THE GREEN CHURCH
- Mar 30, 2016
- 9 min read
THE GREEN CHURCH
Dr. R.J. Chandler Sr.
What is the Church's position on climate change? What is the body of Christ doing to improve the ecological well-being of the planet earth? Do we care about climate change? Have we taken the time to understand its meaning and how it impacts our everyday lives? Is the church oblivious to the cries of the wilderness and natural habitats, of which our communities reside? The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof (Psalm 24:1) but why does the Christian seem to ignore the maintenance and upkeep of the natural environment? After all, it is the earth that yields itself of the herb bearing seed and fruit so that we may consume as our meat (Genesis 1:29). However, when we neglect the care of our eco-system, we unintentionally put ourselves in a quagmire of unimaginable proportions that will decimate generations to come. I am afraid that if the church of God does not take on the attitude that “All Lives Matter” as she takes the lead on energy conservation and climate change, our children and children’s children will not have potable water, vegetables and fruit that is readily available. These atrocities will become irreversible if we do not change our consumption of water and energy as individuals, a church, a nation and the world.
Genesis teaches us that when God created humanity, He told them to be fruitful, multiply and subdue it. God favored humanity with a task to manage all that He had created (Genesis 2:15). The same applies to the Christian today. God has created humanity for His pleasure as well as the earth and everything in it. With so much chatter about global warming, climate change, energy conservation and sustainability, the church should not take a back seat to see where these discussions take us, but must sit in the driver’s seat and lead.
Sustainability (Wujek & Dagostino, 2010) is defined as meeting the needs of the current generation without compromising the needs of future generations. The terms sustainability and green can be used interchangeably when discussing global initiatives and their impact on the ecological system and the preservation of the environment.
Today’s new phenomenon of going green challenges every human being to be more sensitive to the environment in which he or she lives. From recycling trash to turning off the lights in a room when not in use, or from reusing a grocery bag to riding a bicycle to work, people all over the world are beginning to embrace the concept of sustainability.
Sustainability embraces the notion of using less water to take personal showers to installing photovoltaic cells on the roof of a building, as these actions can impact all human beings. The need to preserve the Earth’s ecological system is becoming a matter of urgency every day as a result of global warming. According to the National Wildlife Federation (2012), global warming refers to the unusual warming of the Earth that is caused by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels (e.g., coal, oil, and gas).
Koebler (2011) asserted “Global warming is real, says a team of scientists at the University of California at Berkeley” (para. 1). Scientists have determined that the temperature of the Earth has increased. Comparing historical documents dating back to the 1800s to current trends in temperature, scientists have found that their results closely aligned with previous studies conducted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Hadley Center, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NASA has been tracking climate changes for many years.
Currently, NASA has calculated that the global temperature has increased at an average of 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit since 1880 and that January 2000 to December 2009 was the warmest decade on record (NASA, n.d.). The United Kingdom has also played a major role in studying global warming and its effects. “In December 1988 the UK Government announced it was committed to extending its influence internationally to provide information about climate science and to supporting appropriate research” (Met Office, n.d., para. 8). Therefore, under the leadership of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, the United Kingdom opened The Hadley Climate Change Research Center in 1990 (Met Office, n.d.). NOAA is an organization of the United States Department of Commerce that seeks to keep citizens abreast of climatic changes. “From daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings and climate monitoring to fisheries management, coastal restoration and supporting marine commerce, NOAA’s products and services support economic vitality and affect more than one-third of America’s gross domestic product” (NOAA, n.d., para. 2). NOAA conducts extensive studies on climatic conditions and how they impact ecological systems. The protection of marine coastlines is paramount, but its interest extends into energy conservation and sustainability. NOAA believes “The accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will almost certainly cause Earth’s surface temperature to rise. But we do not know how quickly the planet will warm or how that warming will affect different regions of the globe” (NOAA, 2011, p. 1). All three organizations have determined that the temperature of the Earth’s surface has increased due to increased radiation from the sun as a result of a thinning ozone layer. The ozone layer has been reduced because of the large amount of fossil fuels (e.g., coal, natural gas, and oil) being emitted into the atmosphere.
