The Role of Creation in Faith Formation: Avoiding the Pantheism Controversy When we draw the attention of participants and guests to God's creation as a way to hear the Word of God or to know God better, some may assume that we are encouraging people to worship nature itself. This could not be further from the truth, but it is important to understand and appreciate the concern. Pantheism is the worship of creatures and/or human beings. Biblical writers vigorously warn that this is total folly. Avoid this unnecessary controversy (that may corrode people's confidence in your camp/retreat ministry and environmental education) by being clear about the theological foundations for what you are doing. The goal is not, however, to avoid experiences with and within the natural world. That would be a great loss indeed for Christian faith formation. Those most concerned about pantheism often begin with a deep regard for Scripture, so an effective dialogue explaining outdoor Christian education often demonstrates the biblical basis of our ministry. We must make the distinction between pantheism and the worthy recognition that creation is sacred because it is a voice that speaks of God and it is an environment that draws folks closer to God. It is a good gift. One biblical excerpt that clarifies key issues is Romans 1:19-25: For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Ever since the creation of the world [God's] eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things [God] has made. So they are without excuse; for though they knew God, they did not honor [God] as God or give thanks to [the Creator], but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools; and they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling a mortal human being or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles . . . they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. In the very passage in which Paul denounces pantheism, he strongly affirms that the creation, which God has made, is a channel to know the Maker and to understand aspects of God's eternal presence and power. Paul does not shy away from saying that the natural world helps reveal and connect us with our Creator. He argues forcefully, however, that just because a creature may serve as a vehicle for God's self-revelation, this does not mean that it is to be equated with the fullness of God. Therefore, nature or a creature within nature, human or otherwise, should never be worshiped and served as the Divine. Even the earth as a whole, the sun, the moon, and so on are creatures not Creator; but they are holy because they are expressions of God. The Holy Spirit may dwell in us as human beings, for example, so God speaks and loves through us. We are vessels of the One Who Made Us. We, therefore, recognize and honor the One that formed us — the God whose divine life force is within us and within the rest of creation. Jesus himself represents the zenith of God coming into our midst in the form of a creature — a human being — to extend grace and to renew relationships with the whole world in an utterly profound and special way. As Christians, we understand the uniqueness of the Christ who so fittingly was called "Emmanuel — God with us." God has been about communicating with us and being among us since the commencement of time. Here are just two passages that serve as illustrations. John 1:1-5, 14, 16: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. . . . And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. . . . From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. Psalm 19:1-4: The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. It is no accident that Christian camp/retreat centers are located in beautiful, natural places. The church recognized very early how often journeys, retreats, and activities outdoors open people to faith and lifestyles of faithfulness. These settings provide unparalleled environments for faith formation. Why is this? It is true that people are away from their normal routine and other distractions, but it goes far deeper than that. The creation itself actually speaks of God. "The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims God' s handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world." Have we not heard these inspiring voices when we actually seek God in the wilderness? This is because the voice of nature comes from the very "Word" of God. If every part of the nature comes into existence through the Word, then God is saying something in each one. As the Christian teacher Meister Eckhart so eloquently reflected centuries ago, "Every creature is a word from God and a word about God." This awareness has particular meaning for Christians, because the same Word that made all things is also the Word that lived among us in Jesus. "And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory. . . . From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace." Christ was, and continues to be, involved in the ongoing creativity of God. Nature and our own existence within it are tied to Christ's mission. In a very real way, meditating upon God within pristine environments can be a judicious spiritual practice — an avenue provided by God that cooperates with Christ in enabling us to hear and comprehend what God is saying. "I love you, so love one another." Wesley brilliantly named such disciplines and pathways of faith a means of grace. In their zeal to discourage "pantheism," some religious leaders, perhaps unknowingly, go overboard by teaching a kind of passive, if not overt, rejection of creation. Nature from this point of view is treated as an enemy or, at best, as a temporary resource for human consumption, rather than a sacred expression and message of God. This denial of holy ground arises from an incomplete reading of Scripture, from my point of view. From the Scripture passages examined here, we learn that every aspect of God's creation is a divine communication, sparked with the life force of God, declaring God's glory. Let us develop the heart and the ears to hear. What wisdom is God teaching us through the various organisms and elements around us? This way of listening adds another holy habit to the repertoire of spiritual practices; e.g., public and private prayer, searching the Scriptures, corporate worship, doing good, avoiding harm, forming Christian community, faith-full conversation. It may be a discipline unfamiliar to many in modern society, but it has deep roots extending back in our Christian traditions to St. Francis and others. Our society truly needs to reclaim this. Our primary calling as Christian camp/retreat centers is to lead experiences that help participants relate to God and appreciate the many dimensions of God's grace. We must be acutely aware that loss of diversity in nature is eroding a tremendous avenue that God has given us in fulfilling our purpose. If every species is a particular word from God, we who are people of faith must be especially diligent in caring for all species and encouraging the preservation of God's messages and messengers. Each species that we as human beings cause to die is a word from God that disappears — a word meant to declare the glory of God. Among the many good reasons for being faithful stewards and protectors of the earth, this ranks among the most poignant. Unless we are well-established in the wisdom of our faith, we risk being drawn to the cacophony of messages designed to make us feel something is missing in our lives. Be savvy. An egocentric set of beliefs is infiltrating our psyches, especially those of us born and raised in wealthy countries. Material gain and human comfort are the "promised land"; economic growth is posited as the solution to the world's problems. A strong economy is equated with "progress." These values assume that we can actually own the earth — its resources and its creatures — and do with them as we please. But if the earth has been "given" to us in any sense, it is so that we can care for it on behalf of God. Remember Psalm 24:1-2: The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; for [God] has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers. As a community of faith, what we have to offer is another definition of progress — living the love of Christ, a servant leader for all of creation. We hear another voice, a deeper wisdom speaking life itself. | Page 1 of Decisions of Faith & Calls to Ministry | | Page 2 of Decisions of Faith & Calls to Ministry | | Share Our Worlds — Help Needed | | Share Our Worlds — Giving Partners Form | | The Role of Creation in Faith Formation: Avoiding the Pantheism Controversy | | Camp/Retreat Ministry Certification | | Resource Review | | Mark Your Calendars | | D. Min. Group Forming in Camp/Retreat Ministry | | Camp/Retreat Memo Archives | | Camp and Retreat Ministries Home | Articles | Links | Staff | | Comments | Directory | Events | Employment Opportunities |