What Would Jesus Recycle
This Sunday I preached about how mankind is called upon by God to exercise dominion over the earth: to steward the earth’s resources and develop its full potential. This is an essential part of our being human.
These days the environment is a hot potato issue. All around you see signs urging you to “go green” or “reduce, reuse, and recycle.” During the droughts in the Triad over the last couple years, we were urged to conserve water. And of course, in the political world there’s a lot of talk about alternative engergies and global warming.
In light of our mandate to have dominon, Christians should be at the very forefront of the environmental movement. It should be an exciting prospect for us to be trying to take better care of the earth. But for whatever reason, there are many evangelical Christians who eschew environmentalism, and insofar as they address the issue of global warming, it is to deny that it is an issue. For whatever reason, these Christians seem to have the notion that caring for the environment, or admitting that global warming is a reality are incompatible with Christianity. I have my theories about why this is, but let me just state clearly: they are not incompatible.
Now, that doesn’t mean that you have to hold to a particular view about global warming. The Bible doesn’t specify one, so we have to allow for legitimate differences of opinion. It’s not the church’s job (as the institutional church) to set environmental policy. Instead, we preach the gospel. But, we are still responsible to God for our stewardship of the environment. So whatever you think the deal is with global warming, you ought to be concerned that we take good care of God’s good creation.
We see the same thing when we look at the life of Jesus. In John 6, we read about how he multiplied the fish and loaves to feed 5,000 people. After they’ve eaten, he tells his disciples to gather up the left over fragments so that nothing will be wasted (v. 12). Think about it, Jesus doesn’t need to worry about running out of bread, he just fed 5,000 people with five loaves! He can make more. But he still shows a concern that resources be used responsibly.
Because of what Jesus did on the cross, we have the promise that our world will be renewed and made whole again (Romans 8.19-24; Colossians 1.20). And one day, this renewed and perfected earth will be our eternal home (Revelation 21-22). Doesn’t it make sense to take good care of it now, for Jesus’ sake?
Posted by: Gene Schlesinger
Gene,
Enjoyed the post…recycling is cool!
I do have a couple of questions.
“majority of evangelicals eschew environmentalism…”
Do you have a stat for this? Seems like a broad generalization without data.
In light of your thoughts yesterday, do you think the public is being exploited by global warming? Are there people who are intentionally squeezing dollars out of people by propagating global warming? Is it a picture of capitalism exacerbated?
It seems that people throw out propaganda, set up businesses that will compliment their pocket, and rake in the money.
Does Global Warming exist? sure—man-made (maybe)
Does Global Cooling exist? maybe-Time Magazine (June 24th, 1974.)
Fortunately, as you explained, biblical principles do not change on caring for the earth. I hope that believers are not into global warming just because it is in vogue. I hope that we exercise stewardship for the earth at all times despite any hype.
so why is it that many evangelical christians toss aside environmentalism?
JDRJ,
Great comment, very thoughtful…
On the majority of evangelicals eschewing environmentalism…you make a good point. I don’t have a statistical analysis on this, and was going on anecdotal evidence. In addition to personal conversations, I have noted backlash against evangelicals who have sought to push for environmental responsibility (for example, in response to this statement http://www.baptistcreationcare.org/node/1)
Perhaps a more accurate statement would have been, “the majority of evangelicals with whom I’ve discussed the issue…” Thank you for pointing that out. It probably was too broad a brush to be painting with (in fact, I’ll edit the post).
Your thoughts on exploiting the public vis-a-vis global warming are intriguing. I’m not sure that I know enough to say one way or the other whether that’s going on. But I would say that it’s a distinct possibility.
Global warming is a real issue, and we ought to research its causes and seek to address it. Any resource that helps with this is good. However, you are right that in our late-modern capitalist context, there are strong market forces that would tend to take advantage of people who DO want to do something about global warming. Christians should both seek to address the climate change issue AND resist the exploitation of those with environmental consciences. Great point…it’s never a simple either/or…
And, yes, believers do need to avoid being fad driven in their practice.
Bob,
Let me start by saying that I’m basing this on anecdotal evidence and speculation. This is not necessarily the way things are. It’s just the way I think it might be. Evangelical Christians rightly oppose certain elements of contemporary culture (e.g., abortion and the legitimization of homosexual behavior). For many, these are THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES under discussion in the current conversation.
They look around and see that the Republican Party has a tendency to agree with them on abortion and homosexuality. They see that the Democratic Party has a tendency to disagree with them. They also see that the Democratic Party tends to be more vocal about the environment (esp. global warming), and that the Republican Party tends to downplay the issue (I should also note that this is beginning to change, the GOP is talking a bit more about the environment).
