Why Christians should be Green

Ok - just read Brian McLaren's chapter in "Generous Orthodoxy" on being green and I just thought I'd write a bit of a summary of my thoughts

The following are theological and social thoughts that have created wrong thinking in Christians concerning the environment.

1. We'll all be rescued to the sky and plopped on a new earth and this old one will be screwed anyway - so lets rape the land.

Response

We have no idea when the second coming will be. The early church thought it would be in the times of the Roman Empire. We may still have generations to come after us. Not only that - why do we assume that there will be no cross over between our world now and the one to come. We can't just have this complete abandonment philosophy that allows us to be completely off the hook with our stewardship of creation.


2. All Christians are conservatives and all liberals are green therefore it is not Christian to be Green.

Response

Don't think about political labels, think about what God says about helping the week, the poor, taking care of creation. And on the contrary - think about what God says about those who love money and do anything to get it.

3. Creation was a one time deal and ever since creation the fall happened and the earth is desinigrating anyhow - so rape the land.

Response

This theological mindset makes creation seem like it is second rate (as Brian McLaren put it ) We shouldn't see it as " relegated into the "seconds" bin at the factory as merchandise that has been ruined and devalued by an ontological accident, now marketed for a cut-rate fire -sale price to the first industrialist who comes along with cash." This "fall" concept "conveniently seems to degrade God's inherently valuable handiwork into man's bargain resources for profitable exploitation. It's far easier to put a price tag on a fallen creation than on a still sacred one." The creation is God's art work. But it's not just a static painting!! It's an installation. It's a piece of art that we get to walk through, smell, touch, taste. It's in constant flux and renewal and it's extremely delicate and dependent and we've been given the honor to care for it. How dare we dishonor God by devaluing, destroying, and dishonoring the work of his hands for our own economic gain.

4. God created humanity as higher more intelligent beings than any other forms of creation, so we have an assumed right to rape whatever we are superior to.

Response

I once read a quote that one could tell how civilized a society was by the way it valued it's weakest members. It was talking about old people in that case. But this applies to unborn babies, children, old people, (in some societies) women, and it even means creation. No - creation is not as sacred as human life - but it still is sacred and because we have greater intelligence we also have greater responsibility.

5. God wants us to prosper - prosperity is a result of godliness. So obviously God is blessing me and God is blessing my nation.


Response

Prosperity does not mean money to God. Prosperity means a rich life with rich relationships with people, rich relationships with God, it means purposeful work, and prosperity means having a rich pure heart. Quit reading the Bible like it's the "Economist". A lot of this money in this world is made dishonestly /irresponsibly. Yes - God does bless us with money too and it's not anything to feel guilt over. However, we do need to analyze if our means for making money is responsible. Are we exploiting other people? Are we exploiting the earth? If not - go in peace.

And on a more narrative note - I lived in Beijing for three years. I know what it feels like to have lungs choked up with coal and I know what it's like to blow black buggers from my nose.

I lived in Southern Alberta for 6 months - I know what it's like to wake up to the most pristine cathedral of God's creation as I drove through mountains and across rivers just to get to work. I met people who had this cathedral running through their viens and God had given them the role and heart of protector as they fought against gas plants ruining their air and windmills hurting the ecosystems of their hunting grounds.

I visited the Cherenoble museum in Ukraine two weeks ago and it occurred to me that nature does not recognize political borders. If we screw something up in our country - the planet suffers. Because of the environmental irresponsibility of the USSR in 1986 there are huge dead spots on our planet today where no food can be grown, no water can used, and no people can live. Because of Chernoble people in Sweden, Belaruse, Ukraine, Russia, Eastern Germany, and a lot of Scandinavia have leukemia, birth deformities, and many other diseases. This radiation will now be active and harming our planet for 1000's of years. That's nuts.