I honestly don’t even have a clue how they’ve predicted this, but apparently today the world’s population will hit 7 billion people (I hope that baby wins a TV, or a blanket or something). And, as expected, for months people have been spinning off their worst case scenarios.
Can the world sustain 7 billion people?
Will this be the beginning of the end?
Take a deep breath.
Because most reliable sources say our world will have no problem sustaining 7 billion people.
I know 7 billion people sounds like a ton of people and where in the world would we fit them but did you know that you could fit 7 billion people in the state of Texas and it would only have the population density of New York City, which is not really my style but many love it.
As Joel Cohen of Rockefeller University pointed out in the New York Times recently, we have more than enough food, water and other essentials to keep every one of the 7 billion — and far more — perfectly healthy.
In fact, the world is physically capable of feeding, sheltering and enriching many more people in the short term. Between 1820, at the dawn of the industrial age, and 2008, when the world economy entered recession, economic output per person increased elevenfold.
Life expectancy tripled in the last few thousand years, to a global average of nearly 70 years. The average number of children per woman fell worldwide to about 2.5 now from 5 in 1950. The world’s population is growing at 1.1 percent per year, half the peak rate in the 1960s. The slowing growth rate enables families and societies to focus on the well-being of their children rather than the quantity.
But here’s where I think we’ve got to put some thought in as believers. Here’s a unique opportunity we’re going to have as we move forward in the population boom.
A billion people — that’s 1 in 7 — go hungry around the world today, but that’s not because the planet is incapable of producing enough food to feed them. After all, as much as half the food produced worldwide ends up wasted, either rotting in the fields, the markets or in our refrigerator. We could feed 7 billion, 8 billion, 9 billion and probably more — if we chose to do so.
That’s one of the reasons I’m relatively sanguine about the population issue. It’s basically impossible to predict the future, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. But humanity has been pretty good so far at responding to the challenges this planet puts before us, and I see little reason to expect that will change. More people, after all, does mean more potential problem solvers, not just more mouths to feed.
So let’s just brainstorm a bit. Obviously there’s going to be some challenges in the upcoming years as our world continues to grow in population. What do you think a few of those issues might be? What opportunities, if any, will this provide for those of us who are believers.
The more people there are the more hurt there will be. Hurt can always be translated into more opportunity to help. Since my work is specific to serving orphans, I see that there will be more orphans, so more opportunity to adopt – for those who can actually legally be adopted. But for those who cannot be adopted (like the ones BFGO serves now in Zimbabwe) – there will be more children living in complicated, frightening situations without the hope of a mother or father (earthly) to take them in. I see that as more opportunity for people like us (living in a wealthy country) to reach out in love to help. When we help in the name of Christ, those who are receiving the help are more likely to hope in Christ for their personal salvation. Growing pains… a necessary passage to maturity.
I follow the commodities market. The more people we produce, the more natural resources we will need to thrive. Emerging markets like China & India will take what they need to build there own empire just as Americans did and still do. Inflation thru the roof is what’s to come. Humans can adapt to there environment, it’s just not always easy at first. I read a book “$20 Per Gallon” How the inevitable rise in the price of gasoline will change our lives for the better. This is hypothetically what many believe will happen in our life-span or at least your children’s. The cool thing is young Gage may come up with a new, greener form of energy or a way to purify water. Fear will hover over many heads like a black cloud of the end of days. Sounds so familiar. #betterdays
The issue in the future may turn out to be water, not food. Some suggest that a water shortage will be a crisis that will make things like an oil shortage appear rather insignificant in comparison.
I think the church has a great opportunity to provide leadership in this area. One of the benefits of church, to me, is leadership and the encouragement to tackle problems I may feel helpless to approach alone, either through lack of resources or lack of initiative.
Of course there are other institutions who also provide leadership in this area.
In the UK there has been a real drive to find out more about the physical and social geography of the globe as in 2012 we will be hosting the London 2012 Olympics. The BBC have a fantastic project called “World Class” linking classrooms in the UK with classrooms all over the world.
It’s often crossed my mind that churches could persue similar relationships, and I suppose they do, but I am not in a regular community that does so.
I think impoverished people groups and nations need positive, helpful relationships as much as they need richer people groups to meet physical needs on their behalf.
Sorry to waffle on, again. I’m without employment myself at the moment and have too much time on my hands to ruminate on issues of global poverty!
I should say, I’m not in a physical community that does so. I didn’t directly answer your question because I find it difficult to anticipate the needs of others whom I don’t yet know. I think the church should be empowering those in areas of dense population because so often it is misuse of power that keeps food from hungry mouths and medicine from unhealthy bodies, but I would have no clue how to do that alone and would really value advice and guidance from churches on these issues. I know there are Christian charities out there that do this work but am even mistrustful of brands, perhaps because I am not in a wider physical community who are all giving and doing mission together. The burden of choice is too much!
I agree with you on that one Paul. Some believe that battles over water rights will occur out west. The same place most of our food is grown. Americans spend over $15 billion dollars each year on bottled water. That still just blows my mind.
I foresee one of the main challenges being how we, as Christians, and truly reach out to the masses. Yes, mission trips are fantastic…planting churches world wide, another great feat…and working in local churches is amazing! But how will the Church, the Body itself, be equipping itself to handle more people to minister to?
The one thing I see in in many local Churches today is that many of the members, attenders, visitors won’t live out the life Christ ordains His followers to live everyday…not just on Sunday’s some Wednesdays and on Small Group nights. The biggest question from this I have in my mind constantly is, how can those of us who are sold-out to this mission we have embraced so deeply into ourselves to live out for Him…reach out to everyone we meet? How can we minister and help others in our own backyards everyday…not just “Christian-culturally-accepted” days?
it is here:
http://www.aholyexperience.com/2010/10/when-youre-dying-to-live-radical-fight/
where i first found myself REALLY thinking this over.
i ask you to take the time & read her words.
it is this quote that causes your post to become a Sacred echo to me:
“God gives the world enough of what it needs. He just doesn’t distribute it.”
We will have to share.
We’re the ones who will have to do the distributing.”
mmmm. so much to think on. His heart to seek….
(sanguine) for real? (sanguine). I had to look that one up, I have to say though I do recall seeing the crayon.
Might as well go ahead and change over to the Carbon Credit world system economy. I don’t see this dollar stuff staying afloat very much longer.
As for believers…. no change. Unless maybe we would like to look at it as potential for better opportunities or freeing up, access to unreached people groups. (Gal 5: 22-24)
God didn’t command us to improve the “quality of life” on the earht, but he did say to multiply and fill it. Of course we should help our “neighbors”, but “population control” is fear based or greed based, one or the other; it is not of God. We can multiply physically but we can also multiply spiritually:Go and make disciples (followers of the teachings) of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. – We should be doing both, or at least not hindering either: growing children and disciples.
Have you ever considered what could wonderfully potentially happen if EVERYONE of us professing believers in Jesus Christ gave even just a little bit to the poor and needy and/or the good organizations who help them? How do we effectively encourage more??
I think we will all need to become more connected with our food sources, and I think that could be a great opportunity for the church. Building community using permaculture. Similar to what these guys are doing. Just a thought.
http://theurbanfarmingguys.com/about
Thank you for this positive outlook. Every person is precious, and more people just means more chance to bring the Kingdom of heaven to earth. It’s all how we look at it.
Things will continue to get worse and worse as time goes on. At the same time I believe it will provide the chance for the Church to shine.