👏🏽 I’m so glad someone is talking about this! Recently in taking a closer look at the first several chapters in Genesis, the verses in 1:26-28 where God talks about why he put humans on earth really stood out to me, and it appears that he places a good bit higher value on the earth/land and the creatures in it than I had ever heard preached. It is especially clear in the CEB version. Since then it has put other comments in scripture in a new light and has given me a lot to ponder. Check out the middle section of Romans 8, especially v. 22, it’s very interesting in light of this conversation! & makes me think that parts of the Chronicles of Narnia are not quite as fantastical as they otherwise seem 🤔 so, thank you for bringing this up here!
The Scripture says, "Godliness with contentment is great gain." When we are content with simplicity, we create a minimum of waste. Our carbon footprint is actually quite small. Living up to our salary potential in order to indulge our own flesh is not good stewardship. Living up to our salary potential in order to satisfy our own lusts is actually war on our own souls. Voluntary spiritual disciplines actively free us from indulging ourselves on that we which we could quite legitimately claim for ourselves. After all, I live for Christ, not for myself. I live for Him and others. Freedom from the control of my own lusts!
Thank you for modeling an Anabaptist approach to understanding how scripture speaks to how we live.
Thank you, Harlan.
👏🏽 I’m so glad someone is talking about this! Recently in taking a closer look at the first several chapters in Genesis, the verses in 1:26-28 where God talks about why he put humans on earth really stood out to me, and it appears that he places a good bit higher value on the earth/land and the creatures in it than I had ever heard preached. It is especially clear in the CEB version. Since then it has put other comments in scripture in a new light and has given me a lot to ponder. Check out the middle section of Romans 8, especially v. 22, it’s very interesting in light of this conversation! & makes me think that parts of the Chronicles of Narnia are not quite as fantastical as they otherwise seem 🤔 so, thank you for bringing this up here!
The Scripture says, "Godliness with contentment is great gain." When we are content with simplicity, we create a minimum of waste. Our carbon footprint is actually quite small. Living up to our salary potential in order to indulge our own flesh is not good stewardship. Living up to our salary potential in order to satisfy our own lusts is actually war on our own souls. Voluntary spiritual disciplines actively free us from indulging ourselves on that we which we could quite legitimately claim for ourselves. After all, I live for Christ, not for myself. I live for Him and others. Freedom from the control of my own lusts!
Does anyone know of any Anabaptist who gives his land a rest every so many years ? I don't. Why not ? Is this a practical way to obey God ?