The other day, while driving around on a gorgeous Spring day here in Arizona, my kids were observing the sites out of their car windows. Spotting birds, mountains, beautiful houses, trees. My son then said, “It’s bad to cut down trees. We don’t cut down trees, huh mommy?”
My husband looked at me and whispered, “Lorax,” referring to the recent Dr. Seuss movie that our kids had seen with him.
I began to explain to them that we certainly had to cut down some trees. We needed trees. We use paper products from trees every single day. But I also explained that it is our responsibility to plant more trees and find other ways of replacing trees (you know, what people refer to as “sustainable resources”).
But after this brief little discussion with my kids, I got to thinking about the church and being green. Sure, I’ve pondered this subject before. I’ve clenched my jaw and gritted my teeth as Christians talk about going green, being green, and staying green.
But how green is the church suppose to be?
What I’ve observed is that most Christians who are environmentally conscious have somehow intertwined stewardship with green activism. They believe that recycling, using compact fluorescent light bulbs, and buying a hybrid are part of our duty as Christians.
However, I beg to differ.
Despite the political implications of going green, such as government subsidized light bulbs, I don’t believe Christians are called to go green, so much as protect and nurture that which God has given us.
Now what’s the difference, you might be wondering…
For starters, Christians are called to be in the world, not of it. We overuse this scripture in so many areas, but I think in this case it applies perfectly. What has become trendier and more publicized than going green?
I hate even typing the term: going green.
I wish that term would just be retired once and for all. But back to my point…being environmentally conscious has become cool. Little kids, mine included, have come to believe that things like windmills and belts made of recycled tires are desirous.
The culture, as it were, is the one telling us that green is good. Christians have begun thinking the same thing. On the issue of being green, many of us are of the world, not in it.
Now before anyone has a tizzy and says I’m an environment-hater (if there is such a thing), let me clarify: I don’t think Christians should be polluting, non-recycling, diesel-driving maniacs.
I do, however, think that our motivation for taking care of this Earth should come from a place very different from the one currently being pushed. I’m not going to protect the environment because President Obama, the Environmental Protection Agency, or Miss Bennett, the 2nd grade teacher from my local elementary school told me I should.
I want to protect the Earth because God created it and because He entrusted it to us.
I want to buy bamboo flooring for my kitchen because it environmentally makes sense (and looks suh-weeeet), not because I was persuaded in believing that I would be a bad person if I didn’t. I want to be green, where I can and to a reasonable extent, because I love this gift the Lord has given me–this Earth.
It seems that many Christians have begun to confuse activism, or more specifically, environmentalism, with stewardship. Environmentalism seems to come from a place of dislike, dissatisfaction, and fear. Most activists wish to change something, be it through a policy, a procedure, a law, or in this case all of the above in regards to being environmentally responsible. They don’t like the way things are now or they fear the way they might become.
Stewardship, on the other hand, implies taking care and tending to that which already exists–not trying to radically change it. My children, for example, have been entrusted to me by God. I am stewarding them. I want to encourage and protect them, allowing them to be who God designed them to be. I do not wish to fundamentally change them, nor do I have fear for their future.
I trust God with my children, just like I trust Him with this planet. Do I have a role to play? Absolutely, but ultimately He is in control.
I saw a post the other day on a reputable Christian site that gave churches tips on how to become more green. “Really,” I thought? The church doesn’t have other, more pressing things to pursue–like holiness, righteousness, discipleship? Now we need to learn to be more green, too?
All that to say, I think the church should operate out of a place of stewardship when it comes to the environment. We should be green, insofar as it is glorifying to God and His creation, not distracting us from the work He has called us to do, and not bowing down to the trend of the times.
In the world, not of it. Protecting the world because He created it, not because man has told us to do so.
“Stewardship, on the hand, implies taking care and tending to that which already exists–not trying to radically change it. My children, for example, have been entrusted to me by God. I am stewarding them. I want to encourage and protect them, allowing them to be who God designed them to be. I do not wish to fundamentally change them, nor do I have fear for their future.”
I believe this can be the key difference for Christians when it comes to “going green.” We already know what is going to happen to the earth, and we know there is nothing we can do to change that future, so we should not worry about the future of our planet. This fear about the future seems to be the driving force behind the environmentalist movement.
Now, this is not to say that we shouldn’t tend to and take care of the earth, but rather stop worrying and buying into the lie that if we, as mere humans, do not act NOW, we will use up all of our resources and be left to starve, dehydrate and die. Even if that were to somehow happen, I know I have a God who will take care of me, as he has taken care of this planet for millions (thousands?) of years and I know he will continue to do so until due time.
As for the church’s role in this? I believe our first priority should always be people. If it happens to intersect with the environment, as it often does, then we can take care of both issues at once.
when you wrote this Nicole it made me laugh so hard, “Now before anyone has a tizzy and says I’m an environment-hater (if there is such a thing), let me clarify: I don’t think Christians should be polluting, non-recycling, diesel-driving maniacs.” LOL
I agree with you completely. This about sums it up really nicely about the correct Christian viewpoint: “I want to protect the Earth because God created it and because He entrusted it to us.”
On a side note, is it just me or is anyone else annoyed by not getting plastic bags at your local grocery store and having to be forced to purchase a “green environmentally friendly” back for $.99?
I agree. Environmental stewardship should come from our love for God and God’s creation, not because of political guilt or obligation. Have you read Jonathan Merritt’s book “Green Like God?” He says a lot of the same things you mention here.
I laughed during the part where your son says cutting down trees is bad. That’s a common misconception a lot of environmentalists have. The problem isn’t, “OMG, people are cutting down trees!!!” Nope, the real problem is we are cutting down more trees than we are planting them. Throws the ecosystem off, y’see. Gotta have balance!
