Global warming will overshoot 1.5°C. Explore why the Paris goal is unreachable, what happens next, and why adaptation now matters most. Where We Are At At the beginning of the year, politicians often give a “state of the nation” speech in which they offer their perspectives on what has gone […]
barry
50 posts
A devotional look at Joy to the World: the curse of sin on creation and the hope of Christ’s blessings flowing to all the earth. Of all the Christmas carols, “Joy to the World” has always been my favourite. The words were written in 1719 by the English minister and […]
The Sabbath is more than rest: it renews people, honours creation, and is even tracked from space as NASA’s Sabbath effect. The Sabbath Principle: “Take a Break!” There is an evening ritual which occurs in every Italian town. Young and old slowly walk along the main street or square, greeting […]
Genesis 1:28 isn’t a license to exploit creation. Discover why true biblical dominion means loving stewardship of the earth, not domination. What Does “Dominion” Really Mean? The “dominion” theory, that gives humans total domination over creation, is a theological view based on Genesis 1:28. It was interpreted during the 19th […]
Do animals have rights? Explore the rights-vs-welfare debate and how Christian theology has grown more sympathetic to animals Why This Question Matters Now In today’s world, human-animal relationships lie at the heart of many of our most pressing social, economic, geographical, and environmental challenges. Science is increasingly making us aware […]
Will God destroy the earth or renew it? A biblical case for creation care rooted in restoration, not annihilation. Theological dictionaries reveal that the expression “heaven and earth” is a biblical way of designating the entire universe (cosmos). In Revelation 21:1 we hear about “a new heaven and a new earth” (see […]
The focus of Easter and Eucharistic messages is predominantly what we human beings get out of Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection. A close reading of Scripture, however, quickly reveals that those events have cosmic implications and applications. The Cross: A Cosmic Event Humanity undoubtedly needs redemption, but is that all […]
This planet won’t be destroyed but healed. Our creation care efforts now will be carried over into God’s promised new earth forever. The Destruction Myth One of the greatest impediments to Christian participation in creation care is the notion that the world is going to be destroyed in a massive […]
Explore why place and belonging matter for local churches, with seven practical ways congregations can ground ministry in their place. The Greek New Testament word for church is ekklesia, meaning “called out.” While this denotes a people set apart by a particular faith identity, it can also be interpreted geographically. […]
Discover why having a sense of place matters for your faith, wellbeing and calling to care for creation, and how to build one We Are Persons-in-Place God is present and active in every aspect of our lives, wherever we find ourselves (Psalm 139:7-10; Acts 17:28; I Corinthians 8:6). God’s grace is related […]
Discover why having a sense of place matters for your faith, wellbeing and calling to care for creation, and how to build one We Are Persons-in-Place God is present and active in every aspect of our lives, wherever we find ourselves (Psalm 139:7-10; Acts 17:28; I Corinthians 8:6). God’s grace is related […]
Explore how nature becomes a place to encounter God through wonder, attentiveness, and a contemplative gaze, plus practical steps to begin. I was ambling along the Minnehaha Track on the outskirts of Fox (South Island) when suddenly there it was in front of me. I saw a tree sculpture. A […]
Mission is a word often used, but it is not easy to find a concise definition of it, let alone one on which everyone can agree. Mission has many elements. Defining Mission Decades ago, the Anglican Consultative Council identified five strands to mission which have since gained wide acceptance: To […]
The scope of Christian redemption is frequently reduced to a strictly individualised, anthropocentric transaction—a rescue mission designed exclusively to extract human souls from a corrupt world and secure them a place in a distant, disembodied heaven. However, the New Testament presents a radically grander vision of salvation, one that encompasses […]
Creation care is a legitimate aspect of the church’s mission. Jesus told us to take the good news to the whole creation — human and non-human. The Lausanne movement has recognised creation care as an integral part of the church’s mission. It resonates with the bigger biblical goal of shalom, […]
Explore how Jesus’s death connects to climate justice, Romans 8, and the call for Christians to choose discipleship over denial. When Jesus was crucified on a stake in Jerusalem, very few realised that there was a lot more at stake than just jealous religious leaders asserting their authority or egotistical […]
Six science-backed answers to your climate-denying relatives’ favourite arguments — respectful, factual, and ready for the dinner table. We all seem to have that one relative who denies climate change (loudly) at the dinner table – the one who points to snow on the ground in winter to disprove global […]
For centuries, mainstream Christian eschatology has been dominated by a single, dramatic image: the total destruction of the physical universe. Popular culture and traditional theology alike have long anticipated a final doomsday where the Earth is consumed by fire, the material world is obliterated, and believers are rescued to live […]
Genesis 2:15 reveals a second Great Commission: humanity’s unrevoked call to work and guard God’s earth as faithful, priestly stewards When Christians hear the phrase “The Great Commission,” their minds almost universally fly to the closing verses of Matthew’s Gospel. There, Jesus instructs His disciples to go into all the […]
For centuries, the Bible has been read primarily as a roadmap for human salvation and moral conduct. However, as the twenty-first century faces unprecedented ecological upheaval, a growing chorus of theologians, scientists, and historians are turning back to ancient scriptures to answer a modern crisis. While the term “climate change” […]
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus frequently upends human expectations regarding power, wealth, and status. One of His most profound theological declarations occurs in Matthew 19:28, a verse that bridges the immediate concerns of His disciples with the grand, cosmic climax of salvation history. Prompted by Peter’s blunt question regarding […]
The tension between biblical passages describing a cataclysmic end of the world and those declaring the structural permanence of the Earth has challenged theologians for centuries. While popular apocalyptic narratives emphasise a future global annihilation, a profound thread of scripture weaves a radically different narrative: that God has made binding, […]
The theme of renewal is the heartbeat of the biblical narrative. From the opening pages of Genesis to the final visions of Revelation, Scripture reveals a God who is not passive about decay, sin, or destruction. Instead, He actively works to make “all things new.” This renewal is not merely […]
2 Peter 3 is the absolute epicentre of the debate regarding the future of the physical Earth. Rapture proponents and dispensationalists rely heavily on this chapter to argue that the physical universe will be completely vaporised, obliterated, and replaced with a totally different reality. They use verses like 2 Peter […]