Christian Actions to Preserve Environment
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What Specific Action(s) should Christians take Regarding the Environment and its Preservation or Restoration?
Claim (Thesis)
Christians have one shot, one opportunity to care for the creation that God gave charge over; there is a call to action to preserve the environment through recycling, utilizing green initiatives, and being responsible with the knowledge to create a better future. Christians should think of the environment as a gift granted, so precious that not even a cause of destruction should be acceptable (Van, 2010). Taking care of the environment is an act of worship to God, expressing the recognition of His power over the creation and kindness in granting the worthy nature to humankind. According to the Bible (Genesis 1: 26 – 28 New International Version), the man was given authority over the earth, and all that is in it. Therefore, conservation of the environment is an acknowledgment of the duty bestowed upon humanity.
Recycling
Recycling is a concept in which the reusable resource gets to productive use, and the waste are used to produce other products (Christian, Charles, & James, 2004). Recycling is a sure practice that will ensure environmental conservation and reduce exploitation of resources within the environment leading to their depletion. By recycling, the materials used to make the products are under preservation and avoidance of excessive utilization and wastage. Several initiatives have been conceived globally to care for the environment and crusade for its conservation, a role that Christians need to take actively (Loeffe, 2006).
There are different ways of recycling products depending on their types. The most common recycling technique is reusing the product that is still in a stable state and usable effectively (Loeffe, 2006). For instance, people are encouraged to reuse their polyethylene and paper bags that are still in good condition while shopping. The companies producing such bags are also encouraged to produce lasting products that can be used over by consumers to avoid misuse and prevent littering of the environment (Loeffe, 2006). Waste management and disposal is becoming a nightmare for administrations, and by people being able to use goods that reduce the generation of waste, re-use products that are still efficient and recycle waste materials into usable products, then a solution is in the offing.
Recycling reduces emission of waste in the environment and wastage exploitation of materials to support the expanding demand for goods (Martin & Stivers, 2003). Scarcity will minimize, as people will make proper use of the products they have in place to the fullest without wastage. Christians should take an active role in providing and encouraging sustainable interventions and solutions that will end up conserving the environment. As the saying commonly go, action speaks louder than words. Therefore, taking initiative as a Christian will draw the interest of others to conserve and restore the environment.
Green Initiatives (Go Green)
The green initiative majorly focuses on offsetting the greenhouse effect due to human activities ranging from complex industrialization processes to the typical human activities (Van, 2010). Major technologies and advances assist people on ways to go green to conserve the environment and reduce emission effects. It is important to minimize and reverse actions that degrade the environment. Therefore, it is incumbent on humankind to take the initiative of the conservation process (Martin & Stivers, 2003). Christians must be in full awareness of the measures to take in minimizing destruction of the environment. “For God gives wisdom” and knowledge, (Proverbs 2:6), Christians should seek for knowledge and share with others to help protect the environment, evangelizing on the impacts of restoration and its benefits.
Sustainability
Only sustainable actions can save the environment from increasing human activities that destroy the environment. Human constantly need resources, and having systems in place that will provide required resources while at the same time conserving the environment will help save the nature (Loeffe, 2006). Sustainability involves actions that can continue from initiation without hindrance. Therefore, environmental sustainability must ensure that resource extraction only meets the needs. This walk must make sure that resources harvested attain the capacity of regeneration and that the waste emitted from human and industrial activities does not surpass the capacity of the environment to assimilate.
For those resources that are non-renewable, there have to be measures in place to develop alternatives to replace the need for the resources and control depletion of the non-renewable resources. Envisioning the environment as the body of a human being will help understand the harm that the actions undertaken cause. Since the environment is a creation of God just as the body, the manner in which a person takes care of owns body should reflect the efforts towards conserving the environment. The harm to the environment goes a long way into harming human beings and other animals destabilizing their lives (Christian, Charles, & James, 2004).
God commissioned man to take the responsibility of taking care of the fauna and flora, and failure to conserve the environment means failure of responsibility (Martin & Stivers, 2003). Being that the environment is God’s creation just as the body human beings have the responsibility to take care of the situation just as their bodies. Failure to protect the environment is failure to protect the own body and its disobedience to the command of God. For a Christian, disobeying God’s command has dire consequences, as it constitutes a sin. The Bible mentions that it is a curse to disobey the commands of the Lord God (Deut. 11:28)
Creating sustainability requires the cooperation and goodwill of all concerned parties to come together and ensure that the actions get implementation (Van, 2010). Individuals must develop strategies and show commitment to the course of measures that ensure environmental sustainability. Without engagement and goodwill, it is almost impossible to take pride in sustainability, as the actions will achieve almost nothing (Loeffe, 2006). The consideration must be given to all aspects of the most complex activities in multi-complex industries to the simple ordinary human activities. There has, therefore, to be decisions and actions in place for the interest of protecting the world and maintaining capacity of the environment to support life. Industries must reduce processes that release emissions to the environment that cause harm to the fauna and flora or propel carbon activity. In the ordinary lives, humankind must also take steps that ensure that waste emission is reduced, and appropriate disposal means are in place to ensure environmental pollution is minimized (Martin & Stivers, 2003). Clogging of trees, for instance, can only be carried out by ensuring they are replaced, and there is a cycle in place to ensure continual availability of trees and natural vegetation. Overexploitation of natural resources also brings about artificial scarcity. Therefore, the activity of exploring natural resources has to be regulated to ensure that the production supports the demand with reduced wastage.
Taking the lead in environmental conservation and sustainability requires a higher-level commitment and sincerity to the course while leading by example. In everything, a Christian should set an example for others to follow (Titus 2:7), and by leading the crusade and action on environmental sustainability, it is easier for others to emulate. With the capacity in place and the ability to create a global network, Christian University should take an active lead in the course of environmental conservation and preservation to have a wider impact. The initiative through partnerships and cooperation can generate massive results that heal the world (Van, 2010).
Conclusion
The Lord God took the man to the Garden of Eden to work in and keep it. It is the mandate of man not to pollute or defile the land under occupation (Numbers 35:33), as the Lord dwells in the midst of the people. Environmental conservation and sustainability have raised concerns all over the globe, and it is upon people to walk the talk and make the resolutions real to achieve the desirable results (Loeffe, 2006). Life comes in one opportunity, and therefore Christians should join the wave to crusade for the preservation and protection of the environment in the sole opportunity to care for the creation that God gave. There is a call to action to preserve the environment through the best sustainable means possible for a better future and healthy environment that can support human beings.