By Aryanto Wijaya
If you are into scrolling through socials, you might have stumbled upon a meme comparing the city of Bekasi to Bandung’s highlands.
Bekasi, located on Java’s north coast, sits at an elevation ranging from sea level to 2 meters high. In contrast, Bandung’s elevation is around 700 meters above sea level. Bekasi gets teased as a scorching “double-sun city”, while Bandung gets praised as a “chill refrigerator”.
But memes do not tell the whole story, although there is some truth to the temperature gap between these spots. Franz Wilhelm Junghuhn, a geographer from the 1800s, categorized tropical areas by how high they are above sea level. He said that for every 100 meters you go up, the temperature drops by about 0.6 degrees. So, the higher you are, the cooler it gets. This idea worked well a hundred years ago when there weren’t as many people and the air was cleaner. Nowadays, with more people and pollution, this isn’t always the case.
As someone who comes from Bandung and works in Jakarta, I find myself at odds with the enthusiastic tourists who praise our city for being cool and green. While it’s true that visiting places like Kawah Putih on Mount Patuha or Tangkuban Parahu is refreshing, the reality within the city itself isn’t much different from Jakarta—it’s equally hot!
Weather records show that back in 1975, Bandung’s average temperature was 22.6 degrees Celsius. Fast forward to 2020, 45 years later, and it’s gone up by 3 degrees! It might not sound like much, but it really changes things, especially on really hot days. People in the city who were fine without air conditioning before are now thinking about getting one. Sure, air conditioners make it cooler inside, but they’re not great for the environment. And it’s not just Bandung; other places are feeling the heat even more.
We can not just rely on feelings when talking about the environment. We must turn to data for a clearer picture. Data from the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service shows global temperature rising by 1.52 degrees Celsius from February 2023 to January 2024. As temperatures go up, the climate patterns that have developed over centuries also change. As a result, we’re now witnessing unusual natural events: heavy rains during typically dry months, destructive tornado-like winds, and shrinking water levels in reservoirs.
Our Faith is not Clueless about What’s Going on with the Planet
When we see disasters caused by climate change, it makes us think: How does our faith shape how we see it? Do we just give up, thinking it’s all meant to be and we can’t do anything? Do we deny it, thinking it’s not a big deal? Do we worry too much, thinking the end is near? Or do we, out of love for God, start to pray and take small steps to help?
Rev. Prof. Emanuel Gerrit Singgih wrote about Karen Armstrong’s book “Sacred Nature.” Armstrong says that in the West, which includes Christian beliefs since Christianity grew in Europe since the 4th century, people don’t see nature as sacred. They just see it as a thing. This is different from Eastern beliefs, where people have a deep respect for nature, keep myths alive, and sometimes even worship it. In these beliefs, nature is sacred and powerful, and we must treat it with respect. You can see this in places like Bali or other areas with strong local traditions. There, people treat big trees as sacred and believe that harming them can bring bad karma.
But, does this mean that the Christian faith tends to ignore nature?
This question leads us into an intriguing discussion. In my experience as a Christian, environmental issues have rarely been discussed in church. But that does not mean our faith devalues nature. Quite the opposite! We hold the universe in high regard as God’s magnificent creation (Genesis 1:1). Even the psalmist eloquently describes God’s character through the beauty of nature and creation (Psalm 19:1; Matthew 6:26).
When God gave humans dominion over the earth, it was not a license to exploit, but a responsibility to care for it. The Hebrew word for “rule” in Genesis 1:26 and 28 is “רָדָה râdâh.” While the King James Version (KJV) and New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) translate it as “dominion,” the New International Version (NIV) uses “rule.” Both words convey the idea of authority, but the context matters. We must consider the preceding verse, which states that humans are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). So, the real meaning of the command to ‘rule’ isn’t permission to exploit, but rather our duty as creatures who reflect God’s image. The late Rev. Purboyo W. Susilaradeya emphasized this beautifully: “‘Ruling’ can only occur according to God’s intention for all creation, where we ‘live for all creatures’ and are accountable to Him.”
Looking back at what Karen Armstrong said about how Christianity sees nature, we do see the universe and nature as things created by God. But they’re not just random things; they have a purpose. The Apostle Paul reminds us that “all things have been created through [Christ] and for him” (Colossians 1:16). Our role is to steward this creation responsibly and wholeheartedly, out of love for the Creator. When Jesus taught the Lord’s Prayer, one line stands out: “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).
Jesus teaches us to seek God’s will on earth, aligning our lives with His purpose. Regarding the environment, God’s will is clear: He wants us to manage His creation responsibly, in ways that bring glory to Him and benefit us. There’s no room for careless destruction or neglect.
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So, in summary, can our faith help improve the world?
Yes, it can! When it comes to the environment, we can see the damage caused by humanity’s sin. But we shouldn’t just say, “It’s broken, that’s just how it is.” Instead, let’s broaden our perspective. We should remember that God’s call for us to “rule” over nature isn’t just about using it for ourselves. Nature is a reflection of His glory that also proclaims the work of His hands (Psalm 19:1). The death and resurrection of Jesus brought restoration, although we haven’t seen it fully yet. So, we shouldn’t stay silent or give up. We’re called to seek the welfare of our city (Jeremiah 29:7). Welfare isn’t just about people—it includes everything around us.
Today’s climate problems come from a lot of damage done over many years. You might wonder if doing the right thing for nature really makes a difference. It does! Even a small step is better than doing nothing or just complaining.
Simple steps matter. You can start with easy things like turning off the water when you brush your teeth, walking instead of taking a vehicle if you can, and using less plastic that you throw away after one use.
If we all do these things with all our heart, God will bless our efforts. Imagine if millions of Christians did this consistently. We could save so much water, reduce trash, and help slow down the Earth’s warming.
We can do this! Let’s start by doing good things ourselves.
Watch this video:
And It Was Good
When you look at the beauty of nature, does it bring you joy? Turns out it brings God joy too. In Genesis 1, He not only creates the earth but He also takes pleasure in what He made.
How should His love for the earth impact the way we take care of creation? Watch today’s video for biblical wisdom and insight about stewarding the earth.
Our Daily Bread Ministries in Indonesia is supported by the freewill offering of individuals in Indonesia, who through their gifts enable us to continue to bring the life-changing wisdom of the Bible to many here. We are not funded by any church or organisation.
