8 Billion & Counting

With the birth of a baby boy named Damien yesterday in the Dominican Republic, the world's population reached an astounding 8 billion: "an occasion to celebrate diversity and advancements while considering humanity’s shared responsibility for the planet," according to a statement from the UN Secretary General.

As you ponder the impact on our environmentally fatigued planet, consider these figures: When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the world's population was just shy of 300,000,000 people; in 2021, the population of the United States alone was 331,900,000.

This new figure means that 1 billion people have been added to the world's population in just 12 years, which is a result of improved public health, nutrition, and medicine. The bulk of the population growth in the past decade resides in Asia, according to the UN, with India adding some 180 million people and on a path to surpass China next year as the world's most populous nation.

Despite these numbers, the growth rate has fallen steadily to less than 1% per year, which means we are not likely to reach 9 billion in another 12 years. Instead, the UN estimates that the world's population will peak at about 10.4 billion in the 2080s and remain at that level for several decades.

As Christians, how do we hear the number 8 billion? Better yet, how do we embrace the number 8 billion? Remember David's words from Psalm 24:

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters.

Friends, we are called to bring joy, not sit back with curmudgeonly complaints or anxious worries. The number 8 billion is neither a surprise nor an error in God's loving plan for us. Instead, it means that we have so many more people to love and so many more people to invite into God's Kingdom. Rather than feeling overwhelmed by this numbers, what if you step into tomorrow with a word or gesture that blesses someone else in an unexpected way?

Christ's peace to you,

Jennie