St John's Parish Church, Lindow http://www.saint-johns.org.uk

Christianity Speaks Today

Week 4: The environment – is it just a trash can?

Environmental concerns

• Air pollution

When most people think about air pollution the two problems that usually come to mind are global warming and the disappearance of the ozone layer. Now although these are related problems they are different, so I thought I would try and spell out what they mean.

Take the issue of global warming for example. The warmth of the earth’s surface is maintained by a combination of the radiation it absorbs from the sun and the infrared radiation it emits into space. Here is a very basic description of how it all works.

Warmth from the Sun heats the surface of the Earth, which in turn radiates energy back out to space. Some of this outgoing radiation, which is nearly all in the infrared region of the spectrum, is trapped in the atmosphere by so-called greenhouse gases [For instance, water vapour strongly absorbs radiation with wavelengths between 4 and 7 micrometres, and carbon dioxide absorbs radiation with wavelengths between 13 and 19 micrometres]. The trapped radiation warms the lower part of the Earth's atmosphere, the troposphere. This warmed air radiates energy - again, largely in the infrared - in all directions. Some of the radiation works its way up and out of the atmosphere, but some finds its way back down to the Earth's surface, keeping it hotter than it would otherwise be. This is the greenhouse effect. Now the greenhouse effect is not a completely negative thing. Without it, the planet wouldn't be warm enough to support life as we know it. The problem is that beneficial natural levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are being boosted by human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels.

Atmospheric pollution by the so-called ‘greenhouse gases’, methane, nitrous oxide and especially carbon dioxide reduce the emission of radiation back into space and so increase the earth’s surface temperature. There seems to be general agreement that by the year 2100 the average global temperature is likely to rise between 1^o and 5^o centigrade. Now the long-term effects of that could be catastrophic. They could include extreme climate change, they could include the possibility of the polar ice caps melting, which would then lead to substantial flooding of low-lying ground.

Global warming is no joke and slowly people are beginning to wake up to some of the prospects that could lie ahead for them in the future. Even politicians are waking up to the problem! In 1997 negotiators from all over the world met in Kyoto, Japan to discuss setting limits and reducing greenhouse gas output. After 11 days of intense debate, compromise and lots of huffing and puffing a tentative agreement was reached. Thirty-eight industrialised countries, including the USA, the EU, Russia and Japan all agreed to reduce emissions to 6-8 per cent below 1990 levels by 2008-12. Now I’m sure some of you have been following the progress of that treaty recently and are aware of some of the difficulties it is facing at present. For example, just a few months ago, in March of this year, the new American president George Bush declared that the USA would not be ratifying the Kyoto agreement of 1997. So it is far from clear whether the agreement will ever be implemented. But what is clear is that the world is beginning to talk about the future consequences that global warming could have for our planet and for us who live on it.

The other major atmospheric problem that most people know something about is the depletion of the ozone layer. The ozone layer protects the earth from the sun’s dangerous rays and so the depletion of this protective layer exposes us to ultra-violet radiation, which causes skin cancers and upsets our immune systems. In 1985 a hole of continent-sized proportions was discovered over the Antarctic and caused public alarm. By 1991 this hole had increased in size yet further and is still getting bigger. The cause of the problem was soon traced to chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), chemicals found in aerosol propellants, air conditioners and refrigerators and as a result legislation was drawn up to reduce the quantity of CFCs used. In 1987 ‘The Montreal Protocol’ was signed by 132 countries with the aim of phasing out CFCs completely and according to scientists if this treaty is fully implemented the future prospects of the ozone layer are encouraging, with levels recovering to normal by the year 2050. Although the situation right now is very delicate the future does look more hopeful.

But although global warming and the depletion of the ozone layer are the two most widely known consequences of air pollution recent reports do suggest links between death rate and air pollution; between heart disease and air pollution; and between asthma and air pollution.

It seems increasingly obvious that air pollution has a negative impact on many areas of our lives. And the human race is responsible for that air pollution. Our human lifestyle choices do have an influence on the environment in which we live. We cannot get away from that fact. There are consequences to be felt from the choices we make.

• Water pollution

Rivers are polluted by the discharge into them of untreated sewage, of the by-products of industry, and pesticides and fertilisers which drain or seep into them from the land. Again we can see that the products we choose to buy ultimately have an influence on the natural environment around us. There are consequences to be felt from the choices we make.

