A few evenings ago, I was sitting with my friend and I started one of those deep thought conversations that seem to travel to the wee morning hours. My friend has a very Christian background and so I thought I would spur the conversation of today’s definition of environmentalism and what that means to a Christian.

He had a few negative perceptions of the environmental movement and the tones of end of day’s hysterics that surround topics of global warming, population bomb, and even green trends. Christianity teaches we do not know the day of our demise and that the earth was given to us to have dominion and multiply. So the population bomb is something that God intended and even gave specific instruction. Also that we are not responsible to make sure that we make sure the earth is here for our great-great-great grandkids because if the world ended 100 years from now that there is a better place than earth…heaven.

Some Christian spiritual beliefs conflict with how environmentalism is presented today but yet there is a much different way to look at this argument. Lets look at other theological teachings such as stewardship, charity, love thy neighbor, and not to covet your neighbors belongings. So instead of the global warming or climate change argument, Christians should be concerned that the environment is just telling us that we need to stop consuming so much stuff. Coveting your neighbor’s belongings may have played a part in the environmental problems that we have today.

No matter what your religious background there is at least one teaching in most major spiritual religion warning against greed or gluttony. And even more as stewards of the planet that God intended for us to use it not abuse it. As we see with our economy right now we are all in debt from stuff we just had to have, houses we couldn’t afford, and purchases of things we could have done for ourselves. We all have hit our limits with stuff, stuff, and more stuff. It is one thing to acquire things and build wealth and to save. There is one guy who I can think of who saves.

If you would like to enjoy a little video about stuff Annie Leonard had laid it all out with the Story of Stuff. Its good for those who need a reminder of how we need to think about our things.
http://www.storyofstuff.com/