It has become very fashionable recently to consider the environment: research in to renewable energy is costing tax payers a lot of money, industry in the U.K. is being put through carbon audits and now it is up to you: to use bio-active fuel in your car; to buy low-energy light bulbs that can't actually light a room; to start a hydroponic farm in your utility room; to collect rain water to wash yourself and while your at it sink a ground source heat pump in the back garden that'll heat your house albeit not as effectively as burning oil. The list goes on...
But perhaps we shouldn't be to hasty, have we forgotten our proverbial pinch of salt? Now I have heard some Christians say that this is a matter of incalculable importance, that going green isn't just a great idea but that there is a biblical mandate for caring for the world. Some groups in America have even taken to asking the question: What would Jesus drive? Of course the answer is obvious: Jesus wouldn't drive he would take the bus...
So in the muggy haze of carbon offsetting and energy audits what is the correct response as a Christian? I'm not entirely sure, but there is an argument that doesn't get voiced that often and it goes something like this:
This world wasn't meant to last forever, like a vapour in the wind it is dissipating, running down like a tired clock. It is therefore futile to try and make the world a home forever. The suspicion is that underneath the guise of renewable energy, there is a longing for eternal energy sources, there aren't any: the sun will one day cease to burn, the winds will fade and the earth's tides will be still. That day we will all see, that no matter how hard we have tried to sustain the environment; the environment was never going to be eternal...
But what do you think? Please feel free to comment below.
4 comments »
It crossed my mind recently that a large number of people from Glengormley Methodist are taking trips to far off lands. We had Martin and Albert heading to Personally I intend to avoid any green controversy by only having one holiday this year. As a good Methodist I'll head to Castlewellan holiday week in August. I'll make my way there by bicycle, sleep in a tent and only eat the finest locally produced food – this isn’t just
Joking aside, perhaps it's time for the church to consider a bit of carbon offsetting? Perhaps plant a tree or two? Put solar panels on the roof of the church? Invest in a carbon offsetting scheme? Try to promote car sharing or encourage people to walk to church? (It would take me a long time to walk from Ballyclare though).
Am I doing my bit? Do I even care or think it’s an issue? I'm not sure how much my lifestyle has changed. I’m not sure how much Glengormley Methodist has changed. Perhaps I still think it's not an issue worth considering. Time will tell...
The following story was told by Jennifer Potter at the 2000 Methodist Conference and was drawn from a Radio 4 ‘Thought for the Day’ given by Colin Morris. It was inspired after Colin Morris had watched tonnes of rock fall into the sea near Beachy Head - a process accelerated by global warming and the subsequent rise in sea-level.
“If the Bible were to be rewritten for the twentieth century, it would have to begin not like the original one with Genesis, the story of how God created the world, but with a sort of Genesis in reverse, the story of how we, humankind, dismantled it. It would tell of the pollution of the air and of the seas and rivers, of the piling up of waste materials from an ever-expanding consumer society and of the diminishing varieties of plants and animals. It would tell of the enormous difference between those human beings who have too much and those who barely survive. It would end with a ravished and uninhabited Earth, made uninhabitable by humankind itself. God would shake his head sadly, realising that he had to start all over again.”
An interesting idea…if you consider the creation narrative in Genesis, it clearly commands mankind to look after and be good stewards of our planet. God thinks being green is a good idea…it was originally His good idea.
So what is the barrier to energizing people of faith to live greener lives?
Living an environmentally friendly life is hard work. Riding the bus takes longer, and that means getting up earlier. Walking to work can get you sweaty or mess your hair. Riding a bike can get you knocked over. Recycling involves sorting out and washing your rubbish. ‘Re-using’ means actually remembering to bring your own carrier bags to the shops. Even writing a letter to your local council can cause you to miss 15 minutes of Eastenders!
Plus, we have some excuses. The science is confusing; the government should do more before telling us what to do; energy efficient and Fairly Traded products can be more expensive, and; this whole lifestyle is just so time consuming.
We have at least one legitimate reason. Much of the problem lies beyond our control. By walking to the shops (your own bags in your pocket) how much of a difference can you really make, especially when many poorer countries are just beginning to industrialise; creating even more pollution?
But, instead of throwing up our hands, we should be motivated to do more. Aren't Christians commanded to love our neighbours as ourselves? Consider for a moment that more than 10 million Chinese still have no electricity. Imagine that! Perhaps we should be helping them build nuclear power plants as a clean alternative energy source? Perhaps we should start seriously investing in the development of renewable energy resources?
People of faith have been at the forefront of nearly every great social movement in history. The jury is still out on whether we will rise to the occasion this time. Let's hope we do.