Consistent Conservation -- Part 3: Lifestyle to Match Words

Spring sprouts and buds are bringing new life from the cold ground here in Ohio.  Choruses of songbirds are greeting our daffodils as they burst into bloom.  March still offers chilly and snowy days.  But we find hope in God whose sovereign control over creation guarantees that Spring flowers and birdsongs will be right on time.  He is perfectly consistent in both spiritual and physical realms.  Jesus’s half-brother James writes, in Him there is no variableness or shadow of turning (James 1: 17).  In all His ways, God is and does only what is perfectly consistent with His holy nature. 

In contrast, our lives are often marked by “inconsistency.”  This claim is very evident in the realm of conservation of natural resources.  The word “conservation“ is derived from Latin con + sevare meaning to “serve with” or keep intact, preserve, protect.”  This derivation when applied to the Judeo-Christian stewardship ethic calls us to be stewards who “serve with” or “serve in harmony with“ the created order. 

“Consistent conservation” shows respect for the Earth and its creatures while also showing love and respect to our neighbor.  When our lifestyle is contrary to what promotes the flourishing of our neighbor and creation, our conservation is “inconsistent.”  Consistent conservation is characterized by integrity, an effort to be genuine and not hypocritical.

In late 2022, we posted two blogs addressing “consistent conservation.”  In Part 1, “Following the Right Recipe” we defined “consistent conservation” (See HERE and click on text box on left.).  In contrast, “inconsistent conservation” is characterized by moral relativism, misplaced priorities, and a spiritually darkened view of humankind.  This mindset divides us from our neighbor and dislocates us from our position as submissive stewards under God who calls us to exercise dominion over creation.  

In Part 2, “Following the Right Vision” (See HERE.), we traced how two very different philosophies influenced conservation approaches to the growing human population and its demands upon planet Earth.  The results of this “history lesson” give clear testimony in favor of consistent conservation.

Calls for a Conserving Lifestyle
In Part 3 of our series we now offer a third principle:  Consistent conservation calls for a new lifestyle.  This call is based on a series of logical realities in regard to energy and material resources as follows:

PHYSICAL REALITY #1:  We cannot produce energy.  We can only convert energy from one form to another.  According to the First Law of Thermodynamics, energy can neither be created or destroyed.  Example:  Conversion of solar energy to electrical energy by using solar panels.

PHYSICAL REALITY #2:  No energy conversion is 100% efficient.  Even “green energy” is not totally “clean.”  There is always release of heat, a more random, diluted form of energy that has more limited uses in our technology.  Example:  Internal combustion and nuclear energy conversions produce usable energy.  But engines and reactors must be cooled to prevent overheating.  Even manufacture of engines, reactors, solar panels and wind turbines requires energy, releases heat, and generates waste products some of which are hazardous.

ECOLOGICAL REALITY #1:  Other factors being equal, and because of physical realities #1 and #2, switching from fossil fuels to “green energy” will not produce a more Earth-friendly society unless green energy technology is more efficient in energy conversion and produces less waste from mining, refining, and manufacture than a fossil fuel-based society (See Part 1 of this series.)  In order to justify the switch from fossil fuel to “green energy,” a “green energy”-driven economy must demonstrate a decrease in “external costs”--ecological, economic, social, and cultural.

ECOLOGICAL REALITY #2:  Because both fossil fuel and “green energy” technology come with significant external impacts on the Earth, those who are genuinely concerned about conserving energy, material resources, and biodiversity must do more than switch from fossil fuel-based to green energy-based lifestyle.  We must adopt a more resource-conserving lifestyle.  Application:  Understanding this ecological reality motivates us to consider our personal ethical responsibility.

ETHICAL REALITY:  The Judeo-Christian stewardship ethic offers an objective basis for the practice of consistent conservation because it is based on the objective revelation of inspired Scripture (2 Peter 1; 20-21) and properly places humankind under God’s authority as stewards who are responsible to rely upon “good science”—science that correctly represents the physical and ecological realities that define the properties of energy and how it can best be utilized within the created order of Earth.

ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY:  Influence leaders, policy makers, and nations must base their calls for energy and material resource conservation upon “good science” and match their calls with demonstrated changes in their personal lifestyles (i.e. per capita consumption) and support for wise policies.  Leaders who fail to support consistent conservation will appear to lack sincerity. 

Application:  A policy of “rules for thee but not for me” tends to distance leaders from the people and undermine precious freedoms.   Regardless of whether it is Socialism, Communism, Fascism, or another totalitarian form of government, tyrants generally maintain a lifestyle quite different from that of their oppressed masses because, in heart, they are simply corrupt, greedy, selfish human beings.

Challenge of Being Consistent
Having stated what we believe is a logical case for the ecological and ethical realities of conservation, we must confess our tendency to ignore these realities in favor of social or political expedience.  In individual efforts to create a favorable image, make a profit, or gain power are really “symbolism over substance.”  The same temptation affects institutions.  Cases in point are the current failures of certain banks, due in part to the irresponsible oversight by decision makers who were more focused on supporting woke ideology than doing reliable banking. 

