Good Stewardship
Rebecca Dennison
Liberty University
Abstract
There is much debate among Christians as to whether or not they should be involved in environmental causes, and great confusion surrounds the Biblical command to have dominion over the earth. Using the definition of environmentalism, and comparing Scriptural examples, this essay shows that Christians are to be good stewards of the earth. From this premise develops the understanding that stewardship and environmentalism, when boiled down to their basics, are definitively similar. It is a Christian responsibility to care for and learn about God’s creation for the betterment of humankind.
Good Stewardship
Merriam-Webster defines environmentalism as “advocacy of the preservation, restoration, or improvement of the natural environment; especially the movement to control pollution” (2010). Does that describe a part of the Christian’s role here on earth? And if so, what exactly should a Christian be doing to preserve and restore our planet? Many would say that this is a black and white issue; Christians should either be actively involved in ecological political arenas, or they should turn their backs upon this ‘pagan’ movement that only leads to Mother Earth worship and focus entirely on the eternal. But for Christians, this is not an either-or issue. The answer lies somewhere in the middle and can be found neatly placed within the pages of Scripture: Christians are to be good stewards of the earth.
In order to get an understanding of what stewardship looks like, it is necessary to look at the earliest commands that God gave to man. In Genesis, the first man and woman are commanded to reproduce and fill the earth with the human race, to subdue the earth, and to have dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:26). They are also told to serve and keep the garden in which they live (Genesis 2:15). There has been much confusion over what it actually means to have dominion over the earth, and in fact, a gross misunderstanding of these terms has led some non-Christians to blame Christianity for the perceived environmental crisis, and some Christians to use it as an excuse to close their eyes to these issues. Henry Morris, Ph.D., (2002) of Institute for Creation Research, explains it this way:
This mandate implies a large population and every honorable occupation – science,
commerce, education, etc. This “dominion mandate” amounts in effect to a magnificent
divinely commissioned stewardship for man over God’s great creation – to understand its
processes and develop its resources to the glory of God and the good of men
(All Nations Under God, 2002).
Morris (1974) further explains that this command was “not a license for despotic exploitation of its [earth’s] resources, but rather a call to service, encouraging him [man] to understand its nature (“science”) and then to utilize its resources (“technology”) for the benefit of all men, under God,” (Creation and the Environment, 1974). God wants his children to be good stewards of his world by learning about it, exploring it, and using it for the good of mankind through the processes of preservation, restoration, and improvement.
A good example of species preservation can be found in the Jewish Torah (the Christian Pentateuch) which contains a law that prohibits the people of Israel from killing both the mother bird and her eggs. They were allowed to eat the eggs, but were to leave the mother in order to allow continuation of the species (Troster, n.d.). According to a recent blog by Carmi (2010), Jewish writings also teach avoidance of recreational hunting, but permit killing animals for food and commerce. Jews are also taught to avoid wasteful destruction of the environment, such as chopping down fruit trees, even when in a time of war (Troster, n.d.). They were also to prevent the pollution of water sources by keeping human excrement away from drinking water sources (Hunter, n.d.), and to keep an undeveloped area of suburbia surrounding each city (Numbers 35:4). A major theme of Old Testament Biblical environmental guidelines is to avoid the wasteful exploitation and destruction of God’s creation.
Humankind lives in a fallen world, and consequently, there are times when preservation will fail. Genesis chapter seven gives a beautiful picture of restoration. The entire world was corrupt and polluted with sin, and had been destroyed with a catastrophic flood. God commanded Noah to load the ark with every kind of animal on the planet. First of all, God’s love is portrayed for all of his creatures as he ensures the continuation of all that he has made, but a man and his family are observed as bringing these animals back to a devastated planet as God’s commissioned care-takers, restoring the balance of nature. God also instituted the Sabbath rest, requiring that his people not plant their fields every seventh year. “Thus, the sabbath year is given to protect the land from relentless exploitation, to help the land rejuvenate, to help it get things together again; it is a time of rest and restoration,” says Dr. Calvin De Witt (De Witt, 2002).
Creation itself cannot be improved upon, as God Himself declared that it was good (Genesis 1); however, as sin, environmental decay, pollutants, and man’s mishandling of their God-given mandate affects the earth, not only will there be the need for restoration, but there will be the opportunity for improvement as well. The Bible is rich with examples of digging wells, thus bringing irrigation not only to people but to animals and crops as well. God was the first to improve the earth by planting a garden, and every time man plants and cultivates the earth we are improving the health and beauty of our planet.
Finally, as proper stewardship is exercised over our world, there is a responsibility to seek out knowledge that will improve life for humankind. Just as Adam named the animals on those first days following creation, so people should discover and classify the varieties of species today. Not only is it wise to keep a record of the Master’s holdings – a good steward develops and multiplies the goods entrusted to him – but many helpful technologies, medications, and tools can be developed from nature. Although human beings are not to selfishly consume all that is under their dominion, they are allowed to advance and better the lives of the people of the world.
