Maria is doing a contest on her blog for Earth Day and asking others to share their views of environmental stewardship and the ways they implement that view. I had actually thought of doing a post in relation to Earth Day, so this works out great!
So how are we to care for the earth and what priority should it hold in our lives as Christians? Since we are to reflect who God is to the world, it makes sense to look at what God thinks about His creation. In the story of Genesis, God created the world and called it all good. This means the all the plants, trees, fish, birds, animals and humans. He specifically called humans “very good” though and said that they were made in His image. So we know of all things, people are of utmost importance to God. So in my life, I work to make sure that relationships are a high priority in all that I am doing, even above caring for the earth (but hopefully not to the detriment of it).
But He gave Adam and Eve the mandate to:
“Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. (Genesis 1:28-31)
So a couple of things that I can draw from the creation of the world:
1. God has entrusted us as stewards to care for the earth. It was His creation that He said was “good” and now we are to care for it and work to keep it “good”.
2. That care is not to become a domination over us though. We are to bring beauty and order to the world, but not to worship it. People do this in various ways. Some people simply worship the earth as a god, others treat their pets like human beings, etc. Our use of our dominion should be to care for it and to bring others into the enjoyment of Jesus through our work.
3. God is still ultimately in control. He did not hand the world over to us and then just sit by with His hands tied as it goes down the tube. This earth will one day be redeemed to its full glory, and we as human beings cannot “ruin” what God has created and deemed good. We are still to care for it and work to preserve it, but the fatalistic mentality of the earth being completely destroyed by us is not Biblical.
I fully admit that I do not do the best job I could at caring for the earth. I will borrow my friend Minetta’s terminology and label myself “light green”. Here are some of the ways I try to be a good steward.
1. Recycle. We recycle the majority of our plastic and glass things while overseas. I don’t think they do paper recycling here, but while at home we do recycle paper as well.
2. Cloth Diapers. I have used cloth diapers since Abby was 23 months old. We still use disposable diapers and wipes at times, but for the most part our diapers and wipes are cloth.
3. Paper Products. We do not use paper plates, utensils or cups except for the one big summer party we tend to have each year in which case I do use them. I try to use cloth towels more than paper towels, but we still use a good amount of paper towels.
4. Cleaning Products. I use some natural baking soda and vinegar at times, but it is not a regular thing yet.
5. Cloth Shopping Bags. I have cloth shopping bags at home and try to remember to use them when I am there. I didn’t bring them over, but have it on my list to remember for next year.
6. Walk as much as possible. With 3 kids this can be difficult, but when I can, I do try to walk instead of drive. Around Bandirma it is not easy, but at home I do it a lot more, especially because so many family and friends live within walking distance. We also ride our bikes a lot more places at home too.
Some areas I want to improve on:
1. Using more natural cleaning products.
2. Using cloth shopping bags at the grocery store.
3. Unplugging things around the home. We have a ton of stuff plugged in and we leave it plugged in all the time. I want to get better at keeping our sockets clear.
So how do you work to keep the earth good?
Hey Erin,
Just a few thoughts….Many people probably conserve in areas that have become habit so they don’t even realize it–it has become second nature. For example, if you pay your bills on line, get e-bills, e-statements, file your taxes on line (if your tax situation permits you to do so), those are all areas that result in conservation, but we may not realize we are conserving because we have taken the technology for granted. Also, going digital with your photos is another way that we can conserve while taking advantage of technology. These things have become second nature or habit for many folks and hopefully such actions as recycling and using re-usable bags and natural cleansers will also become second nature.
For those who have the space, growing a garden with herbs and vegetables is a nice way to go organic and save a lot of money. It also presents your children with a valuable learning opportunity. Again, those with a yard large enough may want to consider composting.
Good thoughts on going paper-less, Alex. You are right in that I do not think much of that. I actually use it more of a convenience with being overseas. I also ask most organizations to take us off their mailing lists as well because getting home to large amounts of mail is not only a waste of paper, but of my time as well!
When we are in one spot for long than a month or so in the future (Lord-willing), i would love to start a garden! It is one of those things I have on my list for “someday”.
Thanks for entering Erin!
The only thing that kind of sticks on my mind– with the Environment and other issues– is the thought that human beings cannot ruin the environment. If we were all Christians and concerned with environmental stewardship, I could agree, but we know that not everyone considers the environment as something to be stewards of, nor is the world full of only Christians. Capitalism and those who consider us to have complete dominion over the Earth, who then abuse the environment (Love Canal, Cancer ally, Exxon, Hummer drivers, the list goes on and on), create a situation where we must be continually be involved in the protection and conservation of what we have been granted.
That being said, I think that even non-Christians or those who do not view the environment as something to be stewards of, when forced with an unsatisfactory environment (whatever that might be) would hopefully change their behavior. It would become a matter of self-preservation. I addressed some of these thoughts on the response to your population post.
Alexandra– you don’t need much space to compost. They make counter top compost bins and tumblers that take up very little space. Also, you can grow herbs indoors year round.