Christians & the environment

[rocklife]

I guess I'm just unsure why you think Christians wouldn't care about the environment. Not caring is akin to destroying God's creation.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1. We care about everything God created. That's why we care about the unborn. Anything God made is important, and to be cared for.

good points seajoy, heron.

christians and the bible care about what God cares about. The bible does tell us God's future plans too, about the world. We care about the environment, some christians more than others, I care because I have children and also for my own health, also we have laws that say don't litter, the bible says we should obey laws as long as they aren't against God's laws.

The Bible says God is going to renew all heavens and earth (I'm not sure of all details, but something like that). He is going to fix everything eventually. The main mission of Jesus is to seek and save the lost, so that is the main focus of people, reach them with the message of Jesus' forgiveness of sins and offer of eternal life before death comes as much as we can. we do our best, God is often using the poor and meek, that is just His plan. We are often kind of powerless, but we do our best. I encourage you to read the New Testament for more learning of Jesus messages God bless

 

[eddie123]

I guess I'm just unsure why you think Christians wouldn't care about the environment.

I guess I'm unsure why why you think I think Christians wouldn't care about the environment, I've not said that. Perhaps you could do me the courtesy of reading what I put rather than trying to discern some agenda behind the questions I'm asking.

I have no interest in trying to tell you you are right or wrong, or in some kind of moral points scoring , I'm just interested in the teachings of your religion and how they relate to current times and issues and whether there is anything that may be used in guiding my own personal search - either though what it says or whay it doesn't say.

Thousands of years ago, there were no verses written on smokestack emissions and safe nuclear waste disposal. But there were verses on rotating crops, leaving fields fallow, resisting hybridizing crops and crossbreeding (take further to genetic engineering concerns about disease).

Hi Heron - good points as always.

Hi Rocklife - if it's all going to be renewed anyway, why not strip it of as much of its resources as you can in the meantime if it's not contradictory to Christianity's teachings?

 

[seajoy]

Perhaps you could do me the courtesy of reading what I put rather than trying to discern some agenda behind the questions I'm asking.

I have no interest in trying to tell you you are right or wrong, or in some kind of moral points scoring , I'm just interested in the teachings of your religion and how they relate to current times and issues and whether there is anything that may be used in guiding my own personal search - either though what it says or whay it doesn't say.


Hi Rocklife - if it's all going to be renewed anyway, why not strip it of as much of its resources as you can in the meantime if it's not contradictory to Christianity's teachings?

Right, no agenda here.

By the way, it is contradictory...I just told you we are to take care of everything God created. Just because something won't be used forever, doesn't mean we should treat it badly now.

 

[rocklife]

I guess I'm unsure why why you think I think Christians wouldn't care about the environment, I've not said that. Perhaps you could do me the courtesy of reading what I put rather than trying to discern some agenda behind the questions I'm asking.

I have no interest in trying to tell you you are right or wrong, or in some kind of moral points scoring , I'm just interested in the teachings of your religion and how they relate to current times and issues and whether there is anything that may be used in guiding my own personal search - either though what it says or whay it doesn't say.

Hi Heron - good points as always.

Hi Rocklife - if it's all going to be renewed anyway, why not strip it of as much of its resources as you can in the meantime if it's not contradictory to Christianity's teachings?

because hoarding things is not necessary, I think. what are you talking about stripping as much of its resources? Jesus says don't store treasure on earth, so we don't have to hoard. I am not sure what you are talking about to answer much else.

and please remember this forum is not a discussion/debate area, this is just to ask a question and then listen to christian reply. the discussion area is down further (friendly reminder)

and one other thought, I am not one who is afraid we are going to run out of anything we need. I rely on God for all my needs, as Jesus says.

 

[seajoy]

and one other thought, I am not one who is afraid we are going to run out of anything we need. I rely on God for all my needs, as Jesus says.

Amen, and Amen!

 

[eddie123]

because hoarding things is not necessary, I think. what are you talking about stripping as much of its resources? Jesus says don't store treasure on earth, so we don't have to hoard. I am not sure what you are talking about to answer much else.

What I mean is the difference between taking what you need to taking what you want. If it's all going to be renewed doesn't that imply that it's acceptable to take as much as you want regardless of the short term consequences because in the end Jesus will come down and clean up the mess?

and please remember this forum is not a discussion/debate area, this is just to ask a question and then listen to christian reply. the discussion area is down further (friendly reminder)

Fair point, but it's difficult. I'm not trying to have a debate on the subject (see my previous post regarding my motivations), just understand what people believe their faith tells them to do. If I get responses such as yours with "Jesus says don't store treasure on earth" - fair enough - I accept that as a "Christian reply" with relevance to my question, but when I get responses such as...

I do not believe that anything man does, or can do (short of total nuclear war) will do anything to change our global climate.

This nothing wrong with the world but there is something wrong with the people in our government. Its all a smoke screen to cover up the evil that they do.

I don't put a lot of energy in the lastest (fad) of envirnmental scares.

Do all athiests care about the environment?.

...I don't see what these response have to do with Christian teachings or how they can be viewed as a "Christian reply" rather than as just a reply by somebody who happens to be a Christian. Surely it's a two way street, with an obligation on the Christians responding to answer the question asked - not use it as an opportunity to promote their personal agendas?

 

[rocklife]

What I mean is the difference between taking what you need to taking what you want.

