Christians vs. the Environment
Can you be a Jesus follower and care deeply for the environment?
This question never actually crossed my mind until a few months ago. I was preaching at a Sunday gathering. During my sermon I mentioned my passion for sustainability; jokingly talking about how my husband is constantly confused about where things go: compost, recycling, reusing, or trash. After the gathering a friend of mine approached me and was shocked that I had talked about my passion for the environment.
You see, this friend of mine is new to the church. They are also impassioned about the environment, but their perspective has been outside of the church walls and their view from the outside is that the church doesn’t care. That Christians are so focused on the new earth or getting shipped off to Heaven that they turn their back to the earth we have. This moment was a dose of reality for me. Yes, it is one person’s opinion, and I do believe there are many out there who are doing amazing things for God’s creation. But it forced me to step back and start evaluating for myself, are Jesus followers, the church as a whole leading the way in caring for God’s creation or are they blindly destroying it and looking to the new?
In my pursuit, my heart broke. Now, I understand my perspective may be small but I started to feel like talking about the environment in church was more taboo than sex. I believe this is because the environment has become political and nothing else. To some extent, it has to be, because of the government's responsibility to create policy and protect, BUT it has been taken to a place that gets ugly. I have sat with people who will argue circles around the political sides, motives and science or lack of science behind claims all day long. The environment is a human thing, it’s an everyone thing. When does this become a human thing? When can we all agree that no matter what side you stand on this is your home and God has called you to care well for it?
Rather than pointing fingers, we all need to start to take personal responsibility. We have to start somewhere. Small steps bring about big change.
But it doesn’t always feel that easy. We all carry baggage when it comes to the narratives and experiences we’ve had as others attempt to sell us on caring for the planet.
Equality. Many environmentalists have tried to use the tactic of we are all animals, we are no better than the bears, the birds and the fish in the sea. Yes and no. We are all God’s creation, Yes. But, we were made in God’s image and put over the land to rule. So if there is conflict and its man vs. animal, according to scripture man wins. (Genesis 1:26-30; Psalm 8:6-8) NOW on the flip side we are all God’s creation and we both reflect God, us as the image, creation revealing character. All over the scriptures it speaks of how God is revealed through His creation. Did you catch that, creation testifies, it's a witness of God. I don’t know if you are much of an outdoors person or not, but when I am outdoors it is undeniable to me that God exists.
Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
I live in the PNW and my family are mountain people. When ski season hits we can often be found up on Mt. Hood. On the way up to the mountain there is part of the drive, right after silent rocks where you are winding around the foothills, driving on the side of a ledge and all you can see are legendary evergreens, from the floor of the valley reaching to the top of hills. Finally you take a wide turn to the left and as you come around the corner you are greeted by the majestic, breathtaking, massive snow covered mountain. Every time we reach this point of our drive, I look at this beautiful piece of creation and I am reminded how small I am. I look at the glory of God. I am reminded of how big and mighty He is, that He is God and I am not and worship Him. For you maybe it's the stars at night, it's the waves crashing in the ocean and the horizon that goes on forever, it’s the canyons, the comforting trees of the south, the adventure of the glacier, or the simplicity of a butterfly on a spring flower. Whatever it may be for you it is undeniable that God is revealed in nature.
Psalm 24:1-2 A Psalm of David. The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.
Fear. This tactic never gets old. And rarely works the way people want it to. Like the parent who tried to instill fear into their child and the child rebels. Some people have tried to use fear, fear of humans going extinct, the world ending, etc. To be aware, to know of possible cause and effects, science, that is one thing and I believe we have a responsibility to be aware. But for Jesus followers we are called not to fear so this has turned many away. In my observations this is where the “new earth” thing my friend was talking about comes in. Where believers have taken the “it will all burn” scripture to an extreme and decided not to care. Why care about what's here, why spend time and energy changing habits and fighting an injustice if I have heaven and a new earth to look forward to?
In 2017 a study said that 31% of the world consider themselves Christians. What would the world look like if 31% cared for creation well? Managed resources with great wisdom? I believe that God is the God of restoration and redemption and this is not limited to humans. I believe that through God's people the earth can heal, we can see redemption.
Genesis 2:15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
Jesus followers are called to respond in multiple ways. Spiritually and physically.
When we first come to the revelation that we are not caring for the earth in the ways that we can, we have to approach God in humility.
When I had the revelation that my life was not reflecting the care that Jesus was calling me to I had to repent, become broken over this. The thing I am learning is that our effects on the environment are so much bigger than the environment. It’s the way we conduct our life, the consumption, the ethics of sourcing, the hurry, the disposable lifestyle. There was and is still a lot that had to die at the cross for me in my journey. We have to start our journey on our knees. The weight of caring for nature can feel overbearing and the vision can seem too big, but that's where we need to be. We have to be in a place of weakness and humility so that God can hold the vision, God can reveal the next steps and lead the way carrying us through.
Then we have a responsibility to put steps into motion. My mom says to me, know better do better (agree or disagree). For me when I become aware of a problem, it is hard for me to do nothing. We have to start somewhere, anywhere.
Educate ourselves. Research articles, journals, or influencers who suggest projects or DIY zero waste options. Zero waste doesn’t have to be a budget buster, in fact you can save money in my opinion!
Practical. Start making changes.
Instead of asking for paper or plastic, bring your own bags.
Reuse what you have.
Purchase second hand.
Cut back on meat/dairy.
Cut back on purchasing plastics, single use or long term.
Use a refillable water bottle
Purchase food in bulk (Little to no packaging and usually less expensive.)
Ride your bike or public transit to work.
Plant a garden
Shop local
Eat seasonal
Learn where your products come from and their environmental impact.
The list could go on for decades. But the call is to start somewhere.
3. Support and accountability. Find other people, who care about the environment to share ideas with and support you. It can be hard making habitual changes. I have a group of women who I talk to weekly. We are able to encourage one another, share products, projects we are doing, and changes we are making related to sustainability and Jesus. We are able to strengthen and encourage one another in our journeys.
As followers of Jesus we are called to fight for injustice, steward the earth and share the gospel.
Think of this...
What if the church cared? What if the church were on the front lines of solutions? Think of the people who could be reached with the gospel who wouldn’t otherwise if the church started to take responsibility for God’s creation.
What will you do this week to take a step towards stewardship?