Some of us may doubt the sincerity of members of the World Economic Forum (WEF) who boast of an intention to control Earth’s climate and “save the planet.”  But many of these same WEF members added much more carbon to the atmosphere by flying in their private jets to the Annual Meeting 2023, in Davos, Switzerland than of they had flown commercial or arranged to meet by online conferencing.  In fact, many would argue that corporate efforts and government programs to promote conservation cause more problems than they solve.  Consider the unintended negative consequences of government “help” to our banking system, education, and health care.  In each case, government interference through injection of tax dollars has elevated costs with little or no success.

We can see from the failed efforts of corporations and government programs to promote conservation, education, health care, banking, etc. that lasting gains ultimately depend upon individual responsibility and commitment.  Therefore, it is important that everyone who claims to be a consistent conservationist demonstrate a consistency between their public claims and their personal lifestyle decisions related to energy and resource consumption.  The masses will follow leaders who demonstrate a sincere commitment to the cause through their lifestyles.

Before we address practical lifestyle strategies for conservation, we should consider another principle:  Consistent conservation as we have defined it depends upon the discipline of stewardship at both the more obvious material level and the less obvious spiritual level.  We will consider our responsibilities at the material level first.

Material Responsibility
Sources of practical conservation ideas are readily available online.  For example, Conservation International offers a typical online resource consisting of an array of “sustainable living tips” from which one can choose in order to develop a more conserving lifestyle.  Please note that we do not endorse every aspect of the philosophy or recommendations of Conservation International.  Like any source, we need to be discerning about the philosophy and science behind the information presented.  More on that point below.

Our purpose here is to provide examples and a philosophy to illustrate how readers can adopt a more conserving lifestyle.  Please note that we are not always consistent in our conservation.  We are still learning and growing in commitment.  We invite readers to share your own practices—or areas where you struggle with conservation and need suggestions.

Our approach has been based on the familiar 3-R slogan:  REDUCE, REUSE, and RECYCLE.

RECYCLE is perhaps the most popular slogan in support of resource conservation.  At our home, we recycle all unused paper, glass, plastic, and metal.  Consequently, we carry only a small container of waste to the curb each week.  Recycling reroutes already-refined wood products as well as petrochemical, mineral, and metallic products back through the refining and remanufacturing process, requiring less energy than if they were manufactured from startup raw materials.

When we REUSE containers and other products we give the refined product “another life” of usefulness.  For example, carrying our own cloth grocery bags reduces the demand for the more fragile plastic bags that have a very limited “lifetime.”  [We are not always consistent in doing this.]  Glass containers are superior to plastic because the former can be more readily reused on a large scale.  We conserve energy and material resources any time we purchase a good quality object, appliance, or machine and then commit to maintaining it well to promote its longevity. 

For example, by God’s grace and our regular maintenance of our push mower, we have enjoyed its services on our 0.4- to 0.6-acre lawns for 30 years.  Admittedly, we have replaced the mower’s gas tank, rotary blade, and wheels.  We have added to the useful life of tools by careful maintenance and replacement of defective parts.  The aluminum scoop shovel we have used for decades came from a previous owner who had discarded it because its handle was broken.  All it needed was a new handle.

Any time we can REDUCE consumption we have gone one better than to RECYCLE or REUSE.  This claim is true because reducing our demand for energy and material resources reduces the volume or mass of material flowing through the energy-requiring recycling process (or making it into waste without recycling).  Lowering air and water temperatures in our home, taking shorter showers, and drying with a face towel versus a large bath towel, and drying laundry on our “wash line” using solar energy and fresh outdoor air are examples of ways to reduce energy consumption.

Reducing consumption reduces our demand upon resources at the point of input into our homes and lives.  Reducing waste of water, food, clothing, and energy means we are assured of getting the most out of what we receive.  For example, when we are careful not to waste food either in storage or on our plates, and are careful to empty all containers, we are assuring that as much as possible of the commodity is being used while reducing demand.

The choice to reduce is a fruit of consistent efforts to distinguish our wants from needs.    Although the words “economy” and “stewardship” are both rooted in the Greek word, oikonomia, meaning “management of a household,” today a tension exists between good stewardship of resources and a thriving economy.  This tension occurs because our economy depends upon advertising that appeals to consumer wants rather than needs.  Our wants and needs ultimately reflect the degree of our dependence upon the temporal-material realm versus the spiritual realm of life.  As we will now propose, a person’s motivation to REDUCE, REUSE, and RECYCLE is ultimately determined by his or her spiritual values and the disciplines that are nourished within the soul.

Spiritual Discipline
A consistent conservation ethic is ultimately motivated by spiritual values and discernment.  We believe that simply “going green” because it is popular or woke without considering a solid ethical basis for conserving causes us to miss a great benefit.  Instead, when our commitment to REDUCE, etc. is rooted in an objective stewardship ethic we realize something more-- that reducing consumption and living simpler not only conserves resources but also can make our lives richer physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  Instead of being the end in itself, our handling of temporal and material resources becomes a means to a greater end—namely, to become good stewards who find joy and satisfaction in pleasing God who is the Owner and Creator of all.

