In the Anglican Church, the Eucharist is a meal of bread and wine, “fruit of the vine”. Anglican leaders have used the Eucharist as an example of the delicate balance we have to achieve of our rule over the natural world. The offertory prayer declares: “Blessed be God through whom we have this bread to offer which earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life.”
“The prayer is a subtle balance between recognising God’s gift while acknowledging our human role in developing and using it rightly, and accepting its potential as a communication of God’s own reality. The priestly offering of bread and wine in the Eucharist, then, is itself a microcosm of the wider priestly ministry which human beings exercise in relation to creation as a whole. Human beings may legitimately transform nature, but only in the context of recognising the natural world as a gift from God, blessed with the capacity to be a sign and means of the divine presence and therefore to be treated with reverence and respect.” (see www.cofe.anglican.org- John Habgood’s essay, ‘A sacramental approach’ in Charles Birch (ed) Liberating life: contemporary approaches to ecological theology, Maryknoll, Orbis, 1990)
In addition to the topical explosion of awareness of Christian churches in pressing environmental issues, large multi-national organizations have been formed to play an active role. ROCHA for example is an international conservation agency whose aim is to show God’s love for all creation (Psalm 50: 10-11). Even larger organizations such as CAFOD and Tear Fund have thousands of men and women dedicating their lives to saving not only the poor but, conserving the environment as well. The fundamental aims of CAFOD, Tear Fund and ROCHA are to act as responsible stewards and attempt to conserve and look after the Earth as God would- in his ‘image’, his power, his unselfishness, unconditional love and compassion.
In conclusion, we must remember that the world will only be able to provide for future generations if we use it properly. The balance between benefiting from the natural resources of the world and conservation of the resources needs to be found if we are to ensure this. And the conservation starts by avoiding wastage and exploitation for personal gain e.g logging and over fishing. We must be stewards, as it says in Genesis “in his image”, we must take the teachings of the Bible to heart and we must personally try to make a difference.
Word count: 603 (excluding quotes and verses)
AO2- Explain how Christians today can fulfill their responsibility towards the environment in their behavior, lifestyle and decision making. You may wish to illustrate your answer by briefly referring to one or two current environmental issues.
As Christians, what can we do on our own personal level? Someone once said. “One drop of water in the sea cannot be seen; but put the drops together and you get an ocean”. This tells us that one person’s seemingly insignificant action when put together with others it is significant. Therefore, take action by maybe writing a letter to your council expressing your concerns, join an environmental group like Greenpeace, organize groups to help clean up local parks, and give money to groups such as AROCHA. Even recycling at home can make a big difference. However, doing all of these things doesn’t make it a Christian response. So what must we really do to make it a relevant Christian response? The motivation is provided in the teachings of the Bible, mentioned in AO1. Christians must first be aware of all of God’s creation. Then one can move on to an appreciation of creation and in the appreciation only then a true Christian stewardship where your lifestyle and decision making is a reflection of Christian teaching on the environment achieved.
Ed Beale is a twenty-seven year old Christian who did his part by raising money for Operation Noah (a climate change project of the Christian Ecology Link) by running a sponsored 1,200 mile walk from Land’s End to John O’groats. Through the walk Ed Beale aimed to not only raise awareness for Operation Noah but also use the money to make a bigger difference. Adrian Hopwood in an attempt to reduce consumption in an attempt to do his part for ‘A Christian Response to the Environment’ said this, “We seem to have lost the ability to share, we must each have our own patch, our own car – everything must be mine…. But it has an enormous effect upon the environment; a car carrying four people emits little more carbon dioxide than one with only a driver…. Our faith tells us we are all part of the one body, it is about sharing.” Similarly Christopher Hall calls those who believe they are made God’s image to reduce the number short haul air flights we go on and find other means of transport to try and reduce air pollution. Science tells us that short-haul flights are one of the biggest pollutants of carbon dioxide emissions in the world. He asks, “Is our time more precious than the future of our grandchildren? May we, at least for leisure, limit ourselves to one long-haul return flight a year?” Finally, there are many local Christian groups that have been formed to tackle the problems posed at present referring to the environment. These small localized groups are a good way of getting involved in preserving the world and leading a proactive lifestyle that shows you care for the world. The Sage Oxford Environmental Group has outlined activities that they have involved themselves in:
“ 1) Regular newsletters (Sage Words) on topics such as recycling, Christian environmental books and simple living.
