Christian Stewardship of God's Creation
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03.21.06
Some Christians might find it alarming if their clergy addressed Climate Change or discussed the need to protect endangered species, given how politicized these subjects have become in the US. On the other hand, some topics familiar to TreeHuggers, like recycling (donating clothing to charity), eating more locally produced food (helping the needy grow their own veggies), or getting by with less "stuff" (making Christmas less commercial) would be less likely to raise the hackles of partisanship. This simple dichotomy leads to an obvious question: how might the more controversial topics be acceptably dealt with in a religious setting? Where does a Christian go to learn more about integration of environmental concerns into faith? Climate Change is turning into a major social issue and it's not like Christians in particular can wish it away. One place to seek an answer might be AuSable Institute of Environmental Studies. AuSable offers educational materials, forums, publications, and a financial aid program for serious scholars of the the Christian Earth Keeper type.
"The mission of Au Sable Institute is the integration of knowledge of the Creation with biblical principles for the purpose of bringing the Christian community and the general public to a better understanding of the Creator and the stewardship of God's Creation".
Perhaps our readers have some additional ideas about this?
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It's very good to see a US group of Christians who are concerned for the environment - and that you're willing to report this :) Writing from the UK, it seems most Christians in the US seem to think that God gave us the earth to be plundered; at least this is the impression which our media gives - I hope this isn't really what 'Christians' believe.
As an 'evangelical' (I use that word with caution - it seems to have a political meaning in the US as opposed to the theological one in the UK), or Bible-believing Christian, it concerns me that people have that impression of Christianity, as it is completely opposed to what we find in the Bible, where we are told that humans were created to care for the world, and to 'work' the garden of Eden (Genesis 1-3) - and this even before evil entered the world (sidenote: 'work' comes before evil enters the world, so work is not inherently bad!). Because we were created in the image of the creator God, we should share his creative urges, his creative passion. Because the world is God's, not merely a product of chance, we have a responsibility to God for how we treat it.
It's not (sorry to contradict you!) that Christians must learn to "integrate environmental concerns into faith" as you suggest, but rather that we must realise that Christianity demands a concern for the environment, fairtrade, etc.
Of course, there's more to Christianity than the environment (the whole Jesus-dying-for-our-sins thing is the core of Christianity), and such eternal matters are more significant than temporary ones (what I'm saying is, I'm not a liberal, or fuzzy Christian), but environmental concerns cannot be removed from true Christianity.
Well, all I can say is well said, sheepdan. I don't know why I find myself constantly at odds with Christians when I try to explain or simply discuss environmentalism, and the role that Christians are expected, if not intended to play in keeping God's earth free and clean. Well said, indeed.
yeah, the first comment is stellar. i attend one of the most conservative Christian schools in America, Moody Bible Institute and it is something my professors stress that we need to be good stewards of creation. Hailing from California, i do a bit of backpacking and hiking and i see the need for an environmentally conscious mindset and lifestyle...i am glad the Christian community as a whole is coming around and realizing its something that God is passionate about; us not destroying what he created.
I participated in several of the Au Sable programs and they are outstanding. They offer both standard college classes (eg., Marine Invertabrates) as well as more religious or moral courses (eg., Environmental Stewardship). I strongly endorse them to anyone willing to listen.
They offer courses throughout the world in India, Africa, the Pacific Northwest, and the Midwest (I'm sure I'm missing some).
Where should they go?
How about: www.WhyDoesGodHateAmputees.com for starters!
I'd prefer the time, energy and money spent by Christians be put to greener use.
Sheepdan,
There is an increasingly vocal sentiment that the environment is a moral issue in the US, especially among "Moderate Evengelicals." As an US Citizen, I think it is unfortunate that "Evangelicals" have been associated with the Political Right and labeled as the Religious Right. It's tricky because Christianity is really very radical, both socially progressive and morally conservative. It's easy for Christians to align themselves with a group who want's accomplish the same goals but at the same time have some very different underlying values. Whether is was a conscious choice or not, I think many US Christians have come to view the government as the only means to an ends. They've gotten some political power, been co-opted by a political party and now gotten stuck defending things that aren't really biblical. They've forgotten that the Church has always been a better advocate of social issues when it hasn't been bogged down by the government.
One of my favorite quotes about evengelical faith is from the 1500's and is a critique of many of the problems I see with Christianity in the US today.
"True evangelical faith cannot lie dormant.
It clothes the naked.
It feeds the hungry.
It comforts the sorrowful.
It shelters the destitute.
It serves those that harm it.
It binds up that which is wounded.
It has become all things to all people."
- Menno Simons
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh