So we hear remarks about Christians not being especially environmental or not believing in climate change. They are big generalisations, but what is our own church’s view on the environment?
This is a topic not widely preached but Stewardship of the Environment is in fact an official statement of the Seventh-day Adventist Church:
“It is the belief of the Seventh-day Adventist Church that humankind was created in the image of God, and is thus to represent God as His steward and to manage the natural environment in a faithful and fruitful way. Nature is a gift from God.
Unfortunately, men and women have been increasingly involved in an irresponsible destruction of the earth’s resources, resulting in widespread suffering, environmental degradation, and the threat of climate change. While scientific research needs to continue, it is clear from the accumulated evidence that the increasing emission of destructive gasses, the massive destruction of the American rain forests, and the depletion of the protective mantel of ozone (the so-called greenhouse effect), are all threatening the earth’s eco-system. There are dire predictions of global warming, rising sea levels, increasing frequency of storms and destructive floods, and devastating desertification and droughts.
These problems are largely due to human selfishness and greed which result in ever-increasing production, unlimited consumption, and depletion of nonrenewable resources. Solidarity with future generations is discussed, but the pressure of immediate interests is given priority. The ecological crisis is rooted in humankind’s greed and refusal to practice good and faithful stewardship.
Seventh-day Adventism advocates a simple, wholesome lifestyle, where people do not step on the treadmill of unbridled over-consumption, accumulation of goods, and production of waste. A reformation of lifestyle is called for, based on respect for nature, restraint in the use of the world’s resources, reevaluation of one’s needs, and reaffirmation of the dignity of created life.”
Statement approved & voted by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Administrative Committee (ADCOM) – Oct 1996.
In the face of so many natural disasters occurring right now (think of the hurricanes and floods that have occurred just in the last week), it is a stark reminder of how those dire predictions mentioned in this statement continue to come true and that unfortunately the future state of our planet looks bleak.
In light of the church’s stance, perhaps we need to reevaluate our own stance when it comes to environmental stewardship. Do we REALLY care about deforestation and the consequential habitat loss for so many creatures that God created? Do we care that many delicate ecosystems both on land and in water, so intricately designed by God, are being destroyed at an alarming rate? Are we strong advocates against such acts of devastation?
Do we help individually by carefully choosing sustainable materials, by using chemical free products, by avoiding heavily processed goods? Do we minimise our waste by recycling as much as possible and minimising our use of disposables? Do we reduce our water, gas and electricity consumption? Do we buy only what we need? And so forth.
Being a good steward of the environment should really come naturally for a Christian. Just as we love God we should love His precious animals, plants and diverse environments enough to feel compelled to want to protect them. To do what we can. As the church has clearly stated, “Nature is a gift from God.” We are to look after it, respect it and in this age we need “reaffirmation of the dignity of created life.”
