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Environment and Its Preservation or Restoration
The human populace has noted increased environmental issues notably from the period 1970s when a global oil scarcity was noted. This was initially attributed to the climaxing and immediate declination of the oil resource in the chief user nations, namely America, Germany, and Canada amongst others, due to enhanced industrialization by at least one percent. As the available oil deposits were unable to meet the demand, the resource depletion was enhanced leading to the shortage that has continually increased to 3.4 percent by the period 2004 (Mills 180). Currently, researchers have expressed their concerns for the future as by the period 2030, the global demand is expected to rise by thirty-seven percent evidencing a waiting disaster, as the supply will be insufficient with the user trends available. Such human activities usually lead to further environmental degradations as further oil drilling areas were instituted to cover the additional demand. Alternative energy sources that are ecologically friendly are accessible to overcome this challenge.
Christians have been singled out as one of the most ignorant groups with regard to environmental issues due to the erroneous perspective that environmental awareness programs are categorized as politics and thereby lacking priority as the main role of the church is to accord spiritual nourishment. Environmental issues have been addressed mostly by liberal politicians and progressive Christians in the world whose number has expanded significantly within the twentieth century up to the present, yet the view has been rejected by conventional Christians with regard to ideals. With the liberal form of lifestyle evidenced by progressive Christians in their embrace for gay practices and claims with regard to the existence of other ways of restoring the broken relationship with God other than in Christ, it has led even to the rejection of ‘good’ doctrines from the conventional sect (Weaver and David 222). Traditional Christians bent on the need to uphold holiness as a requirement for a healthy relationship with God tend to literally detach themselves from such movements, despite the fact that it is towards a good cause. This justification is usually accorded to Biblical teachings. However, Christ offers the best example by His association with sinners by indicating that one is able to maintain healthy relationships with such without compromising one’s principles and ideals.
Other Christians rejecting the practice of environmental protection accord so as a reflection of their ignorance. Ecological preservation is largely a scientific concern as evidenced by the various researches conducted towards the examination of the subject and the accorded proposals towards the preservation of the same. With the long conflict that has been noted between science and religion with regard to various matters, Christians have adopted an unhealthy attitude towards the former especially on matters of evolution and this presently affects any form of proposals. Additional ignorance is based on the eschatological doctrines that project a future in which the world shall be totally ruined as retribution to the problem of evil and sin (Dyke 160). Enthusiasts of this view mostly hold the view that there lacks credible need to conserve or restore the environment as all efforts will eventually be rendered obsolete in the destruction. The most prevalent position is rather egoistical, as most of these individuals believe that they will have faced their demise before the great destruction period.
Despite personal interpretations, all Christians holding the Bible as an authoritative teaching bear a considerable liability with regard to environmental maintenance in accordance to the Genesis account and commandments. A notable study conducted within a Christian standpoint by a renowned Christian biologist, Professor Calvin DeWitt practicing at the University of Wisconsin proves that Christians should accord specific actions towards ecological maintenance as an act of obedience to God’s commands (Evangelical Alliance of Papua New Guinea 8). Adam being an epitome of humanity was charged with the role of subduing the earth and this translates to proper land management. Presently, the land resource has been degraded by harmful human practices like deforestation that on a yearly basis leads to the loss of one hundred thousand square kilometers of forests. Consequently, at least three flora and fauna species are termed as extinct on a daily basis within the world. The rate of land erosion and desertification is alarming, notably as evidenced by the Sahara desert that extends to the south with an annual margin of five or six kilometers.
The second commandment regards preservation of animals both within the water, land and air habitats. Human activities have clearly disregarded this rule as noted within industry and farming effluents that have led to water pollution and salinization affecting water animals and plants (Evangelical Alliance of Papua New Guinea 8). The toxicity of water bodies is very high and the low water quality affects even the human populace with regard to water-borne outbreaks or poisonous feeding. The atmosphere has been affected with the greenhouse effect and this definitely affects the birds, people and land conditions through the ozone depletion. God had charged Adam with these specific instructions as an antecedent for sustainable food production for the nourishment of humans and other living things. Disregarding environmental protection is thereby a direct violation to God’s requirements with His position as the creator and again with His model of terming creation as good and offering a charge to humans for its preservation.