2) We have organized walks
3) We are involved in conservation tasks, particularly at a local nature reserve Boundary Brook Nature Park.
4) We have given presentations to interested groups. We have taken services in a wide variety of settings, including for Conservation Sunday.
5) We have organized weekends and longer trips away, both in the UK and in Europe.
6) We run regular prayer meetings.
7) We support other local Christian initiatives such as A Christian Response to the Environment, the Ss Mary & John Churchyard Project and the conference ‘Climate Change: How Christians Respond’ ”.
Bearing the above in mind, the recent tragic events surrounding the Asian tsunamis have brought humanity together in an effort to restore some sort of order in these struggling countries. Billions of pounds and billions of tones of aid have been shipped in to South-East Asia to help the relief. By simply taking the time to respond to an a appeal number on your television screen or dropping a few pounds into a collection tin at your local Sainsbury’s is all part of being a steward in your lifestyle and behavior. On a day to day basis, carpool with friends to save gas and harmful emissions, re-use plastic bags from the supermarket, and check the back of products to see how they were tested before you buy them.
In conclusion, there are numerous ways in which you and I can be stewards and fulfill all that God expects of us. However, we must have the right mind-set and attitude for it, otherwise it will mean nothing. There is nothing worse than an un-willing giver.
Word Count: 541 (excluding quotes and Bible verses)
AO3- “It’s our world so we can use it any way we like” Do you agree? Give reasons for answer and show that you have considered more than one point of view. Refer to Christianity in you answer.
I agree with that statement up to a certain extent. The majority of people today sees the world as their own and show little care for it. Ironically, herein lies the problem, because people think it is theirs, instead of treating it well they abuse it.
On the one hand, from a Christian point of view we know that it is not our world. This is the fundamental difference between perhaps the way a Christian should look after the world and conceivably a non-Christian would. From experience we all know that when we are looking after something for someone else you take much more care with it. Take driving a friend’s car for example; normally you would drive at 80 mph but seeing as it isn’t your car today you would drive at 70mph just to be on the safe side. Christian teaching is explicit, we are simply looking after the world for God, as Genesis points out: God created us to rule over the world for him in his image- to “have dominion” over his creatures.
On the other hand, God nonetheless has given us the world to look after and as a result to a certain extent we can use it as we want. God has told us to: “Rule over the fish and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Thus, in essence God has entrusted us with his earth and instructed us to subdue it, and it is up to us whether we use it appropriately or abuse it. God has also given us free will on his planet but it is our responsibility to use it correctly. In Ezekiel 24:18 the way in which many of us treat the world today is reflected.
The Bible is unequivocal in saying that the world is not our own, we are only here to look after it. In Isaiah 42:5 we are made clear on God’s position in this world. I believe God as creator expects us to rule this world in a responsible manner and to treat it with care and love, whereas generally mankind has been greedy, short-sighted and selfish.
Word Count: 362
Bibliography
The Bible- New Revised Standard Version- Anglicized Edition
Contemporary Modern Issues- Joe Jenkins- Updated for citizenship and the New GCSE specifications 4th Edition 2002
GCSE Religious Studies for AQA-Christianity: Behaviour Attitudes and Lifestyles
“God said, “Be fruitful, and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish and the birds of the air 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 earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.”
“When you lay siege to a city... do not destroy its trees by putting an axe to them, because you can eat their fruit. Do not cut them down”.
“Is it not enough for you to feed on the green pastures? Must you also trample them with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink the pure water? Must you also muddy it with your feet?
“Thus says God, the Lord who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it”.
