Lecture – Paul Kunert

Jesus Died to save the planet

In this lecture we’ll consider how a full biblical account of the death and resurrection of Jesus compels us to make a response to the climate and nature crises a central part of our response to the Gospel. We’ll set out that account, focusing on Jesus’ work of redemption, reconciliation, renewal and restoration of all things; see what it means for the renewal of humanity and our role and purpose; and then what it demands of the church. We’ll also diagnose why the flourishing of creation remains stubbornly peripheral – against the purposes of God – to the life of most churches and set out a way forward for any church that wants to see following Jesus for the flourishing of all creation – human society and non-human creation – integrated into the everyday lives of its people.

Biography

Born and bred in the UK, Paul has been working in Africa’s electricity sector for the last 25 years in various senior leadership roles, developing, financing, building, and managing major power plants in countries all over the continent. He is a chartered accountant and has a degree in economics and politics. He is married to Tara and they have three grown-up children.

For a long time – far too long – he’d seen ‘climate change’ as a secondary concern, not something very high on God’s to-do list. Either world leaders were on top of it, or it wasn’t that big of an issue anyway. Or worse still, maybe God wasn’t that bothered.

When the truth about climate and ecological breakdown – and God’s purpose for his creation and the full extent of the work of Christ on the cross – finally hit home, he realised he couldn’t have been more wrong. Jesus Died to Save the Planet was published last year.