Oil and Water and You and I

Have you been following the Gulf Oil spill?  If not, check this out, and this.

And look at this.   Really look at it.

As you know there are lots of images and lots of articles you can read about this tragedy.  There will be lots of debate about what went wrong, and will it happen again and what should we do to prevent accidents of this sort. And there will be debate about energy policy and off shore drilling and “green” energy. And there will be debates about regulation and free markets and the global economic impact.

It will be very easy to get caught up in this perspective or that one. It will be very easy to be frustrated and confused by this complex issue. It will be enticing to change the channel, turn the page, think about something, anything less complex.

How do we keep out focus when dealing with such massive problems? How do we find the will to change anything? 

Here is what I keep thinking.

Is this what God had in mind when God gave us responsibility for the earth?

Really, do you think this pleases God?

I don’t think so. I think when the Bible says:

 “The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,

 the world and those who live in it;

 for he has founded it on the seas,

and established it on the rivers.

Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?

And who shall stand in his holy place?

Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,

who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully”  Psalm 24:1-4

we should take that seriously.

I write this as a middle class US citizen. I drive a car. I have and use electricity. Like most other Christians who live in America I live a privileged life.  Very privileged.

And I think it has to change.

I need to consume less and so do you.  It will cost us, money, time, and standard of living.  It means I will pay more for food and gas. 

It seems to me to be faithful Christians requires some changes on our part.  We need to think seriously about why we are Christians.  Our responsibilities extend far past what happens to us as individuals after we die. We need to think seriously about what God’s intentions for the world are. How does God want the world to be?

Is this what God had in mind for us to be doing?

I’d like to know, what do you think?