In Jesus and the Earth, Bishop of Liverpool James Jones explains what Jesus has to teach us about respect for the creation and the environment. He argues clearly and passionately that Jesus is the savior not only of humanity, but also the savior of the planet and of the whole cosmos, which came into being through Him and for Him. In Jones’ words, “to desecrate the earth is not just a crime against the earth and future generations, which it is. To desecrate the earth is a blasphemy. It is to defile Christ's own gifts.” A series of questions is provided at the end of each chapter to stimulate personal reflection and group discussion. At the end of the book there are also practical guidelines on how churches and individuals might become more environmentally responsible.
What was Jesus' attitude to the earth? What, if anything, did He say about the environment? Is there a divine “earth-ethic” to be found in the Gospels? As the ecological threats to the earth multiply and intensify, Christians are turning to the pages of the Old Testament for guidance on environmental ethics. But is wisdom about this critical issue to be found only there?
James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool, set out to discover if his own concern for creation found any sympathy in the teaching and example of Jesus. Jesus and the Earth is the result of his search. It had the honor of being the Anglican Church’s 2004 Lent Study Book.