Hi Nicole!
Though-provoking post. I’ve read it a couple of times, and I’m not sure exactly what you’re angry at (angry is probably the wrong word. Frustrated?) Here’re my thoughts/push-back. I hope through your responses I can get a better feel for your position.
First, this seems to me to be largely an issue of semantics. Most of the “green” Christians I know operate out of a place of faithfulness to our call as stewards, not out of a desire to be trendy or PC. I’m not particularly concerned with what someone calls caring for creation, so long as they’re doing it. You point out that your experience is not the same. Fair enough.
Secondly, something I don’t see you taking seriously in this post is the fact that Evangelicals (especially those who buy into Dispensationalism, or Rapture/Tribulation End Times theology) have for a long time denigrated creation care. I’ve heard and read lots of Dispensationalist Christians who argue that since God is going to destroy the world in the End, we don’t HAVE to care for it.
Some “theologians” go so far as to call wanton over-consumption godly. Their thinking is that once we’ve used up all our resources, God will come back and end everything.
As utterly insane as that theological perspective sounds, in my experience this is more common in Evangelicalism than creation care is.
So we might be a little forgiving if some Christians raised in those sorts of churches over-react a bit.
Third, your post, you seem to be separating creation care/going green/stewarding the environment from discipleship. I’d argue that how a person treats the physical world around us says a lot about their theology. That creation care/etc. IS a discipleship issue. That recycling and reducing our consumption and all that are very spiritual matters, just like what we do with our bodies is spiritual.
Why drive a wedge between creation and our faith?
Finally, put all that together and I have to ask: Why fight against the term “Going Green”? Why not agree with anyone who works to preserve creation – Christian or not? Celebrate our mutual love for the physical world as common ground? Of course we’re not going to agree on everything, but joining with people in their passions gives us an opportunity to speak the Gospel into their lives, show them how their God-given passion for creation is a huge flashing sign pointing them toward their creator.
Interested in your responses. Thanks in advance :)
I wish the church as a whole were greener, with stewardship as the heart behind it. I’ve felt convicted to live a greener lifestyle over the past year and have experienced many blessings as a result–money saved, getting to exercise creativity, and a strange satisfaction in knowing my choices are making a small but important difference.
I think there are two things those on the green bandwagon have right: 1) our society is inexcusably wasteful. Wasteful behavior reflects our sense of entitlement, selfishness, and disrespect for God’s handiwork. 2) Our actions have consequences. Do we really want to leave landfills as our legacy?
Love those two points you make. :: standing ovation ::
Hi Nicole,
I’ve been reading you blog for a couple of weeks now, I’ve really enjoyed considering what you’ve got to say. When I read this post a couple of days ago it really got me thinking.
I think that Christians have different views on how to take care of the planet mostly because of their eschatology, is a person thinks that God is going to burn up the earth, then there is probably not that much point in taking care of it. Likewise those people who believe that Jesus is going to return to rule on this very earth are probably more concerned with preserving it. I know that God can and will restore all things, but it’s about making the earth a bit more like heaven for now, I’m aware that you probably stopped reading because you think I’m a raving liberal.
I know that Christians are meant to be in the world and not of the world. But I also know that God made the whole of the earth and he said that it was good, and it was good, ontologically it was good, and I still believe that it is, and of course it’s fallen, but it’s fallen from a place that is good, because otherwise what is the fall? I think Calvinism and the theology of the total depravity of man has a lot to answer for here, because even though we don’t really understand it a lot of us in the church have to come to think that man is bad until God saves them. Which in turn means that nothing they do is good, but I believe that not to be the case, people who don’t love Jesus can still do good stuff, but of course their motives might not be as pure as we in the church think ours are.
So I think it’s good that people of the world are ‘going green’, I wish it were the church was blazing the way, but it’s not, and we can’t be against it because someone else started it.
For me being more green is a part of my sanctification (my becoming more holy and righteous) and my discipleship.
I was also reminded recently that taking care of the planet is a way to love people even though they may not know it. It might be people at the other side of the world who no longer get our electrical waste in a landfill down their street. It might be our kid’s grandkids who get the benefit of the trees we’ve planted, or not harvested in the first place. It may be our neighbour who we give the extra vegetables we grow to.
Sarah, I really appreciate your comment. Both what MR and you are saying has really got me thinking. (I know this is another HUGE topic in itself), but my boyfriend has talked with me some about Calvinism and that idea of total depravity. It’s something I’ve been questioning more and more, and really like how you’ve stated it here.
Anyways, I’m afraid I could end up writing a ton, and would have to think through my thoughts my first, so just wanted to tell you I really appreciate your insight.
Yes. I agree with you, but perhaps my emphasis is a bit different. I don’t think that being green is distracting us FROM the “work”, I think it is part OF the “work”. We should be green because it is our mandate as Christians to be good stewards of creation.
I also think it is legitimate for Churches to emphasis and highlight our obligation to be green as a necessary corrective to the prevailing attitude that we don’t need to care for creation, because we are going to heaven when we die, and who cares what happens to this world. And besides, God is going to destroy it in the end anyway – right?
We as Christians seem to have focused on all the verses about going to heaven, but missed the ones about partnering with God in the care and redemption of ALL creation.
One more thought. We have completely misunderstood and misinterpreted the phrase; “in the world but not of the world” using it to our advantage whenever it’s convenient. “Not of the world” means we are called to a higher standard than the world. Think “Sermon on the mount” standard. It means going above and beyond. It means turning the other cheek and going the extra mile. If anything it means that we as the church should be greener than the rest of the world.
It all boils down to one simple principle. Use what the Lord has given to us wisely.