I fear that Matt is right; if a person really takes christianity seriously, they’d have to cut down the trees, even if it means destorying the planet. You can’t hide behind a “Greenpeace Theology” of it’s-wrong-to-hurt-creation when it’s wrong-er to offend a jealous god.

One thing I have noticed many people do is equate following God with comfort, easy of life, safety, and long life. Cutting down the tree may not be the safe thing to do. Following God causes many to die sooner than if they had not. But, that can still be good. I would rather die today following Christ than live hundreds of years and not be a Christ follower.

It is better for those people to die young in a relationship with Christ than to live a long life. Often times we forget that because it is very different from the teachings of western culture.

I believe that was his last action of destruction. Both the prophets and Jesus then spoke of the renewal and restoration of God’s kingdom, which of seems to be in a state of always-not-yet until the new creation of heaven and earth.

But even when God was going about executing his wrath against his creation, I don’t know that I would be willing to say that he desired that destruction. Maybe? I don’t know.

He seems to destroy stuff often – particularily when he’s angry.

the second thing I’d like to say is this – I think what Thomas is saying above is close to what Paul told the Romans. yes, you pray to Apollo, and Zeus – but the God I pray to is greater than those gods…and so you don’t have to destroy those statues, or temples…but turn your belief to the greater God (or something like that – it has been awhile since i’ve read the apostles).

so – my two cents…

interesting side-bar about mission work. In Japan, when a person became a Christian – no one in the Church really believed it until after five years or so – by that point it showed that the new believer was committed.

Matt, what you described is, I feel, part of this same error of Christendom. The assumption that making people believe right (orthodoxy) and live right (orthopraxy) will somehow save them, or convert them, or make them good enough for God’s grace. It would make much more sense for me if the missionaries had spent more time demonstrating God’s love, and grace, and healing presence in their community. As the villiagers learned more about the God of the missionaries, they could have explained that our God is not only the God of the trees, but of the water, and land, and animals, and all people.

Does the God you believe in seek the destruction of any part of His creation?

BUT THEN the missionaries came, converted everyone to Christianity, and told them to cut down the trees because it was idolotry to honor the trees.
Now the village is tree-less and dealing with serious consequences – errosion, no firewood, no shade, etc.

http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/plantingthefuture/index.shtml