The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof…

As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.

Of all the valuables God entrusted to us human becomings, none has greater worth than the planet upon which we reside. As a modern-day Stoic, I believe fundamentally and foundationally four absolute truths: first, nature is sacred. It reflects the fullness, the complexity, the beauty, and the essence of God as creator. How could it be anything other than holy? Second, the capacity for human reason, knowledge, understanding, and wisdom is a gift from God. Knowledge is not the opposite of faith; it is the blessed and beloved child of faith. We honor God when we grow in knowledge and understanding. Science is a gift to us from God. Third, I believe we should focus on the future and not sell it out for short-term benefits. We are responsible not only for space, but for time as well. Fourth, by definition stewardship implies that the steward will return the property to the owner in better condition than when they received it. Like the stewards in the parable of the talents, those entrusted by God with God’s stuff become co-creators with God and God is very interested in seeing what those souls do with their creativity, imagination, resources, and talents (pun intended). So, when God comes a’callin’ the expectation is that we will have made all kinds of improvements, enhancements, and protections for the “jewel of God’s creation.”

I watch with dread fascination our EPA rescinding the very best scientific research and consensus for protection against the damages wrought by fossil fuels. This research spans the gamut from impacts on the environment to human health. In the area of climate studies, a significant portion of former deniers have joined the majority. Almost no accredited scientist in the field of study denies the impact human beings have had on the climate and the predictions of short- and long-term disasters. This is a Pandora’s Box that we know can only produce cataclysm that some folks are dead set on opening.

But is it from ignorance? Is it a denial of science? Or is it something very much simpler and more obvious. Climate protection has a built-in paradox: short-term investment doesn’t yield immediate returns. Climate protection is long-term, and short-term costs are pretty high. It is very difficult to make money off of environmental protection. For those wanting more money today – to hell with the future – any and all environmental restrictions must be eliminated. The trade-off is not hard to grasp. Worry about today and ignore the future = big bucks; worry about the future and the world our grandchildren will inherit at short-term cost = responsibilities over rewards.

From the Christian perspective, climate crisis is less important than climate justice. Were we to fully embrace our role as stewards (the legal extension of a master’s power and wealth through a trusted servant) we would have absolutely no debate about how we treat the earth. There could be no crisis because the stewards were doing their job. It isn’t a political issue. It isn’t an economic issue. It isn’t a survival issue. Environmental stewardship is part of the DNA of every child of God. It is a spiritual issue. It is a religious issue. It is a metaphysical issue, but with very concrete and practical outcomes.

It is too easy to dismiss the greedy decisions being made as ignorant or anti-science. But there are many on our planet who believe it exists for them to exploit and to get as much out of it as possible. There is no tomorrow; simply what can be grasped in the moment. There is absolutely nothing wrong with depleting the resources since they are gifts from God to be utilized. Human achievement and progress are highest values; future concerns are irrelevant. For Christian stewards, the decisions being made aren’t ignorant; they are stupid, they are poor stewards. The poor stewards are selling out the future for greed and profit now. Stupid. The poor stewards have faith that technology will advance ahead of need, so that all our climate problems can be saved by the same science they were discovered. The poor stewards want more, they bask in the conferred power and respect, so they benefit most when they grab for whatever they can.

Which do you value more? The comfort and security you can enjoy now or the comfort and security your grandchildren will enjoy in the future. Now vs. then. Present vs. future. Self vs. others. Paradise vs. hell. Honoring the will of God vs. honoring the will of Mammon. If we are God’s stewards, then we are stewards of God’s creation. If we are stewards of God’s creation, then we are stewards of climate justice. It really isn’t a choice for any of us to make. As human beings on earth we are caretakers, gardeners, trustee, stewards of the planet we inhabit. The question isn’t are we stewards or not; the question is are we good stewards or poor stewards?