In many cases, evangelicals feel that they must vote for the party that agrees with them on abortion and homosexuality (yet this is not a monolithic opinion, see this post from the blog http://121blog.org/2008/11/09/differences-of-opinion-and-a-unique-opportunity/). And when they do this, there is a strong pressure to follow the party line on all sorts of other issues (e.g., the economy and environment). I can attest to this from personal experience. And because of this pressure, and because the life issue is so important to them, many evangelicals simply buy into everything else the Republican Party tells them.
Now, of course, there are some evangelicals who have studied the issues simply agree with the GOP. So, I’m not saying that in all cases people are just blindly toeing the party line. It’s simply that I myself have been guilty of that before, and I suspect that others are too. I suspect that if the parties were not so divided on these issues (e.g., economics and the environment), that we would see a greater diversity of opinions among evangelical Christians.
For further reading, check out this post http://121blog.org/2008/10/05/conservative-versus-liberal/
Thanks for your comments, folks.
Barna says that most evangelicals do not recycle because they do not believe in global warming.
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20081022/NEWS01/810220728/1008
I like this post, Gene and Stephen, because it talks about being good stewards. It does not mean being a hippy for hippies’ sakes. I think too many people are environmentalists because it is the best thing they can think of to show/imitate the rescue that Christ has shown us. Not that they would state it that way.
People feel better when they recycle. “I am doing something” “I am making a difference” … are we making a difference? debatable.
What is clear is that God called us to take care of what he has given us? When Christians say Jesus is coming back, who cares about the environment…. I want to let them smell my breath when I yell “are you seriously that stupid?” It’s like saying “I smoke crack because one day I will die.” Sweet, so I can spend every moment of my life more and more braindead…. until I die. that is just a dumb idea.
God wants us to care for His creation. When we have respect for what He created, we make Him more famous…. we respect Him more… we are more in Awe.
Selah.
[...] I think too many people are environmentalists because it is the cool thing to do. Too many people make the environment their end. The environment, while important, is not a Savior. People make it their end and then some go ballistic when someone doesn’t recycle. Give me a break. Pick your stinkin’ battles. God is more important than recycling. [...]
explode, ideas, explode » environmentalists are not green? said this on November 17, 2008 at 11:54 am |
I certainly agree that God is more important than recycling. But I think its unhelpful to set things up in terms of an either/or scenario as if we had to choose God over recycling or recycling over God.
We should confront the sin of worshiping-the- environment/idolizing-conservation. But we don’t want to over-react with false dichotomies.
And, of course, just to clear up any confusion, we are not taking a “Thou Shalt Recycle” position. The Bible doesn’t command us to do any one particular activity of conservation. But it does tell us to be good stewards. Personally, I think that recycling is an easy way to do that. But I’m not going to go legalistic here, since it is, strictly speaking, extra-biblical.
No I would totally agree with you guys…. I think you would probably agree with me…. I would say that the point of being green should be obedience to God, and awe for His creation rather than because a carmaker makes it hip to drive a hybrid.
I believe we are on the substance side of the “green” message. The green message of caring for the environment for the sake of caring for the environment… will pass… gas prices are down… we’ll see more hippies driving? The true message for us is stewardship. Simply put: God calls us to take care of His stuff. wouldn’t you agree?
I think we just said the same thing… two different ways..?
Cool…thanks for clearing that up. I think you are right about that.
I just wanted to be sure that no one thought we were preaching the “good news of clean coal” instead of Jesus…
the good news of clean coal….I’d call it green news. ba dun tish.
Is abundance related to recycling issues?
I have noticed in the 3rd World Country areas that I have been in that people seem to be more interested in eating that day (one bowl of rice and beans or a bowl of mealy pop)than making sure a recycling bin is used.
I think you’re probably on to something.
We read that from those to whom much is given, much will be required. It’s back to the stewardship issue again.
And, of course, when people are barely subsisting, there’s not nearly so much to conserve. I would wager that they waste far less than we Westerners do.
It’s also important to note that it is a fact that God wants us to be stewards of his creation whether or not people are recycling (in the Third World, or the West). When I recycle, I don’t make it any more true that we have a moral responsibility to care for God’s creation. And when people cruise around town in their Hummers, it doesn’t make it any less true.
Here’s a good “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” anecdote for you. When I was in Kenya, we took a take-out box to some church leaders for lunch one day. When they quickly devoured the contents, they threw the box onto the ground. One of the children picked it up, immediately brandished a cutting implement, and made a deck of cards out of it. Within minutes the whole village was playing a game invented on the spot. My observations of 3rd world living is that waste occurs, but it is rare, because people who have nothing can quickly find a use for everything. People who have everything find many things that they have no use for.
interesting….