Pilgrim Soldier

I’ve been writing this entry for a few days following an article I read on the BBC News wesbite. I decided to post today following an interesting discussion that has started over at Martin’s blog, Missiome, called Ecology.

Last year I spent several months studying to obtain a Open University Diploma in International Development and Environment which means that I spent quite a bit of time on the subject. Although the course did not give me the opportunity to express my thoughts I did spend sometime looking into the subject from a Christian perspective. These are some of my ideas on the subject:

The usual line that is taken by people thinking about the Christian’s role in the environment is that God gave mankind sovereignty over all of creation (Genesis 1:26-30, Genesis 2:15 and Genesis 9:1-3) and that means one of two things! Those Christians on the environmental lobby stress that this gives us an obligation to protect the environment so that everyone can enjoy God’s creation. On the other hand however, there are many Christians who say that having dominion over God’s creation means that we have the right to use the resources He has put at our disposal anyway we see fit.

The World Council of Churches recognised this duality when it made the following affirmation in 1990:

“We affirm the creation as beloved of God.

“We affirm that the world, as God’s handiwork, has its own inherent integrity; that land, waters, air, forests, mountains and all creatures, including all humanity, are ‘good’ in God’s sight. The integrity of creation has a social aspect which we recognise as peace with justice, and an ecological aspect which we recognise in the self-renewing, sustainable character of natural ecosystems.

“We will resist the claim that anything in creation is merely a resource for human exploitation. We will resist species extinction for human benefit; consumerism and harmful mass production; pollution of land, air and waters; all human activities which are now leading to probable rapid climate change; and the policies and plans which contribute to the disintegration of creation.

“Therefore we commit ourselves to be members both of the living community of creation in which we are but one species, and of the covenant community of Christ; to be full co-workers with God, with moral responsibility to respect the rights of future generations; and to conserve and work for the integrity of creation both for its inherent value to God and in order that justice may be achieved and sustained.” [1]

There is however a third reaction! All too often Christian’s just don’t think about their obligation to the environment at all. We really can’t be bothered to seperate our rubbish into the different types and then recycle it. We are more than happy to drive our big petrol/diesel consuming cars around on the school run, or down to the shops when it is just as easy (although less convenient) to catch the bus.

We have fallen into the traps set by the modern lifestyle and don’t want to give them up!

But for me whilst the stewardship of the world is the most important element to our role as Christian’s in creation, there is another one. Martin in his blog mentioned it! It is the issue of justice!

Humanity has quite simply failed miserably in its stewardship role. However, it is almost always the poor who suffer from the effects of this failing. Therefore in our role as God’s appointed advocates for the poor and oppressed we should also speak out to both our fellow Christian as well as to society as a whole.

We are obliged to react to God’s creation:

“in ways that sustain life on the planet, provide for the needs of all humankind, and increase justice.” [2] (emphasis added)

Millions of people are dying every year as a direct result of issues relating to climate change. We as Christians should be at the forefront of the debate, not taking a backseat!
Sources:

[1] quoted in The World Bank Group Faith in Conservation: New Approaches to Religions and the Environment 2003, p. 85
[2] American Baptist Policy Statement on Ecology, 1989, p. 2

Websites:

Christian Ecology Link

European Christian Environmental Network

Eco-congregation (hat-tip to Martin)