I've been informed by my sources (The Joyful Anticipation) that today is to be a blog action day, where supposedly everyone writes a post about the environment in order to get the whole of cyberspace debating green issues.  So I figured I'd go ahead and add my thoughts to the mix.  For quite some time, actually, I've been trying to figure out:  what is a Christian response to environmentalism?  Are we supposed to be the greenest of the green?  Or are we supposed to point to a different definition of "saving the planet?"

I grew up in the American Midwest -- that vast clump of "red states" -- where conservatism, common sense, and Christianity were all inextricably linked to the Republican party (supposedly because of moral issues like abortion and euthanasia) and thus inexplicably divorced from environmentalism, which was considered Democrat territory and thus strictly off-limits.  Environmentalism was better left to those starry-eyed, middle-aged hippie eco-freaks out in San Francisco -- and not something in which to tangle our Midwest sensibility.  Unconsciously, I developed a distaste for the idea of environmentalism during my growing-up years.

But as I got into my university days and started developing as a free-thinking adult, I started to re-examine my views on environmentalism.  My friend Ben, who was studying resource management or something like that, sold me on the virtues of recycling (I still remember the green bookmark -- a gift from Ben -- which was stuck in my Bible for years:  a BGSU falcon logo, surrounded by three curving arrows and the words "Reduce - Re-use - Recycle") and was probably my first example of a Christian environmentalist.  Slowly but surely, I started to think greener, act greener, and identify myself more with green causes.

And then I moved to Europe -- which as as sure-fire a way to accelerate that process as I know.  I started to befriend militant environmentalists.  Our church started to grapple more with its role in conservation, clean water, clean air, social responsibility, and so on.  I started to see more and more of the bizarre inconsistencies in the way that the political deck had been shuffled in America -- and I tried to develop my own convictions on green issues.  It's a process that continues to this day...

I've come to see that environmentalism can be very compatible with following Christ.  In fact, the Bible tells us that we are specifically designated as managers of the earth's resources -- caretakers of Eden and its aftermath.  Jesus himself explicitly states that we will be critically evaluated for the ways in which we manage the resources which have been entrusted to us, and I for one cannot see why this would not apply to natural resources as well as financial resources or spiritual resources... And perhaps most importantly, we are repeatedly commanded to "Love your neighbor as yourself" -- which certainly must also be considered on the environmental level, as every natural resource I use is one less unit of resources that can be used by others, by my neighbors.  If my carbon emissions can be linked to patterns of drought and famine, or to melting ice caps that could potentially drown entire civilizations -- then I need to be as conscious, careful, and caring as I can be, in view of these far-flung "neighbors" that can be affected by my resource management.  Jesus compared himself to a green tree... He illustrated the Kingdom of God to be like a sprawling green tree offering shelter to the birds of the air... So clearly, there is a case for Christians to identify with green causes.

Still, I wonder if we also need to be careful and stress the importance of balance in our thinking about green issues.  Sometimes, I worry that we might go too far in our shuffling of priorities.  At times, since adjusting to a green kind of Christianity here in Amsterdam, I've seen environmentalism become almost like a new kind of Pharisaism.  Occasionally, people will cast judgment on those who are "wasteful," without considering any extenuating circumstances that might be at play.  If not carefully considered and submitted to God, environmentalism can become an exacting legalism -- not unlike Jewish dietary restrictions which plagued the First Century church... At times, the green lifestyle can almost become a "different gospel," something to please men more than God, something taking our focus away from the true message of God's Kingdom and replacing it with a more narrow-minded view.  When we get too caught up in green legalism (or any kind of legalism), we can so easily forget that "It is for freedom that Christ set us free."

Obviously, there is a need for balance.  We need to be mindful of God's incredible grace and mindful of our responsibility to serve as Christ's ambassadors.  The New Testament book of 1 Corinthians is full of advice for such situations.  Above all is the refrain:  "'Everything is permissible' -- but not everything is beneficial.  'Everything is permissible' -- but not everything is constructive.  Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others" (1 Corinthians 10:23-33)... We need to keep the focus on loving each other.  "'Everything is permissible for me' -- but not everything is beneficial.  'Everything is permissible for me' -- but I will not be mastered by anything.  'Food for the stomach and the stomach for food' -- but God will destroy them both" (1 Corinthians 6:12-13)... We need to keep everything in perspective.  In the end, it seems that we need to remember:  "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.  Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether environmentalists, economy-shoppers, or the church of God -- even as I try to please everybody in every way" (1 Corinthians 10:31-33, NIV with minor adaptations by Eric Asp).

When considering green issues, it seems that everyone could benefit from considering the practical challenges of Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 10 (read these scenarios as if they were talking about organic / non-organic food instead of non-kosher products or meat sacrificed to idols; it's a conversation that I've heard many times in Amsterdam!).  Romans 14:1 offers such a beautiful reminder:  "Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters..." And I think it's particularly interesting to note that it doesn't say which side is the "weak" side and which side is the "strong" side.  Perhaps old-school Christian conservatives need to offer such grace and acceptance to "those crazy environmental whackos."  Perhaps green Christians need to offer such grace and acceptance to "those fat-cat resource-mongers."  I'm not trying to defend or prosecute anyone here.  I'm just wondering if we could stand to think through these things more critically and less dogmatically...

Environmental issues are important, and they must be carefully considered.  Like I said, I'm still learning and growing and developing my own convictions on things.  But even now, going along with the upshot of 1 Corinthians 10, I know that we must carefully consider how we can set an example for others to follow, as we follow the example of Christ.