What Would Jesus Drive?

NWANews.com :: Religion :: Some evangelicals say Christianity, environmentalism go well together

This article, reprinted from the Raleigh News & Observer in the 30 April, 2005, Religion section of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, makes a great point that I've long thought has been overlooked in church. Though it is not really a political article, author Matt Ehlers subtly leaves the reader questioning yet another contradiction in the morals the Neo-Con political agenda would impose on us. Neo-Cons claim to worship God, but they seem to have very little respect for his work. Meanwhile, environmentalists are the ones portrayed as Godless sinners? Thanks to Mr. Ehlers for showing us that there are some Christians out there making an attempt to resolve this conundrum.

More and more churches are emphasizing care for the environment in their worship and outreach. Evangelicals tend to call this movement "creation care," the idea being that God created the earth and its environment, and it's the duty of humankind to tend it. "If you don't care for the plants and the trees and other creatures, that has serious consequences for human beings," said the Rev. Jim Ball, executive director of the Evangelical Environmental Network.

To Ball, making environmentally friendly choices is part of a Christian's duties. "We need to be faithful to the Scriptures and to being disciples of Jesus Christ," said Ball, who lives in Brunswick, Md. "The earth is the Lord's. It's not ours. He expects us to take care of it as he would take care of it."

And Christians, in particular, need to do their part because, as Cizik sees it, the Bible says that humankind should "watch over and care for creation." "That has to trump the history of our lack of engagement in these matters," said Cizik, who is based in Washington, "and it has to trump our politics."

I've always thought environmental conservatism can come from a sound Biblical principle, in addition to a compelling academic rationale. I'm glad to see others are finally catching on. When the topic of protecting our natural resources comes up, I always think of Jesus's parable of the talents. Let's see what He had to say:

Matthew 25:14-30 [New English Translation]

25:14"For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them. 25:15To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.

25:16The one who had received five talents went off right away and put his money to work and gained five more. 25:17In the same way, the one who had two gained two more. 25:18But the one who had received one talent went out and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money in it.

25:19After a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled his accounts with them. 25:20The one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, 'Sir, you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' 25:21His master answered, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful in a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.'

25:22The one with the two talents also came and said, 'Sir, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more.' 25:23His master answered, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.'

25:24Then the one who had received the one talent came and said, 'Sir, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed, 25:25so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.' 25:26But his master answered, 'Evil and lazy slave! So you knew that I harvest where I didn't sow and gather where I didn't scatter? 25:27Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received my money back with interest!

25:28'Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten. 25:29For the one who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 25:30And throw that worthless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"

I should point out, that I don't think this parable is an endorsement of capitalism. On the other hand, it does give a very clear message about how to manage our resources whether they be economic, spiritual, or environmental. When God created the earth with all it's flora and fauna (including us, by whatever means), we were entrusted with vast resources like the slaves in the story. (A talent would be worth roughly $300,000 in today's market.) The way we choose to act as stewards of Earth's God-given resources says a lot about our character.

We can, like the first two loyal slaves, use our natural resources to their fullest to multiply their value and improve the environment in which we and our descendants will exist. By using the things around us judiciously and efficiently, we can effect positive change and create things that will be of more benefit to future generations than the raw materials from which they came.

Or we can act as the lazy slave and ignore our resources, ensuring that they remain untouched until the master returns. By following strict hands-off policies, we waste our resources. Material resources are no good unless they are used. They cannot multiply on their own. Other resources like time are irretrievable once the opportunity to use them has passed. If we do not invest now, we can never reclaim that missed opportunity to increase our society's wealth.

There is another option not presented in Jesus's parable. We can take the resources we have now and use them to generate the maximum possible gain in the shortest possible time. This we will keep for ourselves, to make our lives more convenient and to make ourselves rich. Unfortunately, this rate of consumption cannot be sustained. The riches will not last and the methods will leave behind toxic byproducts that will taint the few remaining resources. But we will not care, because these things have been given to us to do as we please.

Why was this third option not presented in Jesus's parable? Probably because it would have been unheard of in his time. If the slave had taken his master's money and squandered it on luxuries for himself, surely he would have been put to death. Yet this is the way our society treats our environment, as a payment due us rather than as a loan from God. When the master clearly lays out the punishment for simply hoarding our resources like the third slave, why do we choose to go and openly defy Him by greedily consuming the things He has entrusted to us?

I hope we can someday (and soon) find a way to be conscientious stewards of the world around us. The pioneers of such a change will not be our politicians or big businesses. For them, current profit matters more than long term sustainability. Instead, each of us must commit on a personal level to use less while creating more. We have to think about the big picture and work efficiently. Use the resources you have where appropriate because blind conservation is nearly as wasteful as rampant consumption, but think about the impact you will have and plan accordingly.