Recycling
Recycling involves processing existing and used matter into new products to avoid wasting raw materials. Common recyclables include paper, glass, plastic, and metal and are brought to recycling centres, sorted, cleaned and reprocessed into new materials. Pro-recyclers claim the benefits of saved energy and trees, cleaner air and water, and the reduction of the presence of hazardous materials in the environment. Critics dispute the economic benefits of recycling and point to the loss of jobs in logging, mining, and other industries connected with first-time production which cannot be offset by jobs in the recycling industry. From a Christian perspective, we know that we are called to be good stewards of the earth. There is no need to throw away good materials and or equipment that can be recycled or repaired. However, in today’s understanding, there is an emphasis on profit in contrast to re-use and repairs. Consumerism (greed) dictates that products are fabricated in such a way that products have become nearly impossible to be repaired (sealed parts, tamper screws, the lack of replacement parts, etc). All of this so new items will be bought, rather than repaired and re-used. This is not being good stewards! Romans 8:20-22 speaks of a creation which since the fall, groans in anticipation of the time when it will be set free from the bondage to the principle of decay. This is the challenge we should be looking at and planning for and which should make our efforts all the more urgent. Aluminium cans and many more items can be recycled; but people need to repent/metanoia or I should say, have a change of thinking. However, recycling should not create a division between Christian believers (Luke 11:17). Care and concern for one another far outweighs care and concern for the environment but should include care for our mutual environment.
Climate Change
Climate change is describing global warming and its effect upon the earth’s climate system. Climate change also includes previous long term changes to earth’s climate. This opens up the possibility for a past ice age and present recovery and gradual warming since this cold period. The perceived or real results of Climate change can be the availability of food and water scarcity, change of natural surroundings and has also an effect on migration patterns and sustainability of lifeforms regardless whether they are plant based, sea life and land animals (including humanity). In short, climate change has an effect on all life forms. There seems to be a perceived increase in hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, droughts and extreme temperature changes . Which leaves humanity with the main question of how much of this change is the result of natural events and how much human interference has influenced it. There are parties who believe that this perceived change is the direct consequence of human interference by polluting the air with Co2, Methane, etc , all as the result of the industrial revolution. However, there are historical records which show evidence of several warm periods. These include records from mediaeval times when there was farming in Greenland in an area that is currently covered in ice. Well before Co2 could be blamed as the culprit. There is evidence of shortly after a warm period around 1400 in England that there was a little ice age. This ice age was so severe that the Thames river froze over and much of Britain experienced food shortages. There are numerous other records of ice ages and warm periods well before the industrial revolution. This does not mean that there is no climate change, but the question that arises is; how much of this is the result of natural change and how much of this is man made? It only takes a couple of bushfires to offset all of the gain that we achieve with restricting industries, forestry, farming, mining, explorations for Gas and Oil,etc. Instead there are new ‘industries’ that have financial gains by promoting this ‘fearful’ climate change. How fearful are we to be for the future? There is no need to live in fear as the result of negative government and media announcements and thus become panic stricken. Regardless of real or perceived circumstances, there is no need for fear, dread or anxiety. God is in control over all of creation (Ps.115:3 148:8). This, however, does not release humanity of God’s charge/command of Genesis 2:15 to be good stewards. The world will not end before time. Genesis 8:22, “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease”. Our main challenge is to be good stewards according to God’s will and not our interpretation of His will. Christ has come and has set the captives free. He did not come to put humanity under bondage and fear. Above all, in regards to the different views, there is the main command to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” The second is this: “Love your neighbour as yourself”. This then does not relieve us from the responsibility of looking after the poor and the needy, including creation as a whole. We are challenged to speak of the good news of having been set free and God’s kingdom having arrived.
