The Environment, Political Battles, and Kingdom Ethics by Jim Kenaston
As a Christian with a background in Environmental Science, I’d like to share some thoughts about constructive Christian engagement on environmental issues in the public square. In discussing environmental concerns, people generally align themselves on a political continuum of possibilities. On the far left are preservationists. On the far right are utilitarians. In the middle, representing most people, are environmentalists and conservationists.
The difference between these latter two is one of anthropology and overarching worldview. Environmentalists start with the assumption (shared with the more radical preservationists) that humans are almost an alien presence on this planet, while conservationists recognize that mankind is on the earth and as part of the system. Christian conservationists tend to think in terms of our responsibilities before God for proper stewardship of resources, albeit within the context of a fallen world. They seek to find ways of preserving resources for both our use and for the benefit of future generations (e.g., sustainable development). They do not assume a hostile stance toward humans per se, but look to Christ as the redeemer of both humanity and our environment.
Some Christians are influenced by the environmentalist worldview, yet without understanding its underlying hostility toward humanity in general. This may help explain how some Christians come to accept pro-abortion policies that they believe help the environment through population control. Such conversations are hard, but knowing something of the worldview that informs an opponent's perspective can help us understand what drives their thinking and policy positions.
But assuming a conservationist's stance, and from a Christian worldview, how are we to constructively engage with political opponents amid the range of environmental/political battles of our day?
It may be natural for people raised in a consumerist society to wage their battles by boycotting the products of companies supporting a political opponent. In light of Christ’s call to love your neighbor as yourself, we should ask whether such boycotts are an appropriate response (whether in discussions about environmental issues or in our culture wars generally). If our aim is to subjugate others or to coerce them into compliance with our political positions through economic power, we may simply be fighting fire with fire while adopting the corrosive tactics of the world. In hoping to strengthen our hold on power within our own political or economic kingdom, we may be sacrificing opportunities to plant seeds that help advance Christ’s kingdom in this world.
The Christian’s greatest contribution toward advancing Christ’s kingdom occurs as we live in obedience to His Word, and as we pick up our cross to follow Him. But there’s certainly more to picking up one’s cross than denying oneself some modern entertainment options or steering clear of certain products with our political gain in mind.
From the perspective of a Christian conservationist, I’ll suggest an alternative that may have a similar economic impact, though one that is driven from a different set of motives. Rather than align our buying with political projects or ambitions, we could engage in a thoughtful and ongoing evaluation of our spending habits in general, and in ways that conserve resources while re-humanizing our interactions with others. Such questions might be:
Am I consuming resources at a level that is sustainable, such that future generations will be able to do the same?
Do my purchasing habits bring me into face-to-face interactions with my neighbors (Compare shopping where it is possible to avoid all human interaction vs. shopping at a farmer’s market that facilitates relationships with local producers.)
How am I stewarding the resources that God has temporarily entrusted to my care, including my time? (Am I generous with these resources in light of the needs of others, or am I tight-fisted with them, using them primarily for my own needs or entertainment?)
These are just three of many such questions we could ask ourselves as we consider how to live as ambassadors for Christ in this world.
A fourth question takes stock of our living in rather cynical times, and as sheep amongst wolves. In weighing our lifestyle choices and any given crisis narrative thrown our way, we should ask whether the crisis (an environmental one, for instance) might simply be a means for securing political power for a politician or their party. As Christians with our sights set on kingdom ethics and values, and in observing such power plays in the name of a supposed larger good, how do we respond to the people perpetrating such schemes, constructively engaging with them in the public square?
We have much to wrestle through, both as individuals and as members of Christ’s church, people who are tasked with being salt and light for our time. Questioning our lifestyle choices may be a good place to start, and with the aim of helping to change hearts for Christ’s kingdom, rather than simply winning political battles for ourselves, or acquiescing to the power plays of those seeking to build their own little kingdoms in this world.
