E2: The Economies of Being Environmentally Conscious

So PBS put this series out a few years back called E2: The Economies of Being Environmentally Conscious. It is a wonderful series that shows leaders who are inventing and implementing their way to solve problems that affect our environment and economies. Yes, it is liberal and yes it is progressive. Furthermore, I'll add this — it makes sense and provides hope, not a saving hope but a hope that people can think and can act in ways that bring about solutions to problems that put down the poor and could endanger our way of living.

This is why I became a planner and this is why I will probably change jobs at some point. I enjoy trying to solve crazy problems by inventing stuff and helping to save the world and I hope I get to participate in both. The Lord guides our steps and controls our destinies, and for some, we will play a role in creating and making. For some fewer, our efforts and his inspiration will result in the opportunity to bless countless folks in ways that are meaningful and productive. Playing a part in something like that would really be a great way to provide for myself and others, something that I might really enjoy — even as just someone who is wired to solve problems and make things.

Some thoughts on global warming, environmentalism, and recycling.

1. Global warming, like most science, is hard to comprehend and harder still for the average person to know that it's real. Most science doesn't need to be easy to explain or comprehend because the rest of us do other things and we could care less. And for Global Warming, we would care less except that there is a cohort of militant scientists, politicians and media folks who have made this a major issue that deserves a place at our dinner table. And since most are not versed in science, we have two choices: 1) take the scientist's conclusions at face value because they would know best, or 2) doubt the scientist's conclusions in favor of the opinion held by a minor group who doubt or are concerned about conspiracies and those who don't want change.

Now whether or not Global Warming is really an issue is anyone's guess. If you can't trust the scientists then who really knows. I'm inclined to trust the scientists but know full well that people will try to use this to manipulate the behavior of many, some with the hope to solve the problem, others with the hope of manipulating people to gain power, and a few who hope to do both. I do believe there are people out there who strive to gain power and influence and could care less about such issues as liberty and democracy. The real danger is utilitarianism, a philosophical persuasion that would lead us to do anything to achieve specific ends.

My opinion is that there are people out there who want to control others and they will stop at nothing to achieve their end and come to power. Though this is true, so often they take what is reasonable and try to make it unreasonable, striving to be marginalized (by conservatives and some in the church) in order to secure the approval of a select few who will fight for their cause in a larger attempt to try to take down or marginalize the institutions they provoked. In other words, it's a trap. There's nothing bad about reducing our use, using things more smartly, or even recycling and reusing things (all conservative concepts at least on face) but because they do these things for different reasons that what conservatives believe, there seems to be a backlash amongst conservatives against what honestly should be no-brainer changes to our daily lives. My conclusion is to try to be a better steward of what we've been given and we'll experience the reward, notably in saving money and being more thankful for what we've been given in the first place. Do this publicly and you've eliminated one of sevearal reason why liberals and rational people have chosen to be upset at the church — a win win.

For the record, I don't think that all scientists or even a large contingency of scientists are making this global warming thing up in an effort to try to manipulate or control the world. I seriously doubt that and even if it were true, I think a few would blow the whistle and that such a whistle would be loud enough for most of us to hear it. I'm not a scientist and so I defer to them. I hope they can figure a way out of this one that doesn't result in a totalitarian state. We should strive to do something about this and the best way to do that would be to stop debating the existence of it and start working on solutions that solve the problem without taking away our freedom as well.

2. Environmentalism is about being a good steward. We all should be environmentalists but the real problem here is that no one wants to be told what to do, much less compelled under penalty of law to be forced to do something. We can be environmentally conscious without it becoming a control issue! Furthermore, we can show people how to do it without the entrapping of what at times can seem to be the religion of environmentalism. Like most things we do, there's a risk of idolatry. Does this mean that we abandon environmental care because it could be an idol? No, this means that we try to place it under Christ and do it in a way just like we do most of the other things that we do like eating, drinking, shopping, etc. The important things are a) don't become a Judaizers and expect everyone to the second conversion to be environmentally conscious, b) share your knowledge with others so that they and what they steward can prosper, and c) remain humble, not assuming you've got it all figured out or that there's only one way to do something.

3. Recycling. To this end, it is so easy to claim that recycling is just something that you do stupid! Surely, I could say something like that as well and I won't try to make arguments for why you shouldn't do it, you've probably got enough reasons as it is. No, continuing on this point from before, I think it's important to realize that other people are watching you and expect you to respect their systems and not only fit in but be progressive. This is essentially part of your witness as a "good" human being. Now, we know that recycling is not really talked about in the Bible and that there are is a more important thing, i.e. salvation, to be talked about. This all said, if you fail to show that you realize and do what is (in their opinion) stupidly simple and a public responsibility, you have lost your credibility. To be a good witness, we've got to be acceptable and even exceptional in the view of others. The limit is, of course, where we make those things idols, support other people's idols, or otherwise live unbiblically.

In a recap, being "green" can help us be a good witness through our good stewardship, helping us share Christ with others. Being "green" can also benefit us financially, improve our quality of life, and help reduce our impact on the environment.



(For those who are interested, recycling reduces the amount of waste entering landfills that pollute groundwater and waste land resources. They also can replace virgin material used in products, reducing the consumption of virgin materials or natural resources. Not all resources are renewable so using recycled product can save money and improve the quality of the final product. Most people don't notice or realize the savings or improved quality of the product. Most people also don't realize what are the consequences of throwing another water bottle into a landfill (I can't). Even though you may not see the benefit of doing "what's right," there can be a cumulative effect and that's what counts to most who value the practice. Reducing and Reusing are two ways to seriously save money and improve the waste stream and are perhaps more important than recycling.)