Describe The Relationship Between Christianity And The Environment

In our treatment of the environment, mankind is to have dominion over all of the creatures of the earth. Although with this great power over the earth, man has a responsibility to maintain and sustain the earth. The Reverend John Cumming, Minister of the Scottish National Church stated in 1854 that “wherever there is great power, lofty position, there is great responsibility,”

However, the letter from evangelicals said that though human beings are entrusted with taking care of the environment, activities that propel sustenance must not be restricted.

I believe that as a Christian we should be as concerned, if not more so, than any other concerned non-believers. We as Christians, have been given the truth about God, His creation and His will. When it comes to His creation He is very detailed about His plans in creating the earth for His people and His purpose (HCSB. Genesis 1:26-30). Sadly, many Christians have fallen into the category quoted by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., “Some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good." Their time here on earth has been fogged by the aspirations of glory. The contributors of this wasted life is ignorance, greed, and selfishness. Furthermore, our environment suffers for the cause. Nonetheless, this is a major topic of conversation

Therefore, the individual’s responsibility is to take care of the earth they live in. for instance, taking care of family and friend and others with dignity is a way to show sign of our respect for the god, who created the earth and the human (Catholic Charities, 2016).

What does it mean to be Stewards of this earth? This question was asked in class and does a good job of describing the situation that many Christians today face. It all depends on our definition of stewardship. I believe that an excellent example of stewardship is the Zuni tribe.

Case (2000, p. 25) mentions, a T.V. commercial when the Native American weeps, because of the pollution, he explains, not only should the Native Americans weep, but all of us should, as we witness tragedies that are taking place on the land God wants deemed as “very good”. In many countries, not only are we not honoring what God deemed as “very good” with pollution,

Christian voice is correcting them or proclaiming the biblical model of man’s relationship to nature which: is unique and superior to the dominant free-market and environmentalist models. . According to Gardner and Stern (1996), in that place are exclusive approaches that have power to be implemented in companionships search to defend the environment. One like approach may take a closer look at holy and regarding duties beliefs and the effects of these beliefs on the environment. The idea to create values and beliefs in environmental issues are important components of having a safer and enjoyable world for its people and the world they live in. Christian and non-Christian, at hand, must see the environment and the shortcoming of business by reason of a proper conversion to an act or purpose of and preservation of the wealth the planet has to support life. Christians as the Bible originate directing the eye to what has to be published by word force in reference to human natures dependence and bounden duty to the nature and its resources. As Christians we should do what ever it takes to make sure this earth glorify God. If we are careless about science and economics — not caring about how they work and what they describe, creation’s economy will suffer (Christians Research Institute).

The issue of Deforestation has been high on the global environmental agenda for many years, and remains a serious problem today. In the tropics and many other parts of the world, nations continue to lose the valuable biodiversity, soil and water conservation, and climate regulation that natural forests provide. Christianity can only address this matter by continuing to combine an acceptance of the command to people to ‘multiply and replenish the earth’ (Genesis 1:28) with a balancing injunction to act as stewards of the environment. Charities such as Christian Ecology Link and World Vision work to increase awareness of the current ecological crisis and encourage adherents to live sustainably and make ‘green’ consumption choices.

“You shall not pollute the land in which you live, for blood pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it. You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell, for I the Lord dwell in the midst of the people of Israel.” Numbers 35: 33-34

Despite many Christians, such as Patriarch Batholomew from the Greek Orthodox church who states that ‘For humans to contaminate the Earth’s waters, its land, its air, and its life, with poisonous substances. These are sins’ in an attempt to encourage prioritising environmental protection, climate skeptic Calvin Beisner states that “the Bible teaches that earth and all its subsystems… are the product of a God who is an infinitely wise designer”, reflecting that his personal interpretation of God’s revelation has led to his understanding of the Earth being intelligently design, so that humankind could not potentially destroy it, consequently leading to him not placing priority on the protection of the environment.

Our earthly habitat is not an unexpected occurrence of little worth, but rather, it is one to be highly valued and preserved. The biblical doctrine of creation helps the Christian to understand the true significance of the world in order to deal with the environmental crisis. The Bible says, “For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited…” (King James Version, Isaiah 45:18). In Christian teaching, God not only created Heavens and Earth, but expressed His delight in His creation. This creation meant, everything encompassing the trees, the

God’s command to “fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion” (Gen 1:28) by tilling the earth shows that man’s capacity to dominate the earth lies within himself, transforming it to his own needs.

Man was created to keep the earth but we have failed at that, we have not listened to the Genesis myth about being the caretakers, we have destroyed and pillaged the land. The creation myth was supposed to keep the earth pure but we justified it as a way to do what we want with it(Earth) and therefor have had a negative effect on the earth due to the genesis creation myth.

Sustainable Agriculture is the main focus of globalization throughout the entire world. Sustainable Agriculture is having and producing food on a consistent basis, so that during periods of long issues food production will be able to keep the people fed. Or, on a basic level, feeding every person consistently without a dip in production. The fact that about eleven percent of the world is undernourished is staggering. 795 million people go hungry everyday. These numbers are the driving force behind the Sustainable Agriculture movement. A movement which has picked up in society and also within Christian Culture.

The environment is quickly becoming one of the greatest topics of debate in modern times as the impacts of climate change and deforestation become more and more apparent to the world, and is arguably man’s next greatest ethical concern. Regardless of one’s stance on ecological issues it is hard to argue that a change in our behaviour isn’t needed to prevent future devastation. The Catholic Church has always to some degree supported environmentalism, and that support is no doubt growing stronger rather than dwindling. To understand the significant extent to which adherents of Catholicism are participating in the ever increasing ethical concern of the environment, it is first important to explore Church teachings and their approach to ecology.