• Land pollution

The earth with its thin and uneven covering of soil is the basic resource for all life. But it is at risk from over-cultivation, which may give short-term benefits but can lead to long-term disaster. Overgrazing and the removal of trees and hedgerows lead to erosion. Tropical and sub-tropical soils are especially fragile. When tropical forests are felled the soil is easily washed away and the land becomes useless for agricultural. Again human lifestyle choices have an impact on the environment. There are consequences to be felt from the choices we make.

• Limitation of natural resources

It is hard to estimate the full extent of the earth’s natural resources but the fact remains that they are finite. One day they will run out. Non-renewable sources of energy such as oil, gas and coal do not exist in unlimited quantities. Questions need to be asked about how our lifestyle choices are affecting the finite resources of our planet. ‘Growth’ may be a popular buzzword used by politicians but we need to recognise that we cannot grow forever with finite resources. There are consequences to be felt from the choices we make.

Now all these things beg the question – where is space ship earth heading to? Air pollution, water pollution, land pollution and the quick decline of the earth’s finite resources are all causing people to stop and think about where our planet is heading. What are the answers for the future? What can we do to change our destiny? Are we helpless or can we do something? Can we change anything or must we just put up our feet and watch our planet’s slow and gradual death? These are the questions the unbelieving world is asking.

So what is the Christian answer to them? Is there an answer? Does the Christian faith speak into such a situation? Should we care? Do we only talk about pie in the sky when we die or does the Bible teach us anything about how we should live as we wait around on the ground? What is our response to be? In his essay, "Deep Ecology, Deeper Theology", Michael Blaine says: "The unbelieving world is waiting to hear what Christians have to say about creation and its care. We must know how to respond."

Yes we must. We cannot adopt the ostrich position and hope the problems and the questions will go away. They will not go away. The world needs to hear some answers and I want to suggest to you that Christians have a contribution to make to the environmental debate. Our Christian worldview has some important things to say to a world that is all ears and also has some challenging things to say to us, as Christians, about how we should live on this earth.

Biblical responsibilities

• Creation Principles

From Psalm 24:1-2 we discover that the earth belongs to the Lord. It is his. He created it and so by right of creation he owns it! But the opening chapters of Genesis tell us that mankind was given certain responsibilities. Mankind has a unique role in God’s plans and purposes. Made from the same basic material as the animals man is nonetheless unique. Genesis 1:26-28 reliably informs us that mankind uniquely carries the image of their creator. We are not mere modified monkeys but are creatures bearing the image of their Creator, who is to be forever praised! There is not space to review the countless views about what that image may be but what is clear from the text is that mankind is distinct by virtue of their unique creation from the rest of God’s creatures. As part of this uniqueness mankind is to "rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." That’s a pretty comprehensive rule isn’t it? Mankind is given the task of ruling God’s creatures and of subduing God’s earth.

Now some critics of Christianity claim that these verses are to blame for contemporary ecological irresponsibility. Ian McHarg has said that "if one seeks license for those who would increase radioactivity, create canals, and harbours with atomic bombs, employ poisons without constraint, or give consent to the bulldozer mentality, there could be no better injunction than this text." He has said elsewhere that the Genesis mandate is a "ghastly, calamitous text", adding that "in its insistence upon dominion and subjugation of nature … God’s affirmation about man’s dominion was a declaration of war on nature."

But in response to thoughts of this kind we need to affirm again the true nature of our dominion over the earth. Our dominion does not belong to us by right but only by favour. We are not the owners of the earth, God is.

No we are those who have been entrusted with its care. If the earth is a kingdom then we are not kings ruling our own territory, but viceroys ruling it on the king’s behalf. We are therefore accountable to God for our stewardship of his creation. We are not at liberty to do as we want. We do not have the licence to treat the earth as a trash can. Our rule of the earth is to reflect the loving and protective rule of our king. The dominion God has given to us is one of caring stewardship.

• Fallen Realities

The Fall has certainly had an impact on the world around us. "Thorns and thistles" are now present and the ground is now cursed as a result of Adam and Eve’s rebellion against God. But rather than removing the need for stewardship this passage simply shows us how much tougher that stewardship has become. It will not be easy to live as responsible stewards on God’s earth.

