With the beginning of each new school year, comes a new science class. And attending a Christian school, there is always a chapter about Biblical worldview and the Creation Mandate. Though I don't blindly follow every extrapolation drawn from certain passages, I do agree with many of the science teacher's views about being "green" as part of the creation mandate.
Genesis 1:27-29 TNIV
So God created human beings in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food."
These verses stem the idea of the Creation Mandate. Essentially, God is telling the first couple (who were equally representative of God's image; God's image being incomplete without said equal representation,) to rule over, have dominion, or take care of the animals, plants, and the earth itself that God created. There are very few Christians who would believe that humans have no responsibility to care for the earth, though some more obstinate people balk at the idea because they associate "being green" with liberalism, paganism, and general conformity to the world. Another argument that has been made is that Christians should be looking to Christ's return and the new heaven and new earth, and that taking care of our current world is unimportant or worthless. Certainly scientists who believe the Bible would not make such arguments. Part of Ruling is having a good understanding of what it is exactly that you are ruling. Part of that is expressed by learning about biochemistry or astrophysics, for example, but part of it, we already know.
We know that the Industrial Revolution caused a massive increase in pollution that is steadily rising. We know that the ozone layer has been damaged because of pollutants that were ignorantly released into the atmosphere. Even if you didn't see the use of caring for the earth because it is not our final spiritual destination, one would surely believe in the sanctity of human life because God made humans "in the image of God." Part of the function of the Ozone layer is to protect the earth from excess radiation from the sun. UV Radiation is widely accepted to cause various types of cancer which may, or may not be terminal. In essence, reducing the pollutants in the air could help to preserve human life, which is always desirable.
A second area that sadly, many are severely lacking in is simply recycling. I can attest to this personally. I have watched people throwing recyclable bottles into the trash rather than the proper receptical at school so often that I find it embarrassing and appalling. In fact, recently I was so fed up with these observations that I sorted the recycling out of several of the trash cans in my school and disposed of them properly. The worst part of the whole situation, was that the garbage was located right next to a recycling bin!
While some Christians may feel that they are exempt from trying to conserve resources such as paper and plastic, either because they are "created by God for our use," or promoted by secular parties, I would argue that recycling is a vital part of humanity's obedience to God. for example, throwing plastic bottles into a trash can instead of a recycling bin would be creating more surface waste on the planet because not all plastics are biodegradable. Throwing paper into a trash can instead of recycling causes more trees to be cut down faster, aiding in the depletion of oxygen and increase in carcinogens which damage our bodies, and decreasing the quality of human life. Failing to deposit plastic grocery bags or newspaper protectors into the proper recycling receptical allows them to be carries by the wind to places where they impede traffic, suffocate animals, or even cause distractions to drivers and pedestrians which can lead to the death of one or more individuals. All of these examples would also be examples of poor stewardship of the earth because it is creating unnecessary waste and unnecessary consumption of resources. By recycling the plastic products, we save more petroleum compounds which can also release toxins into the atmosphere. By recycling paper, fewer trees must be cut down as often, and the trees which are turned into paper can be re-purposed over and over to promote optimal preservation of forests which are the homes and food sources for thousand of species of animals and other plants.
The last part, is that neither of the previous two points are too far out of your way or too difficult to accomplish. Most public areas have recycling stations for both paper and plastic, and a vast majority of privately owned businesses and schools do as well. Using products that are free of harmful pollutants are usually not that much more expensive than those which have the potential of being less environmentally conscious. Maybe part of the problem is simply being to ego-centric and selfish. trying to live a lifestyle that promotes a cleaner, more efficient earth provides a better world for those living around us as well as our posterity. When you consider that the generations following ours will have to deal with the problems created or not solved by our generations, we should have a reality check. Maybe we should clean up our own mess so to speak, as well as lightening the load of previous generations that future generations will one day have to shoulder. Bearing up one another in love is never wrong. Recycling is another way to love God, and love people.
