I don’t think Christians talk about Climate change enough. Unfortunately, if climate and society continues on the path we’re on and Christians choose to do nothing, history may blame today’s Christians for the ideology that is causing it.
I’ve started to compile some thoughts to get the conversation going, putting scriptures to thoughts, and I would encourage you to do the same. I’ve arranged it in 4 sections that highlight principles in the Bible with direct connections to the way we view the environment: stewardship, restraint, love, and the end of the world.
Seeing Yourself as a Steward
Over and over again the scripture reminds us that we are merely stewards during our time on the earth: stewards of our belongings, our money, our land, and our world. The mandate for people to rule the earth in Gen 1:28ff conveys responsibility for it and not simply power over it. In this passage, humans are specifically given responsibility for the animals and plants of the earth, which sounds a lot like the plight of it’s environment. Stewardship of a resource implies being subservient to the preservation and availability of that resource, oftentimes at one’s own expense. (“The good shepherd lays his life down for his sheep”).
What God created as good, should man destroy (even if by accident)? If we saw ourselves as stewards of an environment that belongs to God, how would we treat it differently?
Practicing Restraint
OT Israel was commanded to allow the earth to rest, as God did, because of the temptation to take advantage of it (Gleaning laws, Sabbath, Jubilee). Consistently, God commands his people to only take what they need from the earth, and to be content with what they have been given (Think Manna and Quail or “Do Not Worry” in Mt 6).
I think each of us needs to evaluate the ways in which we might be taking advantage of what’s been given, and learn to live with less. If we are not actively practicing restraint, we won’t learn it.
Loving your Neighbor
As if the above reasons weren’t already enough, we are responsible for the well-being of each other, and if we consider other’s needs as our own, we would want to take care of the environment that shelters both of us. It’s like owning a house that has a mold problem, then telling your family that you love them while refusing to deal with it. The only difference is that one’s easier to point at. We don’t tolerate our houses to be unfit for habitation, why would we tolerate our environment to be? The incredible wealth we’ve accumulated at the expense of the environment (and subsequently at the expense of others) is difficult to comprehend. However, it’s clear that hoarding and living in luxury while others suffer is abhorrent (James 5:1-6).
If we’re aware that the way we treat the environment is unloving to other people, and do not change, what does that say of us?
The End of the World
The world as we know it will end and if we believe scripture describes this accurately, we would be careful not to participate in that destruction. Some have used the end of the world as an excuse to waive off climate change in light of “higher” responsibilities (think “the end is inevitable, so let’s not worry about it and focus on ‘saving’ people“). They neglect to point out that those who bring about the end are always described in scripture in the worst possible terms. To associate oneself with practices that bring about the end of the world, or the end of society, is irresponsible and absurd. If we believe that acting in line with God’s mission to evangelize is somehow opposed to the responsibility we have over our environment, then we’ve missed the boat. They complement one another. When we take care of the environment, we take care of all the people the environment provides for (which is… everyone). James 2:15-17 should be a strong rebuke to those who see no need to do as much.