Moreover, though the planet has many people of different faith traditions, this essay only addresses the bride of Christ which is His church. Christians burn fossil fuels to drive our cars, fly airplanes, sail on boats or ride trains. We burn excessive fossil fuels every time we make copies of reports, leave water running when brushing one’s teeth, cooking, leave lights on when a room is not in use, turn on HVAC systems to provide comfort, etc. We waste food by consuming more than what we need, we randomly drop our garbage on the ground and improperly dispose of grease by pouring it down the drain. Let’s be honest. Are we good stewards or managers of God’s creation (Luke 16:2)? If yes, then let’s keep up the good work. However, if we are poor managers, then God has granted all of us grace and favor to get it right.
Let’s take a moment and look at what is happening in our world. There are unseasonal climatic conditions regionally, natural disasters and Acts of God such as the volcanic eruptions in Iceland (2002), tsunamis in Indonesia (2004), Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans (2005), and earthquakes in Haiti (2010). All of these occurrences have taken place in the last 15 years. Deforestation, energy consumption, aquifer depletion, and the burning of fossil fuels (e.g., natural gas, oil, and coal) are ongoing problems (Natural Resources Defense Council [NRDC], 2005). These issues negatively impact the environment. According to the NRDC (2005), the arctic polar ice caps are melting quickly because of rising global temperatures, which not only impacts local wildlife, but native people as well. Moreover, as the ice melts, the water runs into the ocean, causing a rise in water levels that will ultimately impact the eastern coastlines. “Arctic ice is getting thinner, melting and rupturing. For example, the largest single block of ice in the Arctic, the Ward Hunt Ice Shelf, had been around for 3,000 years before it started cracking in 2000.
Some may say that the earthquakes and unseasonable weather represent the end times (Matthew 24:4-8). While this assertion may be true, the scripture also says that humanity does not know the day or the hour when the Son of Man shall return (Matthew 24:36). It is not prudent for us to predict the date that the Father has set by His own authority (Acts 1:7). God does not operate in our time. Contrarily, He operates in His time and the two are not the same (Isaiah 55:8) for even 1000 years is but a day to God (Psalm 90:4). Therefore, let’s do all that we can to manage, cultivate and preserve God’s green earth. What if the Church of Antioch (Acts 13) told believers that there was no need to organize and designate apostles and elders because Christ would return in their time, the church of today would not have a blueprint for a spiritual hierarchical leadership structure. What if the Council of Jerusalem felt that it was not necessary to deal with the prerequisite for salvation (Acts 15) because Jesus would return in their time, believers would be confused today? In both cases, the church of God established rules, protocols and procedures that future generations could follow. Conversely, they knew that Jesus would return but they did not know when. The same is true for the contemporary Christian. The time has now come that we intentionally preserve our earth for upcoming generations. Not only do we owe our children a healthy church, but a healthy planet as well.
Where do we go from here? How can the church make a difference? What can Christians do personally? I have some recommendations.
Recommendations
1. Let’s build smarter. Lechner (2009) stated “Buildings now use about 40 percent of all the energy consumed in the United States. To construct them takes another eight percent of all the energy” (p. 8). This totals a surprising 48%. Every new church building should satisfy a credit, if not all on the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Checklist as provided by the USGBC (United States Green Building Council). Addressing any of the seven categories will help the church reduce its carbon emissions.
2. Turn off the power when you don’t need it. Though an appliance is turned off, it is still using energy if it is plugged in. This will cause your electric bill to be higher than what it needs to be. At the end of church service, unplug all of the musical equipment, kitchen appliances, and computers. Invest in energy saving surge protectors called “Smart Strips” and purchase LED lights. Use Google’s “www.Blackle.com” search engine to reduce mega wattage use of computers.
