The Role of Christians in Environmental Conservation

Although on earth, Christians are guardians of the rest of God's life. As a result, they are tasked with the responsibility of caring for both life and the world. As a result, Christians must take the appropriate measures to ensure environmental restoration and maintenance. Some of the actions they should take include recycling, using sustainable and environmentally friendly energy sources, and reducing emissions. They should also hold campaigns highlighting the importance of environmental conservation and educate the public on the topic. This paper analyzes specific actions that Christians should take as they fulfill their role of taking care of the environment preserving it and restoring it. The paper gives a detailed examination of each action and the benefits gained from each action.









Christians’ role in environmental conservation
When God created the earth, He put man to be in charge of the rest of his creation and to work on it (Genesis 2:15, KJV). As a result of current development, advancement in technology and industrialization, there has been rampant pollution, increase in use of fossil fuel and natural sources of energy all of which have a negative effect on the environment. Further, there has been constant depletion and degradation of the environment resulting from natural occurrences as well as man’s activities (Goudie, 2013). Hence, as stewards of God’s creation, Christians should take care of the environment, preserve it and restore it. When Christians take care of the environment, they are giving service to god. In addition, Christians serve as a good example to other people when they conserve the environment. Christians have a major role to play in restoration or preservation of the environment and they should take particular actions to preserve it.
Some of the most common actions Christians can take in the preservation of the environment include reduction of pollution, recycling, and use of renewable energy as opposed to non-renewable energy sources. According to the bible, the earth belongs to God and everything else in it including human beings. Therefore, it is the duty of Christians to take care of what is in earth as they continue to live in it, as it is a privilege god has given them by allowing them to stay here. The best way they can fulfill this duty is by preserving the environment and restoring it for the sake of future generations(Attfield, 2015).
One way of fulfilling this God-given role is by recycling of waste materials such as papers, industrial waste, and plastic materials. In the US, it is estimated that only a third of the waste material is recycled each year. This means that every year there is piling up of more waste. For instance, in 2014, recycled rate was 34.6 % of the total trash generated. In 2015, the amount of plastic bottle recycled was 30.1 %, which was a decline as compared to 2014 where the rate of bottle recycling was 30.0% (Yinmarah, 2014). Going by this statistics, if Christians do not take action and start recycling, the environment will be negatively implicated, and in the near future, it may not be a habitable place. In addition, taking into consideration that this is only a single country, then the rate of trash generation as compared to the recycle rate of the whole world should raise an alarm. This is because much of the land will be taken up by trash, water sources will be affected as well as the health of living things human being inclusive.
Christians also have a role in educating people about the importance of preserving the environment. While doing this, they can teach people especially the youth on the need for recycling. In addition, they should equip them with the necessary skills for them to be able to recycle. In short, Christians should educate the masses on how recycling is done since the waste products are being produced at a rate higher than it is being recycled and people lack the knowledge of recycling. If the Christians spread the art of recycling to the masses, people will recycle in a higher rate, hence they will save on space occupied by the trash, save lives, save on energy and save water. Further, they will raise the rate of recycling hence reduce the amount of current trash being thrown on the environment as well as eliminate the waste product that is already in the environment (Hart, 2013).
Another action that the Christians should take is reducing the level of pollution. They can do this by ensuring that their day-to-day activities are well thought of and mindful of the safety of the environment. For instance, they can use cars do not emit gasses that pollute the environment. In addition, they can ensure that as they produce goods in industries they do not emit dangerous gasses into the environment such as carbon dioxide or release waste materials into water bodies (Goudie, 2013). Instead of releasing the gasses and materials into the environment in their harmful state, Christians can treat them before they release them into the environment. Christians should also ensure that they throw their waste products in waste bins for proper disposal. In places where there are no waste bins, the Christians can donate some to the community.
Even though some people argue that effects some natural occurrences such as volcanic eruptions are beyond the ability of man, Christians can still do something to help. For example, with the current trends in technology, they can use technology to detect volcano eruptions before they occur. They can take the necessary measures to reduce the effects of the harmful gasses emitted to the environment on time as well as prevent burning of the natural landscape (Goudie, 2013). Despite the view of many that this might be an expensive venture, the benefits reaped from the ventures outweighs the expenditure. As pointed earlier, some of these benefits include prevention of emission of harmful gasses, saving lives at protecting the landscape.
Christians can also come up with Christian organizations whose main aim is to advocate for environmental conservation since Christianity has a better command due to its numbers. The organizations can be entrusted with the duty of compelling companies and industries to avoid pollution as they go about their business. In addition, the organizations can approach the government and request it to be more vocal in conserving the environment. Through these organizations, the Christians can lure the government into passing laws that protect certain lands, forests, and swamps. Consequently, they can achieve better environmental preservation and conservation, save the lives of many species and save water catchment points (Attfield, 2015).
In addition, Christians can prevent pollution by using environmentally friendly sources of energy such as solar energy and electricity. They should avoid sources that lead to pollution such as firewood and coal. In addition, they should advocate for renewable sources of energy instead of non-renewable. They can also plant more trees to replace the trees that they cut down as they such for energy (Attfield, 2015). The rate of deforestation in the world is alarming. For instance, in United States, about ten million acres of land are deforested each year while in the UK about 14.000 hectares is deforested each year. Further, Christians should hold campaigns emphasizing the need for environmental preservation and restoration. For instance, they can educate people in schools, educational centers and in churches on the importance of planting more trees and the need for proper trash disposal (Hart, 2013).
Christians should also be keen not to pay attention to those who are against conservation of the environment (Attfield, 2015). The people argue that Christians should first perform other Christian duties before thinking about the environment. They argue that Christians should first feed the hungry, dress the needy and take care of needs that are more urgent. These needs are such as the construction of schools and taking care of the orphans. However, Christians should ignore the criticism and perform all roles concurrently.
Conclusion
God intended that after creating man and putting him on earth, man would take care of God’s creation. By this, God expected man to take care of himself and other creatures by preserving and restoring the environment. Therefore, Christians should ensure that the recycle waste materials and at the same time reduce pollution. They should use environmentally friendly sources of energy as well avoid polluting as they produce goods in the industries. In addition, as custodians of God’s creation, Christians should educate people on environmental preservation and involve the government in conservation efforts.


References
Bible, H. (2000). King James Version. Texas: National Publishing Company.
Goudie, A. S. (2013). The human impact on the natural environment: past, present, and future. John Wiley & Sons.
Hart, R. A. (2013). Children's participation: The theory and practice of involving young citizens in community development and environmental care. Routledge.
Attfield, R. (2015). Ethics of the global environment. Edinburgh University Press.
Yinmarah, D. K. B. (2014). Department Of Environmental Science College Of Science (Doctoral dissertation, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science And Technology).










Thesis
THESIS STATEMENT: Christians have a major role to play in restoration or preservation of the environment and they should take particular actions to preserve it.
Outline
1.0 The abstract
2.0 Introduction
3.0 Specific actions Christians should take
3.1 Make deliberate efforts of recycling of waste materials
3.2 Take measures that lead to reduction of pollution
3.3 Use of environmentally friendly sources of energy
3.4 Educate people on environmental preservation and its essence
3.5 Hold campaigns and form organizations to deal with environmental preservation and restoration
4.0 Addressing opposing views regarding preservation of the environment
5.0 Conclusion