Christian Duty in the Natural World

It is the responsibility of Christians across the United States, as well as globally, to protect, preserve and repair the natural environment of the planet. When individuals pollute or otherwise harm the planet, they are, in effect, disrespecting God. While this may seem farfetched, it is rational when one recognizes that humans first assumed the responsibility of tending the global environment when they entered into the very first covenant with God during the times of the Israelites. Additionally, while having broad focus on what to fix may be preferable to some, there are better methods for beginning the conservation work. In the very first book of the Holy Bible we see God demanding of us to be stewards of the environment. In the Bible we see, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” (ESV Study Bible: English Standard Version, Gen. 2:15) In this passage it is clearly apparent that God assigned the responsibility of stewardship of the planet to man. By taking a more allegorical approach to this particular piece of the Bible, a reader can see that the Garden of Eden is actually the planet Earth itself, pre-sin, and God’s placement of Man and directions to him as the charge put forth on maintaining the planet. Yet another example is found in Leviticus 25:23, “The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine. For you are strangers and sojourners with me.” In this verse, it can be gathered that, in effect, mankind is not truly natural in this world and that God is essentially allowing Man to “borrow” the planet Earth, until a time when He chooses to retake it. Even in the New Testament, there are several instances where Jesus Christ points out the important of being a good steward to the land and the rewards that will be inherited in the afterlife as a result. In “The Parable of the Wise Steward” more specifically Luke 13:12, it is written, “And if you cannot be trusted with what belongs to someone else, who will give you something that will be your own?” In this specific instance it can be observed that Jesus is directly targeting and challenging man in such a way that if an individual cannot be given the responsibility of caring for the gift given in this world by God, how can that individual expect to obtain entry into the next life? In other parts of the New Testament, writings can be found which indicate the root of individual men’s disrespect of the environment. For example, “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (1 Timothy 6:9-10)
The Holy Bible clearly establishes the responsibilities to the planet of all members of the Christian faith. The common question asked by many is, “Where do I begin?” or, “What should my focus be?” When it comes to participating in a healthy environment in an individual’s living area, the initial start of the stewardship could not be any easier. In one particular article, a Christian environmentalist, Mr. White, suggests the following, “We can be thoughtful in using water. We can support efforts to provide clean water to those who do not have it. In certain parts of the world, lack of clean water is a very serious problem, leading to a tremendous loss of life.” (White) The example Mr. White specifies is a particularly clear and easy goal to attempt to accomplish. With basic water conservation, a Christian is demonstrating a healthy respect for God and his fellow man. The beauty of this method of conservation is the sheer ease of it. All that is required of an individual is to be mindful of turning faucets off, or not being wasteful when it comes to water utilization. Additionally, an individual can put themselves on a weekly water ration with regards to cleaning and lawn care maintenance. Other ways in which a Christian can help their environment is donating their used newspapers, clothing and household items to organizations that could put them to good use, or recycling them. This puts a smaller burden on the natural environment, and can be a strong encouragement for others. Additionally, Christians can encourage members of their church to assist in cleaning a local street or playground. This gives the church organization visibility and may also have the added bonus of encouraging others to join the church due to the shining examples demonstrated by its membership.
A counter argument to all the previously stated points was a misguided ideal held by Gnostics which believed, “All within the material world is unimportant and evil.”(Dewitt & Nash, par. 10) This is easily countered by the statement made by Dewitt and Nash, in which they equate hating or finding a creation evil is the same as disliking or despising the one who made it, in this case God. (Dewitt & Nash, par. 10)
Yet another counter argument held by those with a utilitarian earth view is the following, “Merely a temporary way station on the road to eternal life, the earth was put here by the Lord for His people to subdue and to use for profitable purposes on their way to the hereafter.” (Watt, pg. 74-75) This is almost immediately countered by Ms. Bratton, a Christian ethicist’s simple yet direct statement, “The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains."(Ps. 24:1)
In Mr. Berry’s essay he argues that individuals who focus on specific causes are flawed. (pg. 331) However, it is the opinion of the author, that with an overall major cause organized into smaller subgroups, a pursuit in reasonable environmental repair can result in success. While it is true that causes that are too overly focused on one specific notion can become lost, or go with little to no recognition, a focus that is too broad can result in the same thing. A better system for developing a cause is to have an overall plan. For example, improving the air quality of the nation, and then having managers for each subsection that would assist in accomplishing the mission and goals of the overall cause. Having the subsections would allow a focused approach in achieving the overall goal. If the manager of Philadelphia’s air quality improvement wants to set up an incentive program that encourages people to purchase hybrid cars, they contribute to the overall national improvement of air quality, and additionally, is allowed to exercise some autonomy due to the fact that the national goal is still in line with what the particular city manager wants to achieve in pursuit of the end state. One of the key ideas that the national level organization would have to remember is that micromanagement could result in the end states that Mr. Berry glosses over in his essay. (pg. 330-336) While Mr. Berry is warranted in his assertion that movements are unsuccessful, again his logic can prove folly in the fact that the Suffragettes was very much a movement that resulted in the right for women to vote in the United States. Regardless of his feelings, the example of the Suffragettes is evidence enough to all Christians in the nation that movements can accomplish something, so long as their cause is just, and they are properly organized.