The Institute for Faith, Work, and Economics outlines four principles of stewardship:
1)  God is the Owner of His creation (Psalm 24: 1)
2)  Mankind is called to manage responsibly (Genesis 2: 15)
3)  Each of us must give account of our stewardship (Matt. 25:14-30)
4)  The faithful steward will be “rewarded  incompletely in this life, but
      fully in the next” (Colossians 3:23-24).

Today, instead of submitting to God’s plan as our Creator and Lord over creation, many of us act as if we can take God’s place as ruler of the Earth.  We must all admit that while we can be “good” at times, we cannot be “consistent,” either in our conservation or in any area of our lives.  In our January Oikonomia, we addressed this struggle of “trying to be good” in the context of the curse of sin on us and all of creation [See “More Than ‘Just Being Good’ in 2023,” Click HERE.].

The Scriptures clearly support the doctrine of the curse of sin and the fall of creation because of human rebellion (Genesis 3).  The result is death, eternal spiritual separation from God, and the return of our material bodies to the dust of the Earth.  Many who reject this doctrine may be very committed to caring for the Earth.  But although their deeds are commendable, without receiving Christ and God’s atonement for sin, their bodies will return to the dust of the Earth from which they came, and their souls to eternal separation from God (Matthew 25: 45-46).  But if we follow the spiritual discipline leading us to REPENT, RECEIVE, REVERENCE, and REPRESENT, then our lives and our handling of material resources will acquire eternal significance for God’s glory.

REPENT/RECEIVE:  When we confess our pride and smugness, we see ourselves as God sees us and we humbly admit that our deeds no matter how well intended, have been for the benefit of self and temporal ends rather than for God who created us and His world for eternal purposes.  To REPENT of these attitudes and values is to turn about-face to a new direction in which we learn to give God first place.  Elsewhere in Oikonomia, we have addressed in detail the importance of REPENTANCE, of “stopping on RED,” the blood of Christ that leads repentant souls to RECEIVE the gift of salvation and eternal life, before “going on GREEN” (See “Creation Care– Doing It Our Way?” by clicking HERE.”

REVERENCE:  The person who has repented, having followed “Steps to Peace with God,” becomes alive spiritually (Romans 8: 6).  He or she can now worship God “in spirit and in truth” (John 4: 24).  When we worship God in a spirit of REVERENCE in our thoughts, words, and work, we magnify Him as Lord over all of creation (Matthew 6: 33).  Our anxiety over getting and managing things gives way to reverent trust in our Father God’s provision (Matthew 6: 25-34).  We are motivated to exercise consistent conservation as stewards in order to honor and please God (1 John 3: 22), the One to whom we will give an account (#3 above) and be rewarded for our faithfulness (#4 above). 

Central to our REVERENCE is our regular expression of praise and thankfulness to God in prayer during our daily activities.  Offering prayers of thankfulness before meals acknowledges our dependence on the Giver, His gift of our ability to earn income, and our responsibility to be good stewards of the food and all of God’s good gifts.  An attitude of REVERENCE offers the additional benefit of enhancing our emotional and spiritual satisfaction and well-being.

REPRESENT:  When our repentance and receiving of Christ as Savior and Lord is followed by reverent service as God’s stewards of creation, we are set free from being ruled by material pursuits to be those who can rule over and manage the material realm of Earth in a way that REPRESENTS our Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will one day return to rule the Earth for 1,000 years (Revelation 20).  Shawn Lazar discusses “Fifteen Characteristics of Life in the Millennium According to Isaiah” (See HERE.).  Revelation 21 and 22 give us the Apostle John’s vision of the New Heaven and the New Earth in which eternal peace and righteousness will be established.  

Meanwhile, as stewards of God’s creation and the revelation of His plan of salvation, our lives bear the image of His Son, Jesus Christ.  God has left His followers here on Earth as stewards whose lives witness of His grace like signposts pointing toward His coming kingdom in which righteousness dwells.   Although God’s redeemed anticipate the New Heaven and New Earth, and new resurrection bodies, they also recognize their present stewardship of both the Earth and their bodies.  Together, these truths and God’s indwelling Spirit ought to motivate us to a lifestyle that honors and pleases Him by our stewardship of both the material realm and in our spiritual disciplines (1 Peter 3: 8-18).

Summary & Invitation
In this 3-article series we have emphasized that resource conservation ought to have “consistency” like a well composed and stirred recipe.  This claim applies to policies and programs of large institutions, agencies, and corporations; as well as within the passions and practices of individuals.  Ultimately, conservation depends on the ethics and practices of individuals—and we often struggle to be consistent.

Now it’s your turn.  We are far from knowing and doing what we ought to in regard to “consistent conservation.” So, by sharing ideas, we all benefit and God and His creation are served for His glory. What questions, additions, corrections, or objections will you kindly add using the “Comments” link below; or by e-mail to silviusj@gmail.com ?