3. Get an alternative source of energy. Invest in wind, solar and geothermal energy sources. Though the initial expense may be high, the cost savings are greater 10, 15, 20 years and more. Most of our churches have large roofs. Why not install solar panels. After a while, the sunlight that is captured and transferred to electricity will not only be able to be used for the church, but can be sold back to the electrical grid for profit. Please check your local electrical provider for details.
4. Don’t throw it out, but recycle. Initiate a recycling ministry of gently used cell phones (www.glyde.com or www.gazelle.com), computers, cardboard, metals, tires, paper, plastics, etc. and sell it to recycling companies (http://www.all-recycling-facts.com/recycling-for-profit.html). Acquire blue or green trash cans and designate them as recycling.
5. Purchase Energy Star products. Many appliance companies, such as General Electric, LG, Samsung, and others, are creating products with the Energy Star logo. “Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helps us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. Results are already adding up. Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved enough energy in 2010 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 33 million cars — all while saving nearly $18 billion on their utility bills (Energy Star, n.d., para. 1).”
6. Monitor your carbon footprint. (http://www.nature.org/greenliving/carboncalculator/ or http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx). The carbon footprint is defined as the amount of carbon an individual emits in any 1-year period (Marion Institute, 2012, para.1). Carbon is emitted into the atmosphere through transportation, building energy usage, fossil fuels, etc.
7. Use less water. Take shorter showers. Turn off the water faucet when you are not using the water. Invest in graywater systems and cisterns for rain water. Purchase low flow bathroom fixtures.
8. Ride a bike or walk. Why do we always need to drive when our destination is only a 10-minute walk away. Not only will walking improve our health and well-being, but it will foster a sense of community. Driving makes us disconnected while walking makes us connected. Christians sit too much. We become obese, tired and out of shape when we are not active.
9. Use natural hair products such as Kemi oil, Organic Shea Butter, Organic Coconut, Baby Buttercreme, Olive Oil, etc. Not only is it good hair food that bring out the richness of African American hair, but it breaks down easily in water when it is rinsed out. Perm and other hair greases contaminate water sources and are difficult to break down.
10. Increase online meetings. Utilize free video conferencing (www.fuze.com, www.zoom.com, or www.skype.com). Google hang out and Facebook meetings are becoming more and more common to accommodate people who are unable to travel. Social media can be used to the glory of God when balanced properly with face-to-face interaction.
References
Energy Star. (n.d.). About Energy Star. Retrieved from http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=about.ab_index
Fossil Fuels. (n.d.). In Oxford Dictionaries online. Retrieved from http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/fossil%2Bfuel?q=fossil+fuels
Koebler, J. (2011). Study: Global warming is real. US News Science. Retrieved from http://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2011/10/21/study-global-warming-is-real
Lechner, N. (2009). Heating, cooling, lighting – Sustainable design methods for architects (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
Marion Institute. (2012). What is a carbon footprint? Retrieved from http://www.marioninstitute.org/what-carbonfootprint?gclid=CKa3qvu15K4CFVQBQAod7TAZZA
Met Office. (n.d.). Met Office Hadley Centre. Retrieved from http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate-change/resources/
National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (n.d.). Global climate change. Retrieved from http://climate.nasa.gov/
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (n.d.). About NOAA. Retrieved from http://www.noaa.gov/about-noaa.html
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2011). Climate research. Retrieved from http://www.research.noaa.gov/climate/
Natural Resources Defense Council. (2005). Global warming puts the Arctic on thin ice. Retrieved from http://www.nrdc.org/globalwarming/qthinice.asp
National Wildlife Federation. (2012). What is global warming? Retrieved from http://www.nwf.org/Global-Warming/What-is-Global-Warming.aspx
The Holy Bible: New International Version. (2005). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Wujek, J. B., & Dagostino, F. R. (2010). Mechanical and electrical systems in architecture, engineering, and construction (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Comments