SHALOM IS HARMONY WITH THE CREATION
This is economic-ecological transformation. Creation, from shalom perspective, is seen as an organic-relational world, not merely as a mechanical-utilitarian world.
In a mechanical-utilitarian view of the world, the emphasis is exploitation. If one of the parts of the machine-world is not functioning, the tendency is to replace it. Hence, in globalism, the natural resources can be exploited for the present, and then later, it can be substituted with technological products and solutions—that is, synthetic materials.
In an organic-relational world, the emphasis is stewardship and loving care of creation. The biblical story of Creation tells us that “the Lord God formed the mortal or adam from the dust of the ground or adamah and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life or nishmat chayim and the mortal became a living being or l’nefesh chayah.” (Gen. 2:7) Such are the imageries used to give us a grasp of the beginning of the human race. We all came from the ground. We were named after the ground. We are one with Creation. We are one humanity! We are all carbon-based material. We are all breathed with the same breath of God. That is the story of our Being Alive! When the Creator-God commanded us to subdue or kivshuha the Earth (Gen. 1:28), it has the idea of l’shamrah—to care for, to keep, to watch, and to preserve it (Gen. 2:15). Earth-destruction is listed by the Prophet John as a sin (Rev. 11:18). We are all called by the Creator-God to be stewards of Planet Earth! Christians must apply the shalom-lifestyle in the stewardship of their resources.
God cares for the whole creation, including the human species. The creation is the world that “God so loved…” (Jn. 3:16). This “world” (Gk., kosmos) can mean the sum total of everything here and now, all of humanity, or world-systems. This is also the creation that will ultimately be reconciled with Christ (Col. 1:15-20). All living things are important to God. God relates with the Creation. That is why it is important for the church to see Creation as an organic-relational world. We were created as part of the whole creation. Our shalom—our experience of wholeness—necessarily includes the whole of creation.
Based on this Shalom Theology, PBCI will serve as a catalyst group who will organize at least one Peace and Reconciliation (PAR) Community in every province of our country.
4 comments
rodrigo d. tano
10. January. 2012 at 1520 (UTC 8) Link to this comment
Excellent theology of nature. Still, since both Gen. 1:26-31 and Gen. 2:15 are in Genesis, it may essential to blend the dominion-having dimension with the caring aspect to have a comprehensive, not an either-or outlook on the man-nature-God relationship.
Indeed, we need to teach this truth as part of a broader discipleship program in the Churches.
PeaceBuilders Community, Inc.
11. January. 2012 at 0426 (UTC 8) Link to this comment
Dear Dr. Tano:
In behalf of PeaceBuilders Community, please accept our appreciation for your response to this initial statement of our biblical understanding on Creation. I would like to discuss this more with you, primarily to listen to your insights.
On January 18th, I will be at the Asian Theological Seminary. They invited me to speak on Shalom Theology based on our Anabaptist perspective. May I invite you for a lunch fellowship or a coffee fellowship?
Dann Pantoja (daniel@peacebuilderscommunity.org)
rodrigo d. tano
10. January. 2012 at 1451 (UTC 8) Link to this comment
thanks for the “Theology of Creation” article. we sorely need to balance the emphasis on dominion-having and ruling aspect of the man-creation relationship with the concept of stewardship (includes caring, protecting, properly utilizing). still, we need a more comprehensive, not an either-or position, that would appreciate and blend the teaching of both Gen. 1:26-31 and Gen. 2:15.
We certainly need to teach these truths.
God bless you in your advocacy.
PeaceBuilders Community, Inc.
11. January. 2012 at 0419 (UTC 8) Link to this comment
Thank you, Dr. Tano. It’s good to hear from you–one of our most respected Filipino theologians. We would love to be mentored by you, through this online conversation, as we develop a Theology of Creation. We are already doing this theology with our partner-organization, Coffee for Peace, Inc.