpected occurrence, e.g., Ruth 2:3 KJV) the morning following to read the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk. Chapter 2 verse 17 stood out in a way we had not previously noticed.
While used by God to chastise Judah, the Chaldeans themselves were not absolved of unacceptable behavior. Part of their own culpability lay in the wanton destruction of nature and its wildlife as well as mankind: "The cup in the LORD'S right hand will come around to you, and utter discgrace will come upon your glory, for the violence done to Lebanon (i.e., in terms of its stately forests) will overwhelm you, and the devastation of its beasts by which you terrified them, because of human bloodshed and violence done to the land, to the town and all its inhabitants" (Hab. 3:16,17 NASB). Or, as per the Living Bible paraphrase: "You cut down the forests of Lebanon - now you will be cut down! You terrified the wild animals you caught in your traps - now terror will strike you because of all your murdering and violence in cities everywhere" (see various commentaries and other translations).
Again, contemporary and/or environmental issues are not, nore are they meant to become, replacement for the spiritual concerns of the Gospel. At the same time, two points unavoidably obtain: 1.) Indifference to such concerns bespeaks a lack of responsibility in terms of both "the Father's world" and those who, by His ordination, are dependent upon its well-being; and 2.) That Scripture portrays the devastation of our Father's world emblematic of a judgment-inducing nonconformity to divine will on its larger scale should, of itself, give pause for serious thought and reflection.
Burl Ratzsch
