Tuesday, October 09, 2012

09-10-12 (Tuesday) "It's not about being green."

I've been rather passionate about living an energy-efficient, low-carbon life for a long time now. I turn off the shower as I shampoo myself; turn off the tap when soaping my dishes; use the sun to dry my clothes instead of using the dryers if there's enough sunlight; turn off my laptop after use, never leaving it on overnight... Many have even got the chance to be annoyed by my pestering to cut down on water and electricity wastage.

Our pastor, Dom preached on the Apostle's Creed last week at church, touching on the third line:
I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
...

On applying that to our lives, Dom mentioned that we should take good care of the things that God has blessed us with around us. The resources He has given us in this world. The beauty of creation around. The very air we breath. "It's not about being green," he said. "It's about being good stewards of what God has given us."

I had a short discussion with some friends a day later, finding out that the main thing they got out of that application point was "It's not about being green."

I didn't like the sound of that.

Just recently as well, I've been reading John Piper's ebook entitled "Preparing for Marriage", where John talks about how the ultimate reason for anything and everything is for God's glory. Our material body, the material world, marriage, singlehood. Everything. John also poses a challenge to ponder upon. How are WE glorifying God in all that we have and do? He also calls us to be good stewards of whatever God has given us and whatever situation He has placed us in. God is ultimate reality. Everything else is secondary.

So I'd like to respond.

If we take the stance that "this world is temporary, that everything will pass away, so why bother protecting it so well?", how does that glorify God?

When others see how we, as Christians, don't bother trying to use only what we need, that we care only about "it's so convenient that way!", how does that glorify God?

If we let the saying go that "being green is such a western culture" and continue living as the non-western (eastern?) way, doesn't that mean we're just the same as anyone else? How does that glorify God? Does our faith change our lives at all?

John Piper writes in the book under the heading The Material World - for the Glory of God:
"God made bodies and material things because when they are rightly seen and rightly used, God's glory is more fully known and displayed."

Our material world was made to shout of God's glory. Our bodies were made for that too.
“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
~ Luke 19:40 

No need to get started on the extremes of environmentalism. I'm just talking about the very basics of minimising waste.


For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
~ Colossians 1:16

Its not about being green.

Its about being good stewards of God's gifts.