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Reading the News Through the Lens of Faith- 7 Green Christianity
By Dan | June 19, 2008
I love it when a little perfect storm arises. There’s been a lot of discussion about the environment in recent months due to the presidential election, recent natural disasters, rising gas prices, and so on. There has also been an increasing discussion amongst Christians concerning the environment. What kind of an environmentalist is a Christian? Are we “green”?
Well, I was recently forwarded a blog post discussing the Christian commitment to the environment (thanks Scott) and also noticed this article about offshore drilling. Since I’ve noticed the tenor of this debate rising and rising, I think this could be a very valuable discussion for us.
So let’s get things rolling. Obviously, this will take more than this week, so look forward to the next few weeks of “Reading the News” to be focused on this issue.
I think the blogger in the post linked to above does a good job of pointing out some of the key principles of Christian commitment to the environment. I especially appreciate that she emphasizes our first commitment being toward bringing others to faith in Christ, but doesn’t let us off the hook in caring for the world. Remember redemption is a big word, primarily spiritual, but Jesus also uses it in terms of healing others and caring for neglected (Lk 4:18-21). There’s no reason not to include redeeming creation and caring for the environment in this as well. And we as Christians should feel convicted when we are careless or hurtful toward the environment we’re expected to steward and redeem.
At the same time there are a couple of problems that can arise. We can begin to focus so much on creation and taking care of the environment that we take our eyes off the ultimate prize, the redemption of souls and the end when Jesus will recreate all things. The second piece, and this is probably even harder to discern, is what stewardship and redemption of the environment looks like exactly. Think about the above article. Do we ban offshore drilling or any action that might hurt the environment out of concern for creation? In doing so, we must remember that rising gas prices and everything associated with them (increased food prices and so on) are hurting people all over God’s world right now as well.
The key is for us to find a balance. That’s what we’ll be exploring these next few weeks. How do we find a balance on these issues, whether it’s oil, air pollution, or global warming? Give me a first reaction. Have you ever felt convicted about the environment? Where do you see us abusing it? How do you think a Christian should deal with the oil crisis given the tension of environment, economics, and faith?
Topics: News Through Faith |
June 19th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Since the industrial revolution, the common person has been insulated from knowing the ins & outs of manufacturing and production. Because of this, we’ve given over the responsibility of being stewards of natural resources to companies, corporations, and governments.
That’s ok - if the common person still has a way to make them all accountable for their actions.
And we do! The power to protest, to vote, and to buy are all held within each individual’s hands.
The problem is that we’ve been led to believe that the individual really cannot effect any sort of lasting change. And that may be true! After all, sin has devastated our world. All creation groans under its weight, crying out for a savior…
Who are we to think that we can bring creation back to an ideal Eden-like state of purity?
Is that the goal of the green movement? If it is, it’s sadly mistaken…
As Christians, we do not fight against injustice & tyranny & the destruction of creation because we need to win the battle once & for all and eradicate our enemies (like global poverty). We fight so that we might be able to see glorious little teasers of Jesus’ eschatological (end-times) victory dance right here, right now.
We can’t perfectly get rid of sin and all of its consequences - but maybe we shouldn’t be so goal-oriented! Daily we can engage the battle - knowing that in the end, Jesus will show us how all the things he’s called us to do in his name have been for some kind of benefit in his kingdom.
Yes, Christians: Be Green! - but don’t expect that we will bring about Eden. We’ve got a Savior for that!
June 19th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
oops — sorry for the long comment…
June 24th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
I think it’s important to educate ourselves on all sides of these issues so we don’t drink too much of the Green Kool-Aid. The law of Unintended Consequences also comes into play. For example, using corn for fuel sounds like a good idea, thereby loving our farmer neighbors who provide this resource. Until we realize that government-subsidized corn helps drive up prices on wheat, which hurts everyone else. Or consider certain proposals to curb global warming, which in reality would cost the global economy trillions of dollars and may have little effect on the climate. For much less money, we could give every person in the world clean water — something that would be a guaranteed success. That’s _really_ loving our neighbor.