• Redemption Truths

A few years ago the Christian evangelist Steve Chalk was asked to speak as part of a debate on the environment at a Christian conference. He was told it was his job to provoke discussion by being as controversial as possible. Taking this to heart he told the conference that in his view the whole environmental debate had been orchestrated by the New Age movement and that Christians were only visiting this planet. He told them that our task as Christians was to lift our sights above secular, earthbound arguments. ‘Pull down the trees’ he said ‘and turn them into Bibles and tracts.’ By this stage he thought he would have been lynched for sure but to his astonishment he found that large sections of the audience were nodding their heads and agreeing with him. He overheard one of his listeners comment ‘It’s good to hear some sense at last.’

His story raises an important question: how do you respond to the person who says Christians should concentrate on saving souls instead of concerning themselves with the environment? You see it is a question that gets asked and so we need to think about how we respond to it. Personally, I think the way to do it is to remember that Christians are called to a holistic way of life. They are called to renew every aspect of their living in response to the gospel of Christ. There is to be no area untouched by repentance and radical discipleship. Rather than choose between "saving souls" and "saving the planet" Christians must contribute, as best they can, to both these tasks. Let’s stop thinking about the false division between the two and start living holistic Christian lives.

As Keith Innes has said, in his booklet "Caring for the earth": "Christians must join with those who press for sustainable development and who resist the pollution and degradation of the one global home which we share with all earthly creatures. The avoidance of waste and the minimising of our demands on the environment form part of a Christian lifestyle." Let me leave you with a couple of questions to ponder on: Is something worthwhile doing purely because it is evangelistically profitable? Does the value of anything we do as Christians lie solely, or even primarily, in its evangelistic implications?

• Consummation Hopes

The Bible says that one day the present creation will be "destroyed by fire"

(2 Peter 3:10). Why should a Christian bother with the present environment if it will be destroyed one day? The Bible speaks of a future day when the present creation will be changed from its present state of decay and will be transformed into a renewed form. This is not always emphasised as much as it should be in the Christian church. We are not looking forward to ‘pie in the sky when we die’ but more like ‘life on the ground when Jesus comes around.’ The new heavens and the new earth have a very physical nature about them and I think we can demonstrate this hope we have about the future by the way we live in the present. Our present environmental concern is recognition of our future longing for the resurrection of all things.

And what a conversation you could have with your non-Christian friend next time he or she asks you why you recycle your newspapers. Just imagine it. "David why do you recycle?" "Oh well" you say "it’s because of the future hope of the New Creation." Just think where that conversation could go.

Our Biblical worldview should spur us on to environmental action. As Klaus Bockmuhl has said "We should be pioneers in the care of mankind. One expects from us the example of our race. We should be pioneers in the struggle for care for mankind; we should show whence the power and perspective for such a contribution come. We are charged to give an example." The way we live does have an impact on our environment and we as Christians, if we’ve understood the Bible properly, should be leading the way in responsible living. So here are a few practical suggestions that we should be thinking about, both as individuals and as a church.

• Restrict. Do you always have to use your car to go to the shops? Why not walk for a change. Restricting our use of items that cause environmental pollution is a very positive start to make.

• Reuse. Don’t always buy new things. For example, it may be easier to use plastic cups instead of washing crockery but perhaps that extra time spent at the sink is worth the effort.

• Recycle. There are paper-recycling services in town as well as bottle banks. Should we offer recycling services as a church?

• Reduce. Perhaps the biggest cause of environmental pollution is human greed. Western lifestyle is a consumption lifestyle. We consume so much and also expect to be able to consume as much as we like. Do we really need to consume as much as we do?

• Repair. When the TV breaks down why buy a new one if the old one can be repaired.

There are many prophets of doom to be found when it comes to understanding the destiny of our planet. There are also many prophets who are optimistic about the future of space-ship earth. But what of the Christian? What does he or she predict about the future? Well our Christian worldview tells us that one day God will restore all things and will make everything new. This will happen when Jesus returns in glorious victory and brings this present age of death, decay and suffering to an end. Now this truth should give us realistic expectations for the present.

We will never change the world, perfection will only come in the New Creation. But what we can do now is to live as responsible stewards of God’s creation as we wait for that day to come. And more than that. As we see the whole creation groaning under its present bondage to decay we can lift our eyes heavenward and cry out from the bottom of our hearts ‘Come Lord Jesus come!’

Summary

• Mankind faces many environmental problems. We cannot escape the consequences of our lifestyle choices.
• Our Christian worldview provides a framework and a motivation for Christian environmental action.
• We are to live as responsible stewards of God’s creation as we wait for the future restoration of all things.
• We show our hope in the New Creation by living environmentally sensitive lives.
• Christians should be the leading environmentalists!

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