Through preservation, restoration, and improvement, Christians can be environmentalists without becoming political activists, or forsaking God to worship nature. These principles are Biblical principles, and when maintained in balance with the Christian priority of reaching the world with the gospel of Christ Jesus, there is no conflict. In fact, as we care for our environment as good stewards, we will have one more way that we can show the love of Christ.
References
Carmi. (2010, March 10). Jews in shtreimels (fur hats) and fur coats? Sanhedrin 15B. Retrieved
from Judaism and the Environment in the Talmud: Message posted to
http://svivaisrael.wordpress.com/
De Witt, D. C. (2002, July 14). Three Biblical principles for environmental stewardship.
Retrieved from Leadership University:
http://www.leaderu.com/theology/environment.html
Envionmentalism. (2010). Retrieved May 13, 2010, In Merriam-Webster Online
Dictionary: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/environmentalism
Hunter, P. (n.d.). The modern environmental movement: Jewish perspectives. Retrieved from
adherents.com: http://www.adherents.com/largecom/jew_env.html
Morris, P. H. (1974, April 1). Creation and the environment. Retrieved from Institution for
Creation Research: http://www.icr.org/article/creation-environment/
Morris, P. H. (2002, October 1). All nations under God. Retrieved from Institute for Creation
Research: http://www.icr.org/article/all-nations-under-god/
Troster, R. L. (n.d.). Ten Jewish teachings on Judaism and environmentalism. Retrieved from
Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life: http://www.coejl.org/learn/je_tenje.php
Outline
I. Introduction
A. Definition of environmentalism
B. If this describes the Christian’s role, what should Christians do
C. Not a black and white issue
D. Thesis: Christians are to be good stewards of the earth
II. What stewardship looks like
A. The first Biblical commands
B. Reproduce, subdue, dominion
C. Serve and keep
D. Morris quote, what dominion is
E. Morris quote, what dominion is not
F. Stewardship is preservation, restoration and improvement
III. Preservation – Jewish Torah examples
A. Killing mother bird and eggs
B. Recreational hunting
C. Chopping down fruit trees
D. Prevent water pollution
E. Undeveloped suburbs around cities
IV. Restoration
A. Noah as God’s care-taker
B. Sabbath year of rest for the land
V. Improvement
A. Creation cannot be improved upon
B. Biblical example of digging wells
C. Biblical example of planting and cultivating
VI. Responsibility to seek out knowledge
A. Discover and classify species
B. Develop technology, medication, tools
C. Use nature to better humankind
VII. Conclusion
A. Christians can be environmentalists
B. Biblical principles
C. Maintain balance with gospel priority
D. Care for environment as good stewards
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
Those Sneaky Advertising Geniuses!
Those Sneaky Advertising Geniuses!
Rebecca Dennison
Liberty University
Abstract
In this technological age, marketers are constantly developing new strategies to promote their products, with children often being the target of their advertisements. These commercials frequently advocate excessive, unhealthy lifestyles, presented in an entertaining format, that lead impressionable children to the conclusion that they desperately need that product. Unique opportunities are therefore increasingly available for American parents to teach their children the proper response to advertising and consumerism.
Those Sneaky Advertising Geniuses!
“Frosted flakes are more than good; they’re GRRRREAT!” exclaimed the author’s six-year-old son Aidan as he sat at the breakfast table one morning. What an endearing, funny little outburst! But in a country where children are a primary focus of national advertisement, parents are growing ever more concerned about the slogans, jingles, and images that are being planted in their children’s heads. Some would say that parents should attempt to remove every avenue of advertisement from the eyes and ears of their young ones; however, unique opportunities are increasingly available for parents to teach their children the proper response to advertising and consumerism.
From food and clothing to video games and toys, American youth are bombarded with commercial promotions. The television is not the only avenue by which advertisements reach children, marketing is everywhere: the internet, in schools, in movies, on buses and billboards, even on clothing. The average child will see approximately 40,000 commercials a year (Cantor, Dowrick, Kunkel, Linn, Palmer, & Wilcox, 2004). Though ads for children are not considered morally wrong, many of them encourage excess junk food consumption. According to CBS news, a study done in 2007 showed that “Children ages 2 to 7 see an average of 30 hours of such [junk food] ads a year. Kids 8 to 12 see 50 hours annually, while teenagers see 40 hours every year” (Cosgrove-Mather, 2007). A majority of the remaining child-targeted commercials promote consumerism, and only a few promote healthy behaviors and eating habits. Figure 1 demonstrates a breakdown of the types of food advertisers market to young people (2008).
