Three Ways You Can Take Better Care of the Earth

April 22, 2019

At Student Activities, one of our four values is Cultural Engagement. We define cultural engagement as “encouraging the university to appreciate, discern and critique various aspects of arts and entertainment, discouraging retreatment from or passive consumption of cultural products.” Something that has begun to shape my lifestyle as I further try to engage in culture is how I can live sustainably to be a better steward of the earth. As Christians, we have a responsibility to maintain the earth wisely, lovingly and thoughtfully. Passive consumption is typically used to define how entertainment is consumed, but it can also be attributed to passively consuming the culture that defines our lifestyles. As believers, we should question what companies are doing and what we are consuming apart from entertainment. Christ has entrusted us with this earth, and we should be held responsible for the active or passive consumption of this planet.

Christ has called us to be stewards of the environment. In Genesis 1:28 He commands Adam and Eve, “Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” My concern lies in my belief that we are turning away from this responsibility that Christ has given us. We are misusing this precious gift from Him. I am guilty of not being a steward of this earth, but rather an exploiter of it. I live a life full of excess, while Christ calls us to a life with only an excess of Him.

Every day, there are small steps we can take to live a simpler life to develop ourselves as stewards of the earth. Three simple ways I challenge myself to live a more thoughtful lifestyle begins with first thinking consciously about the clothes I wear. Fast fashion is an epidemic in the marketplace, and Millennials are twice as likely as baby boomers to toss clothing because it is unfashionable or they are bored of wearing it. Fast fashion companies don’t care how clothing is manufactured, instead they want to churn out new trends every week to ensure that consumers are buying as much clothing possible, as quickly as possible. Let’s change the statistic as Millennials and aim to buy second-hand clothes when possible, support sustainable clothing brands when possible, and donate our used or unwanted clothing.

Another simple way is to use re-usable water cups, bottle, and mugs. 500 billion disposable cups are used every year; specifically, there are 25 billion Styrofoam coffee cups used every year. Styrofoam cannot be completely recycled, and most Styrofoam will stay in landfills for over a hundred years. We all love our local coffee shops, and a simple way to contribute to stewarding this planet is by bringing your own re-usable cup or mug. Some Lynchburg coffee shops even give you a discount off your purchase for bringing in your own cup!

My favorite way that we as college students can take steps towards responsible consumption is using re-usable bags at the grocery store. As Americans, we go through 100 billion plastic bags a year, which takes 12 billion barrels of oil to manufacture. The next time you see a Student Activities promotional shift grab one of our tote bags, and use it for your next Target run!

The key to taking responsibility for our role in being a steward of God’s creation is to simply be conscious of what we do and how our actions contribute to the preservation or destruction of the earth. As Christians, we should become involved in building sustainable industries and businesses that put environmental sustainability at the forefront. Ultimately, the earth belongs to God and He has given us this responsibility to take care of His precious creation. We must shift our attitudes to take on this responsibility while actively engaging in appreciating, consuming, and enjoying the earth.

---