Reforesting Faith: What Trees Teach Us About the Nature of God and His Love for Us

by Matthew Sleeth

Christianity is the only religion that weaves trees from one end of its sacred text to the other. Every important character and every major event has a tree marking the spot. There is a tree in the first and last chapter of the Bible, in the first psalm, and in the first gospel.

Two opposing forces are at war on this planet. One says, “Look to yourself. It’s all about you.” The other says, “Love God, and love your neighbor.” The man who said the latter claimed to be the true vine and the tree of life.

Without humans, trees would manage just fine. Without trees, people would perish.

During the Dust Bowl, the federal government planted nearly a quarter of a billion trees to combat the damage done to the landscape by the wholesale removal of fence breaks and the practice of excessive plowing.

Ask any pastor what will empty out a church on Sundays, and the answer will not be tree worshipping. It will be the modern equivalent of Baal, which is now spelled Ball.

Very few opinions have ever been changed by starting a conversation with, “You are stupid, and you need to be more like me.” Instead, try to find an area of common ground.

As Martin Luther is credited with saying, “If I knew the world would end tomorrow, I would still plant a tree.”