Works Cited
Berry, Wendell. "Chapter 14 The Environment: How Can We Preserve It?" To the Point: Reading and Writing Short Arguments. New York: Pearson Longman, 2009. 329-37. Print.
Berry, Wendell. "In Distrust of Movements." To the Point: Reading and Writing Short Arguments. By Gilbert H. Muller and Harvey S. Wiener. New York: Pearson Longman, 2009. 329-37. Print.
Dewitt, Calvin B., and Robert Nash. "Christians and the Environment: How Should Christians Think about the Environment?" Christian Research Institute and the Bible Answer Man, Hank Hanegraaff. Christian Research Institute. Web. 02 Apr. 2012. <http://www.equip.org/articles/christians-and-the-environment-how-should-christians-think-about-the-environment->.
Luke. "Luke 13:12." ESV Study Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2011. Print.
Moses. "Genesis 2:15." ESV Study Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2011. Print.
Moses. "Leviticus 25:23." ESV Study Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2011. Print.
Solomon. "Psalms 24:1." ESV Study Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2011. Print.
St. Timothy. "1 Timothy 6:9-10." ESV Study Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2011. Print.
Watt, James. "Ours Is the Earth." Saturday Evening Post [Washington D.C.] Jan. 1982: 74-75. Print.
White, Michael. "A Christians Responsibility to the Environment." Free Press Release Distribution Service. PRlog, May-June 2010. Web. 02 Apr. 2012. <http://www.prlog.org/10657686-christians-responsibility-to-the-environment.html>.

I. Introduction

Thesis Statement: It is the responsibility of Christians across the United States as well as globally, to protect, preserve and repair the natural environment of the planet.

II. There are Biblical examples of stewardship that clearly outline human responsibility within the first book of the Old Testament.
A. Verses in the very first book of the Holy Bible demonstrate early duty to the planet.
1. The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. Genesis 2:15
2. The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine. For you are strangers and sojourners with me.
B. Other examples of stewardship exist in the New Testament as well.
1. And if you cannot be trusted with what belongs to someone else, who will give you something that will be your own? Luke 16:12
2. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 1 Timothy 6:9-10

III. Christians have many ways in which they can do their duties elected to them by God with regards to the environment.
A. Christians can get an incredibly easy start to caring for the environment.
1. We can be thoughtful in using water. We can support efforts to provide clean water to those who do not have it. In certain parts of the world, lack of clean water is a very serious problem, leading to a tremendous loss of life.(White, par. 3) 2. Christians can participate in local cleanups.

IV. Individuals exist in which they do no believe Christians have a true responsibility to help the environment. They are however completely off base.
A. Gnostics held to the belief that everything in the mortal world was unimportant or evil 1. Gnostic logic was flawed in that nothing the impure or inherently evil B. The utilitarian earth view holds that everything within the earth belongs to man and is therefore his to do with as he pleases.
1. Again the logic is flawed as everything within the world belongs to the world, and not to man

V. Mr. Berry in his section argues that movements do not work. However, the fallacy is there are examples in the past that demonstrate he is incorrect. A. Movements that are too broad miss the small things that effect the overall picture.
1. With focus sub-causes a group or movement can effect the overall climate of a cause. B. Movements in the past have worked extremely well to bring change with meaning to the United States.
1. The movement known as the "Suffragettes" allowed women to vote.