Hello Hadden. Just joined the fun here and am looking forward to reading more here. I am interested in your use of the terms creation and nature. Do you see them as interchangeable or synonymous?
Secondly, I think the parable of the talents is a good help in us understanding stewardship. I strongly believe that God requires more of us than returning to Him what He has given us stewardship over; but, we are to return it to Him with gain. Do you see stewardship in this way at all?
I have finally got round to responding. Creation/nature, I do see them as synonymous and interchangeable and habitually use them as such, although my preferred noun is creation as that reminds me that what I see has been made by Someone who delights in what they have made and has given it to me as a gift to use and enjoy well. But nature is perhaps the most understood, accepted, and well-known phrase. As my audience is deliberately Christian and secular, I try to use nature from time to time so as to not alienate part of my audience, who I hope one day will come to use the term "creation" as I do.
As to your second point, I fully agree. I have thought this as well when reading the parable of the talents. What it means to give back with a return when we think of creation I have not yet thought through deeply to give an adequate response - what do you think? With regards to agricultural landscapers here I have some more concrete thoughts: stewardship is bringing forth the bounty of the land for the good of all people, in a way that causes the land to flourish under our care and keeps it in a condition of flourishing (i.e limited/no soil degradation, incorporation of biodiversity and agro-diversity, retaining soil fertility).
Hello Hadden. Just joined the fun here and am looking forward to reading more here. I am interested in your use of the terms creation and nature. Do you see them as interchangeable or synonymous?
Secondly, I think the parable of the talents is a good help in us understanding stewardship. I strongly believe that God requires more of us than returning to Him what He has given us stewardship over; but, we are to return it to Him with gain. Do you see stewardship in this way at all?
Hello Dan,
I have finally got round to responding. Creation/nature, I do see them as synonymous and interchangeable and habitually use them as such, although my preferred noun is creation as that reminds me that what I see has been made by Someone who delights in what they have made and has given it to me as a gift to use and enjoy well. But nature is perhaps the most understood, accepted, and well-known phrase. As my audience is deliberately Christian and secular, I try to use nature from time to time so as to not alienate part of my audience, who I hope one day will come to use the term "creation" as I do.
As to your second point, I fully agree. I have thought this as well when reading the parable of the talents. What it means to give back with a return when we think of creation I have not yet thought through deeply to give an adequate response - what do you think? With regards to agricultural landscapers here I have some more concrete thoughts: stewardship is bringing forth the bounty of the land for the good of all people, in a way that causes the land to flourish under our care and keeps it in a condition of flourishing (i.e limited/no soil degradation, incorporation of biodiversity and agro-diversity, retaining soil fertility).
Only just got round to reading this but wow!! What wisdom. Thanks for adapting and sharing 😊