Christians and the Environment

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The lyrics of Michael Jackson’s Earth Song are sobering. Those who have seen the video of the song probably remember how vividly he passionately sang, “What have we done to the world? Look what we've done.” While understanding the risks involved, human beings seem to care little about the environment. Every day that passes seems to leave the world with more to be concerned with, the ever-increasing pollution, the deforestation, and the threat of nuclear waste. Taking responsibility for the environment is a duty that Christians should commit to. In fact, Christians should lead the world in taking specific actions in the preservation and restoration of the environment.

Some environmentalists have blamed Christianity for the abuse of the environment. The 1967 article by Lynn White suggests that Christianity’s theology of the domination of creation is based on the premise that God created everything that exists for the humankind’s use and should be exploited for that purpose. By this, White alleged that Christians do not feel the obligation to take care of the nature, because it was created to serve them. While it may not be entirely true, many Christians do not object to this accusation. They realize that either their faith has been minimalist in its approach to environmental involvement, or it has completely disregarded environmental issues as irrelevant to the fundamentals of the faith.

The Christian church however has realized, in recent times, its responsibility and stewardship of the earth. Allan Effa agrees, “the Christian community is reexamining some of its theological assumptions and filling in some gaping blind spots in its understanding of the missio Dei” (God’s purpose). Thus with a changing attitude, Christians are...

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... Universe. http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/michaeljackson/earthsong.html (accessed May 8, 2012).

Santa Clara University "The Common Good vs Individualism." Santa Clara University - Welcome. http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/iie/v5n1/common.html (accessed May 8, 2012).

Radford Ruether, Rosemary, "Ecology and Theology: Ecojustice at the Center of the Church's Mission," Interpretation: A Journal Of Bible & Theology 65, no. 4 (October 2011), 354-363. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed May 7, 2012).

Feuerbach, Ludwig and George Eliote. The Essence of Christianity. New York:Calvin Blanchad, 1855) Google Books, http://books.google.com/books?id=Lsvo-mgtuc0C (accessed May, 7 2012), 361.

Effa, Allan. "The Greening of Mission." International Bulletin Of Missionary Research 32, no. 4 (October 2008): 171. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed May 7, 2012).

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