Author: Levi Minderhoud

23 Aug 2021 A Policy Framework for Environmental Stewardship

  Last week we examined the seventh principle in biblical environmental stewardship: that although cost-benefit analysis is an important tool to determine the wise use of resources, cost-benefit analysis cannot be completely comprehensive. Today wraps up this article series by drawing upon biblical principles from economics and politics to sketch out a general policy framework for dealing with environmental problems.   A Policy Framework for Environmental Stewardship Environmental issues often result from the tragedy of the commons Many environmental issues arise from a classic economic problem, the tragedy of the commons.[i] The tragedy of the...

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16 Aug 2021 Biblical Principles for Environmental Stewardship: Weighing Costs and Benefits

Last week we examined the sixth principle in biblical environmental stewardship: that God created the environment to be simultaneously resilient and dynamic. Today we look at the seventh and final principle. Principle 7: Although cost-benefit analysis is an important tool to determine the wise use of resources, cost-benefit analysis cannot be completely comprehensive. Many attempts to preserve or exploit the environment stem from an incomplete assessment of the value of the environment. Carefully weighing the costs and benefits is required in effective environmental stewardship.[i] Of course, the challenge is to account for...

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10 Aug 2021 Biblical Principles for Environmental Stewardship: The Resiliency and Fragility of Creation

Last week we examined the fifth principle in environmental stewardship: that although God allows humanity to suffer the consequences of poor environmental stewardship, the end of history will occur according to God’s sovereign plan. Today we look at the sixth principle. Principle 6: God created the environment to be simultaneously resilient and dynamic.[i] God created every individual organism, plant, animal, person, and the wider environment with an astounding resiliency. The human body, for example, can survive weeks without food, can heal cuts to its skin, and can run a marathon. The earth...

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03 Aug 2021 Biblical Principles of Environmental Stewardship: God’s Sovereignty and Human Responsibility

Last week we examined the fourth principle in biblical environmental stewardship: that God commands humanity to multiply and fill the earth. Today we look at the fifth principle. Principle 5: Although God allows humanity to suffer the consequences of poor environmental stewardship, the end of history will occur according to God’s sovereign plan. A society’s view of eschatology – how the world will end – will inform its policies on environmental stewardship. Secular environmentalists, ignoring the creation and providence of God, attribute the end of the world to human action or some...

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28 Jul 2021 A Win for Freedom of Expression in British Columbia

In December 2017, Grace Chapel booked a venue owned by the city of New Westminster to hold a youth conference. The theme, drawn from Romans 3:14, was “Let God Be True” or “LGBT.” Their posters used this theme surrounded by rainbow colouring and understandably drew the notice of a member of the public who emailed the city concerned that they were hosting an anti-LGBTQ event. The day after receiving the email, the city cancelled just one month prior to the event. In response, Grace Chapel asked the BC courts to review...

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26 Jul 2021 Biblical Principles for Environmental Stewardship: Multiplying and Filling the Earth

Last week we examined the third principle in biblical environmental stewardship: that God commands that humanity both exercise dominion and care over all of creation. Today we look at the fourth principle. Principle 4: God commands humanity to multiply and fill the earth. In the cultural mandate, God also commands humanity to multiply and to fill the earth, exercising stewardship – fruitfulness, dominion, and care – as they go.[i] Indeed, He scattered humanity when they failed to spread out around the world.[ii] Humanity’s capacity for multiplying and filling the earth expanded markedly...

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20 Jul 2021 British Columbia’s Sesquicentennial: What’s Special About British Columbia?

Sesquicentennial. Now that’s a word you don’t hear every day. Sesquicentennial is the celebration of the 150th anniversary of something. Depending on your age and your interest in political history, you might remember some recent sesquicentennials. On July 1, 2017, Canada celebrated its 150th anniversary, complete with fireworks, festivities, and a hockey rink on Parliament Hill (upon which, to many Canadians’ chagrin, no hockey was actually played). British Columbia also has celebrated some sesquicentennials in recent years. One can make a strong case that there are three dates that mark British Columbia’s...

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19 Jul 2021 Biblical Principles for Environmental Stewardship: Dominion and Care

Last week we examined the second principle in biblical environmental stewardship: that all creation is valuable, but humanity, as the image-bearers of God, is the most valuable created being. Today we look at the third principle. Principle 3: God commands that humanity both exercise dominion and care over all of creation.[i] In the cultural mandate of Genesis 1:28, God commands humanity to have dominion over the earth and to subdue it. Theologians point out that the original Hebrew word for subdue (kavash) is a “fairly strong term” that “means to overpower, to...

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12 Jul 2021 Biblical Principles for Environmental Stewardship: The Value of Creation

Last week we examined the first principle in biblical environmental stewardship: that God, the Creator of all things, has commanded mankind to exercise fruitful stewardship over His creation. Today we look at the second principle. Principle 2: All creation is valuable, but humanity, as the image-bearers of God, is the most valuable created being. Scripture demonstrates that the whole of creation has intrinsic worth in the sight of God.[i] After each day of creation, God declared his creation to be good – day and night, land and sea and air, plants, sea...

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06 Jul 2021 Biblical Principles for Environmental Stewardship: The Command of Fruitful Stewardship

Environmental issues have become centerpieces in recent elections, policy-making, and public discourse. A 2018 Angus Reid poll found that 66% of Canadians believe that climate change is primarily driven by human causes, compared to 19% of Canadians who believe that natural changes primarily drive climate change. Nine percent of Canadians think that climate change is a theory that has not yet been proven.[i] Canadians are vehemently divided on whether new oil pipelines should be built. Environmentalist crusader and Swedish teen, Greta Thunberg, was named Time’s 2019 person of the year...

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