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Saturday, May 3, 2008

The Story of Stuff


I got to see my cousin Michelle last weekend for the first time in a long time. We were discussing "stuff" and she suggested that I check out The Story of Stuff. I finally had a chance to do it this afternoon and I was glad it watched it. Yikes.
Watch it and you'll see what I mean.

I do not believe that our world end by global warming. I believe that Christ will come again to judge the world and at that time, this earth will pass away by the Lord's doing and a new one will be given to the saints. I believe it because God says it in the Bible. However, I also believe that Christians need to be well-informed, active participants in our communities and the world. It is no secret that we are destroying the planet. We consume and waste and never ask questions.

In "The Story of Stuff" I learned that corporations design products specifically to break after a period of about 6 months. I knew it! Not really, but I am sure we all have suspected this at least once or twice. So I buy things that make me happy for the moment (until Beau finds out), but then I feel the need to buy more stuff after that feeling fades. And the corporations designed the system to create this feeling and then capitalize on it. Scoundrels. Of course, I say that, but I am surely a willing participant.

How do we contribute to the solution? I have thought about getting rid of the TV and planting a garden. How realistic are these goals? Will my husband feel the same way? What will this accomplish?

I am encouraged that many corporations seem to be jumping on the green bandwagon. I have gotten coupon books that offer discounts on eco-friendly or organic products. I buy cloth grocery sacks. I do find it humorous that my favorite retailers all make me purchase the reusable bags I have to tote my groceries in. Now that I think about it, many of those sneaky corporations make me feel like green is the new thing, and I should throw out all of the stuff I have that says, "I bought this and it probably pollutes the environment". I should buy all new stuff that says, "Look at how trendy I am- I buy only eco-friendly products. Why don't you?"

Now I have a conflict of interest. Nuts.

At any rate, please watch this thought-provoking video. Remember though, that the Lord God is sovereign. Nothing happens on this planet that He has not already seen. Think: if the world saw our need for the Lord and prayed for His favor, would He not grant it if it were His will?

"Ask the Lord for rain in springtime; it is the LORD who makes the storm clouds. He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone" (Zech 10:1)

3 comments:

Brandy Vencel said...

I will have to check this out! I am always hesitant to actively promote the "green" mentality because I think that this whole saving-the-planet movement has become the new morality. It redefines sin according to the world's current obsession.

However, I think that a lot of the "green" people (for lack of a better word) are confronting real sin issues, whether or not they call them that. As a Christian, I think I would rather see our culture discussing dominion, stewardship over the earth, man's responsbilities in the area of animal husbandry, the temptation to worship what has been made (and sold at Target) instead of the ultimate Maker, the acceptability of wastefulness.

Waste, for instance, though hard to fully avoid since it is so built into the current system we live within, used to be considered a sin by the church. It was seen as a disobedience to His commands to take dominion and manage the garden wisely.

Okay. Now I'm talking too much.

My real thought was that the Bible has something to say about these issues, and even though it would "save the planet" in the process, I doubt that the secular world would really want to hear about it. After all, it would also require the redemption of souls, which is something the natural man can't abide... :(

Jennifer said...

ooh, blog about this! thank you so much for your wisdom. I feel compelled to do "my part"- through things like recycling and wasting less. But I do really agree with you that this is just the latest worldly trend that is trying to fill the void in people's hearts- save the world and maybe we can save ourselves! Let's all live forever on our perfect planet! I rejoice in the fact that God is sovereign and He stands before the beginning and the end.

thanks for helping me "think Christianly" about being green.

Anonymous said...

I'm currently listening to the video. Very thought provoking.

My issue with the green thing is that it comes down to an issue of stewardship. We have been told by God to be stewards of what he's given us - time, talents, and resources.

I think about this a lot. But how in the world do we address this in a church building where everyone is drinking coffee from paper cups and eating donuts off of paper plates? :)

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