Join us as we explore one man’s journey from skeptic to environmental advocate through the lens of his faith. But just as he begins to offer solutions, a looming threat interrupts, leaving him and the audience with a question: will the church wake up and stand up to protect God’s creation?
My special guest is Kyle Meyaard-Schaap
Introducing Kyle Meyaard-Schaap, a devoted advocate for Christian climate action and environmental care.
Rev. Kyle Meyaard-Schaap (MY-yurd SKOP) serves as the Vice President of the Evangelical Environmental Network. For the last ten years, he has educated and mobilized Christians around the world to address the climate crisis as an act of discipleship and neighbor-love.
Kyle has been named to Midwest Energy Group’s 40 Under 40, the American Conservation Coalition’s 30 Under 30, and the Grist 50 Fixers cohorts for his work on climate change education and advocacy. In 2020, he was named a Yale Public Voices on the Climate Crisis Fellow. His work has been featured in national and international news outlets such as PBS, NPR, CNN, NBC News, New York Times, Reuters, and U.S. News and World Report. His book, Following Jesus in a Warming World: A Christian Call to Climate Action, was released by InterVarsity Press in February 2023.
Kyle is married to Allison and lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan with their two sons.
Visit his website at kylemeyaardschaap.com.
Follow him on Twitter: @kmeyaardschaap.
Caring for creation is a fundamental part of every human being’s vocation because that’s how God made us. – Kyle MeyaardSchaap
In this episode, you will be able to:
Grasp Christian obligations towards environmental stewardship and climate action.
Find out the significance of incorporating native plants in the battle against climate change.
Expose the hidden causes driving climate change skepticism in political and religious spheres.
Discover the potential of generational dialogue in forging Christian action against climate change.
Engage in a hopeful pursuit of creative solutions and resolute action for a sustainable future.
The resources mentioned in this episode are:
Read Kyle’s book, Following Jesus in a Warming World: A Christian Call to Climate Action.
AWORLD23 listeners can get 30 percent off the ebook and physical book (free shipping) at ivpress.com through 5/19
Find unique ways to care for creation and protect the environment, based on your own vocation and interests.
Implement practices that bring joy and enhance your experience of creation.
Participate in events and initiatives that promote environmental care and protection, such as Indie Creation Fest.
Support organizations like the Evangelical Environmental Network that are working towards climate change education
and advocacy.
Make sustainable choices in your daily life, such as using reusable bags and water bottles, reducing meat consumption,
and conserving energy.
Advocate for policies and actions that prioritize the environment and address climate change.
Worship as Awe and Wonder
Worship can be far more than a formalized gathering or ritual. It can be experienced as a profound sense of awe and wonder in
everyday life, especially when we open our hearts and minds to the beauty and intricate connections of the natural world.
Immersing ourselves in creation and marveling at the marvels of our planet gives us an even greater appreciation for the
Creator of all things. In the interview, Kyle Meyaard-Schaap shares his experiences of finding awe in God’s creation. He talks
about attending the Indie Creation Fest, an event that celebrates God’s creation and promotes efforts to protect it. Through
embracing beauty in nature, Kyle highlights the importance of cultivating a worshipful approach towards environment and
reveals how his faith has been enriched by his journey into creation care.
The Importance of Listening to the Younger Generation
The youth of today have a unique and valuable perspective on environmental issues, and their voices must be heard. As the
generation that will inherit the consequences of climate change, they are more keenly aware of its dangers and are passionately
advocating for collective action. By acknowledging their concerns and supporting their efforts, society encourages a more
inclusive and effective response to environmental challenges. Kyle Meyaard-Schaap emphasizes the need to listen to and learn
from the younger generation. He discusses how young Christians are beginning to question the narratives they were raised on
and are challenging the status quo in their communities. By offering support and encouragement to the next generation, we join
forces in ensuring a brighter and healthier future for all.
This is a beautiful, exhilarating invitation to become more human and to participate in God’s joy. – Kyle Meyaard-Schaap
I don’t know how to love God and to love my neighbor without doing something about forces that are destroying God’s good
creation. – Kyle Meyaard-Schaap
Climate Change as a Moral Issue
As global citizens, we must recognize that addressing climate change and participating in creation care is vital. This
responsibility becomes even more significant for those who identify as Christian, as it speaks to the core principles of loving God
and loving our neighbors. Climate change is a moral issue that needs to be acknowledged and faced head-on, as it deeply
impacts not only the environment but also the life and well-being of countless communities around the world. By dedicating
ourselves to the cause, we can positively contribute to a better future. Kyle Meyaard-Schaap, in his conversation with Lori
Adams-Brown, underscores the connection between faith and creation care. Growing up in a conservative Christian community,
Kyle had not initially understood this connection. It was only through his brother’s studies – and exploring the relationship
between ecology, biology, and scripture himself – that Kyle realized the importance of engaging with environmental stewardship
as a Christian. He encourages fellow believers to examine the issue through the lens of their faith and calls on them to actively
participate in creation care.
