Sustainable September 3

For this third and final sermon in the Sustainable September series we have the theme "What is the Challenge to The Christian Community?"

• I heard a quote during the week from Albert Einstein: "No problem can be solved by the same consciousness that caused it in the first place." This seems particularly apt in relation to global warming - the consciousness that caused the problem cannot solve it.
• The consciousness, or state of mind, that has brought about this environmental crisis seeks to solve it by such things as pumping CO2 into space, or developing nuclear energy, or fusion energy.  This state of mind wants to keep doing more and more of the same thing and finding expensive, complicated  technological solutions to solve the resulting problems.
• We know that what is needed is a transformation of consciousness.
• Even if global warming was not happening our economic system is still unsustainable because it relies on the increased consumption of finite resources - resources that are running out. This consciousness must change.
• A visual image of the problem - I heard of a method of catching monkeys which involves cutting a hole in a coconut just big enough for a monkey to squeeze its hand through.  Salt, which monkeys really like, is then put into the coconut.  A monkey comes along, squeezes its hand through the hole, grabs a fistful of salt but cannot extract its fist while it is clenched.  No matter what happens the monkey will not let go of the salt in its fist and is easily captured.  
• This is where western society is at.  Our dedication to egoism, and material acquisition is a fistful of salt that we will not release. Even the impending crisis of global warming will not allow us to release our grip.
• The only way I can think to get the monkey to release its grip on the salt is to present it with something even more attractive..  Something that it will reach out for with both hands, thus releasing the salt.
• Surely as the witnesses of Christ in the world the Christian community is charged with the responsibility of presenting the gospel in a way that will allow "the World" to release the salt.
• Lets not forget, that Christians, on the whole, have been as materialistic and egoistic as anyone else. We need a new gospel too!
• We need an understanding of our life in God as something that goes way beyond the projections of our egos.  A life that leaves us fulfilled and content, non-desiring. A life that sees service to God, the community, the poor, as more important than material acqusition.  A life that liberates us from the need to prove ourselves worthy, successful, or anything else. A life that leaves us with a humble compassion for all living things and the creation that sustains them.