I'm not sure how to answer that, but I believe politics and governments are involved in that process. I personally believe there are many wolves in sheep's clothing, and money and power are very motivating to some to be wolf in sheep clothing, including churchgoers. Jesus and New Testament have warnings about all that, remember the leaders of His day also led Him to the cross for death penalty unjustly. God is allowing evil to have its course in these corrupt times. It will be perfected in His time. I recommend to see what a christian is and what the teachings are, to read the New Testament seeking truth and not holding on to preconcieved notions, Jesus warns there are hypocrits, don't let them detract from His real message.

usually we take what need vs. taking what we want, with money, right? or bartering or etc? we reap what we sow, we have to work for our bread. and also Jesus says we rely on God. (new Testament also shares we need to be productive, no work, no food).

Fair point, but it's difficult. I'm not trying to have a debate on the subject (see my previous post regarding my motivations), just understand what people believe their faith tells them to do. If I get responses such as yours with "[/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT]Jesus says don't store treasure on earth" - fair enough - I accept that as a "Christian reply" with relevance to my question, but when I get responses such as...




...I don't see what these response have to do with Christian teachings or how they can be viewed as a "Christian reply" rather than as a reply by a Christian.

[/quote] I hope these difficulties can be resolved peacefully. I can't speak for others. I believe our best source of information is simply reading the Bible and especially New Testament for ourselves with humble heart seeking God's ways, and seeking to do what is right and good. That is how I learned so much. I used to be a criminal, been arrested, was violent, etc. God has changed me to care about others, when I used to hate so much, and also His creation too. The Bible, New Testament, and prayers and following Jesus also with my conscience has really helped me so much, to care about life and love, and have hope. I encourage you also to find Him in these ways He has given. God bless, thanks for talking

 

[heron]

I found a Religion and Environment article with links to articles pertaining to different religions. There are very mixed viewpoints represented here:

http://daphne.palomar.edu/calenvironment/religion.htm

Bill Moyers on Christianity and the Environment:
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/moyersonamerica/green/environment.html

(Thanks for the compliment, Eddie!)

 

[RC1262]

G'day eddie123,

How should a Christian react to the current concerns regarding the environment & global warming. What responsibility does being a Christian impose on you for how you treat the planet and its resources?

Because I believe that God created the world and that He gave mankind dominion and authority over it (Genesis 1:26-28), I treat it with respect and awe. This passage in Genesis, for example, speaks of God placing humans in charge of His material world to manage and care for it. Using the term that other users have said, this is simply the idea of "stewardship," and all throughout the Bible we are exhorted to be good stewards of all which God has given us, including the Earth. God gave us this world to care for, not to carelessly plunder and treat without respect or concern.

Hence, I believe that Christians in particular should take as good care of the planet and the life therein as is possible, except to the detriment of humans or society. I personally would not be in favour of loosing our technology which makes our life easier and more efficient, but that said, I am in favour of new research and development projects into "clean coal power station" technology and the "green" cars.

As for what responsibility being a Christian has on the way that I treat the environment, well, I think that we should do everything that we logically can to minimize our impact on our environment. For example, some simple things that anyone could do are turning off lights, water, and other technology equipment when you're not using them. Another simple way is getting your car serviced and driving it sensibly and not burning petrol carelessly; recycling is yet another great example. You know, it's just simple things like these and others that I do because it is my way of trying to minimize my impact on the environment which I believe that God made for me, for us, to use and enjoy.

To answer one of your questions that you asked in a later post, no, to my knowledge the Bible does not specifically command that we do this or not do that when it comes in regard to the environment, but the basic concepts which govern how we should treat the environment are laid down there in Genesis 1 [as I explained at the start of this post]. It is much like the concept of the Trinity - the word is not mentioned, but the theology or the concept is already laid down in Scripture.

The Bible has so much to say on those other issues because those issues deal with people's relationship with their fellow people and their relationship with God, which is far more important than our relationship with the environment.

You'll find that many Christians have differing points of view when it comes to environmental issues, but at least I would think that all respect and do their part in taking care of the Earth (e.g. not littering), if only for the reason that God created it for us and told us to care for it.

I hope that this helped you out. Most of the ways that I do my part is in my own opinion and very much ad hoc, but based on the Bible's statement that we should care for it [as explained at the beginning of this post].

From,
Scorch (a.k.a. RC-1262).

 

[Sketcher]

It's God's creation, and as such we should respect and protect it. People are of first concern however, since we need to provide for our fellowman and help rescue souls.

I personally do not believe in global warming as the liberals do. There is a sound scientific case for the warming to be a natural cycle over hundreds of years. I do believe in keeping the earth clean on principle, though. I enjoy nature and hate to see it polluted, it's as simple as that. For that reason alone, we should work to reduce pollution - in pragmatic ways that won't kill our economy.

 

[eddie123]

I found a Religion and Environment article with links to articles pertaining to different religions. There are very mixed viewpoints represented here:

http://daphne.palomar.edu/calenvironment/religion.htm

Bill Moyers on Christianity and the Environment:
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/moyersonam...vironment.html

These should keep me entertained reading though these for the next couple of weeks.

Once again Heron I am indebted to you.This is exactly the sort of thing I was looking for. Many thanks.

Thanks also to Rocklife and the others that have tried to answer my questions taking them at face value, rather than assuming that I have some ulterior motive for asking.

Regards

eddie123

 

[heron]

I'm embarrased to say that I didn't read the linked articles, so I'm not sure what's in them! They just appeared appropriate. And it does seem as though you're trying to find out information, not just challenge us.

 

[eddie123]

I'm embarrased to say that I didn't read the linked articles, so I'm not sure what's in them!

Then you must be just naturally gifted at finding useful info!

it does seem as though you're trying to find out information, not just challenge us.

If I ask a challenging question it's not in accusation but rather to test the extremes of the point in order to understand better.

I'll leave the challenging of your faith to those who believe that such arguments have ever convinced anybody of anything - something I find much less plausible than the existence of a divine being :-D