The key moments in this episode are:
00:00:00 – Introduction,
00:03:09 – Celebrating Earth Day,
00:08:41 – Climate Change as a Moral Issue,
00:12:54 – Finding Your Earth-Keeping Vocation,
00:16:01 – Conclusion,
00:16:32 – Worship as Awe and Wonder,
00:18:15 – Surprising Ways to Steward the Planet,
00:22:56 – Skepticism Around Climate Change,
00:29:06 – Muddy Public Conversation Around Climate Change,
00:31:31 – Recovering God’s Story,
00:33:43 – The Importance of Listening to the Younger Generation,
00:35:20 – Recognizing the Need for Change in the Church,
00:37:23 – Finding Hope and Inspiration in Community,
00:38:30 – Casting a Vision for an Inspiring Future,
00:38:58 – The Epilogue,
If you’re feeling frustrated and helpless because your efforts to protect the environment through actions like recycling or using
eco-friendly products aren’t making a significant impact, then you are not alone!
Timestamped summary of this episode:
00:00:00 – Introduction,
Lori Adams-Brown introduces Kyle Meyaard-Schaap, the vice president of the Evangelical Environmental Network. They talk
about his book, Following Jesus in a Warming World, and his work on climate change education and advocacy.
00:03:09 – Celebrating Earth Day,
Kyle talks about Indie Creation Fest, an event he helped plan and host in Indianapolis. The festival brings together people to
celebrate God’s creation, learn from each other, and get involved in activities that help protect the environment.
00:08:41 – Climate Change as a Moral Issue,
Kyle explains that climate change is a moral issue that Christians should care about. He believes that following Jesus means
loving God and loving our neighbor, and taking care of the environment is part of that calling.
00:12:54 – Finding Your Earth-Keeping Vocation,
Kyle believes that everyone has a unique calling to care for the environment, and that it’s important to find practices that bring
you joy. He suggests reframing the conversation around environmental care from one of guilt and obligation to one of joy and
participation in God’s joy.
00:16:01 – Conclusion,
Lori and Kyle wrap up the conversation by reminding listeners that caring for the environment is a beautiful and exhilarating
invitation to become more human and to participate in God’s joy. They encourage people to find their own unique ways to
connect with the environment and care for it.
00:16:32 – Worship as Awe and Wonder,
Worship as awe and wonder, and taking care of the planet through native landscaping, scouting, and activism.
00:18:15 – Surprising Ways to Steward the Planet,
Kyle talks about the importance of using native plants for landscaping to help mitigate climate impacts, and how to bring your
land into better harmony with the natural ecosystem around you.
00:22:56 – Skepticism Around Climate Change,
Kyle addresses skepticism around climate change in the US, and the reasons why it exists. He discusses the political,
theological, and societal stories that have shaped American attitudes towards climate change.
00:29:06 – Muddy Public Conversation Around Climate Change,
Kyle talks about the concerted effort by fossil fuel corporations to muddy the public conversation around climate change, and the
false narratives and misleading information that have been spread about the issue.
00:31:31 – Recovering God’s Story,
Kyle discusses the importance of recovering God’s story in relation to climate change, and how the greatest commandment to
love God and love our neighbor is directly related to our responsibility to care for the planet.
00:33:43 – The Importance of Listening to the Younger Generation,
Kyle highlights the significance of listening to the younger generation and explains how they can help in shaping a better future.
He hopes that readers who recognize the harmful stories they were told about climate change and the environment will
understand that they are not alone in their passion for change.
00:35:20 – Recognizing the Need for Change in the Church,
Kyle emphasizes the importance of recognizing how the church has been compromised by incomplete and harmful stories
around creation and climate change. He encourages young Christians who have recognized this and still love the church to call
out the problematic stories and try to bring about change.
00:37:23 – Finding Hope and Inspiration in Community,
Kyle believes that the work of Christian climate action has to happen in community and encourages readers to find their people
and do this work together. He acknowledges that it can be hard to hold hope, and having a community to hold hope for each
other is crucial.
00:38:30 – Casting a Vision for an Inspiring Future,
Kyle talks about the importance of casting a vision for an inspiring future that can be created by taking action together. He
encourages readers to exercise their imagination and imagine the kind of world they want to create by taking action on climate
change.
00:38:58 – The Epilogue,
In the epilogue, Kyle writes a letter to his imagined granddaughter in 2066, casting a vision for a better, safer, and more
prosperous world.
Calling all Christians who want to take action for our planet and its future! Have you heard the myths that suggest that taking
care of our environment is not a Christian responsibility? That climate change is not real? Or that our actions won’t make a
difference? It’s time to debunk these myths and embrace the truth. Join us as Kyle Meyaard-Schaap shares the facts and
inspires us to take action towards creation care and climate justice.
For those who are different and want to make a difference
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