Chapters 1 and 2 of Genesis tell us that God expects us to care for the creation that God has made. (Genesis chapter 1, verses 28-29 and Genesis chapter 2, verses 15-20).
But too often in the past, instead of caring for creation, we have exploited creation. Humanity has thrived while the rest of creation has suffered.
Since 1987 the principle of 'Sustainable Development' has been the guiding principle for all decision-making about the Earth's resources.
- It means that we should not steal from future generations.
- It means we should use the Earth's resources in a way that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
All professions and decision-makers now use this principle.
- It means that, more and more, businesses look to use recycled materials instead of raw materials.
- It means that before new building takes place developers have to plan for things like energy conservation and less water use.
- It means that in future we must all take more responsibility for the waste that we make.
- It means that we have entered into a covenant with future generations.
Christians understand that we are in a covenant relationship with God through Jesus Christ: a relationship of God's commitment to us and our commitment to God in Christ.
Christians have responsibilities to God, and to creation, and to future generations.
So the principle of 'Sustainable Development' will be welcomed and embraced by Christians.
It means that we have a Christian responsibility to be Stewards of the Earth's Resources.
One of the main ways in which we can all be better Stewards of the Earth's Resources is by recycling more of our waste - or better still reducing the amount of waste we make, or re-using our waste.
The church can play a big part in this because:
- Churches are at the centre of their communities, and they can influence the way things are done by people in their homes and locally.
- Waste reduction, re-use and recycling are spiritual activities: the materials that we call 'waste' are all materials of creation that must not be 'written off' by us. Even if we have to take a bit of extra time to sort our 'waste' or get our hands a bit dirty, this is worship and prayer-time, not wasted time.