Christians should understand that the present creation as described by Apostle Paul will be used by God in the future glory for the new earth with regard to the ultimate salvation (Evangelical Alliance of Papua New Guinea 14). This includes humans, plants, animals and the physical world in the transformation to the new earth. Therefore, as God accords this position seriously in view of the future, Christians should also bear the same view. Therefore, Christians should actively participate in the adoption of renewable sources of energy for factories and farming practices, recycling programs to preserve trees and animal species, restore deserts through artificial irrigation as land reclamation, disallow further ozone depletion by adoption of water, wind and bio-energy, and the institution of proper waste treatment areas to avoid water pollution. These are but a few of the activities that Christians should uphold of obedience to God’s commands.
Works Cited
American Scientific Affiliation. Perspectives on science and Christian faith: journal of the American Scientific Affiliation, Volumes 59-60. Ipswich: The Affiliation, 2007. Print.
Dyke, Fred. Between Heaven and Earth: Christian Perspectives on Environmental Protection. New York: ABC-CLIO, 2010. Print.
Evangelical Alliance of Papua New Guinea. Christians Caring for the Environment in Papua New Guinea: A Handbook of Principles and Practice. Mt.Hagen: Evangelical Alliance of Papua New Guinea, 2005. Print.
Mills, Robin. The myth of the oil crisis: overcoming the challenges of depletion, geopolitics, and global warming. Westport: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2008. Print.
Weaver, Mary, and David Brakke. Introduction to Christianity. Stamford: Cengage Learning, 2008. Print.
Outline
I. Introduction
A. Global oil scarcity noted in the 70’s has led to increased environmental issues
B. Available oil deposits unable to meet the demand, thus leading to enhanced resource depletion
C. Global demand is expected to rise by thirty-seven percent, causing eventual insufficiency
D. Alternative energy sources that are ecologically friendly are necessary to overcome this challenge
II. Ignorance
A. Christians ignorant due to erroneous perspective that environmental awareness programs are categorized as politics
B. Environmental issues addressed mostly by liberal politicians and progressive Christians, yet rejected by conventional Christians
C. Traditional Christians upholding holiness as a requirement for a healthy relationship with God detach themselves from such movements.
D. Christ’s association with sinners indicative that one is able to maintain healthy relationships without compromising one’s principles and ideals
II. Relation to Science
A. Ecological preservation is a scientific concern as evidenced by the various researches
B. Christians have adopted an unhealthy attitude towards science especially on matters of evolution and this presently affects any form of proposals
C. Eschatological doctrines project a future with the world ruined as retribution to the problem of evil and sin,
D. No need for conservation as humans will face their demise before the great destruction period.
III. God’s Commands
A. Genesis account and commandments hold Christians liable with regard to environmental maintenance
B. Christians should accord specific actions towards ecological maintenance as an act of obedience to God’s commands
C. At least three flora and fauna species are termed as extinct on a daily basis within the world
D. Rate of land erosion and desertification is alarming, evidenced by the Sahara desert
IV. Effects of Breaking Commandments
A. Second commandment regarding preservation of animals have been flaunted by human activities within industry and farming
B. Toxicity of water bodies is very high and the low water quality affects even the human populace
C. Greenhouse effect affects the birds, people and land conditions through the ozone depletion
D. Disregarding environmental protection is thereby a direct violation to God’s requirements including offering a charge to humans for its preservation
V. Conclusion
A. Present creation will be used by God in the future glory for the new earth with regard to the ultimate salvation
B. God accords this position seriously in view of the future; Christians should also bear the same view
C. Christians should actively participate in the adoption of renewable sources of energy
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