While the goals of most marketing campaigns may be to promote awareness, preference, and loyalty to the brand (French & Story, 2004), children are not aware of these agendas. Per French and Story, in their article Food Advertising and Marketing Directed at Children and Adolescents in the US, “Prior to age 7 or 8 years, children tend to view advertising as fun, entertaining, and unbiased information” (French & Story, 2004). This view of advertisement as ‘just another cartoon’ is evidenced by the four-year-old Evan’s (the author’s child) loud protestations to switching the channel during a commercial, “Hey! I was watching that!” His mother explains to him that it is not a show, but he does not understand that. All he sees are children having fun and enjoying whatever product is currently being touted as the latest thing. Yet, subconsciously his mind is making the connections that he does indeed want the toy that looked like so much fun, and seconds later comes the plea, “Mommy, can I have that? I need it.” That reaction, called “The Nag Factor” (French & Story, 2004), is exactly what manufacturers count on.
Another way that marketing succeeds is by using children’s cartoon and super hero characters on toys and food products. Taking children to the supermarket these days is no easy feat. There are Sponge Bob, Spiderman, and Dora the Explorer characters around every corner. As an adult, it is understood that the box of macaroni and cheese does not taste any better just because there is a well-known figure on the box, but to a child, that food just became manna from heaven! What a sneaky trick of advertising genius!
On top of that are all the slogans, such as “Silly Rabbit, Trix are for kids!”, and jingles that are permanently stuck in children’s heads, and also admittedly in the heads of their parents (the author has caught herself singing the ‘Goldfish jingle’ on more than one occasion). Those six words about the Trix rabbit, in child-logic, say that rabbits eat carrots, and likewise Trix cereal is a food that should be included in every kid’s diet (See figure 2).
So what should parents do about this advertising mayhem, outside of disposing of their televisions, shutting down their internet, and in essence blindfolding their children every time they step foot outside the home? A recent blog posting by Flexo had some excellent recommendations for parents on dealing with advertising: view every advertisement as a teaching moment, talk to children about what the commercials are attempting to persuade them to buy, teach them to question the truth behind statements that are made about the brand, as well as, ask what the company does not say about it (Flexo, 2010). This blog adds, “If you put a value on being an informed consumer through your interactions with this material world, there’s a good chance your children ... will eventually see the value as well” (Flexo, 2010). The Federal Trade Commission has even created an interactive game, at admondo.gov, to assist parents in teaching children critical thinking skills in regards to advertisements, and to show them how to be good consumers.
From a Christian perspective, advertisements offer a wonderful opportunity to impart valuable spiritual lessons to children. Our consumer-driven society would have children value things of this world over the eternal things of God. Advertisers’ sly messages seem innocent, entertaining, and even funny at times, but they fill the children with materialistic ideas. It is not that the latest toys, or the newest breakfast cereal, are bad things, it’s just that those are not the things that the heart should long for. This is explained quite simply in Matthew 6:19-20 (English Standard Version), “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
The onslaught of advertising aimed at American youth shows no signs of slowing down, if anything it is growing. As technology advances, there will be increasing methods available to marketers for children’s commercials. There is reason for parents to be concerned, but they cannot hide from the inevitable -- kids will be exposed to these advertisements. Each and every ad that children hear or see is a potential learning moment. Parents need to be ready to discuss the content of commercials, and how they should respond to them, with their children, as well as to relate to them the blessings of choosing eternal things over the things of this world.
References
Cantor, P. J., Dowrick, P. P., Kunkel, P. D., Linn, E. S., Palmer, P. E., & Wilcox, P. B. (2004).
Psychological issues in the increasing commercialization of childhood. Advertising and
Children , 4. Retrieved from http://www.chawisconsin.org/Obesity/O2ChildAds.pdf
Cosgrove-Mather, B. (2007, March 28). Kids get diet of junk food commercials. CBS News.
Retrieved 2010, from:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/28/health/main2620036.shtml
Flexo. (2010, April 27). How to teach kids about advertising. Message posted to
http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2010/04/27/how-to-teach-kids-about
advertising/
Freedhoff, Y. (2008, April 8). Children’s junk food ad ban in Ontario? Message posted to
http://www.weightymatters.ca/2008/04/childrens-junk-food-ad-ban-in-ontario.html
French, S., & Story, M. (2004, February 10). Food advertising and marketing directed at
children and adolescents in the US. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and
Physical Activity. Retrieved from: http://www.ijbnpa.org/content/1/1/3
Kaiser Family Foundation. (2008, Sepetember 16). Food for thought: Television food
advertising to children in the United States. Retrieved April 29, 2010, from
http://facts.kff.org/chart.aspx?ch=453
Figures
Figure 1
Figure 2
Rebecca Dennison
Liberty University
Abstract
In this technological age, marketers are constantly developing new strategies to promote their products, with children often being the target of their advertisements. These commercials frequently advocate excessive, unhealthy lifestyles, presented in an entertaining format, that lead impressionable children to the conclusion that they desperately need that product. Unique opportunities are therefore increasingly available for American parents to teach their children the proper response to advertising and consumerism.
Those Sneaky Advertising Geniuses!
“Frosted flakes are more than good; they’re GRRRREAT!” exclaimed the author’s six-year-old son Aidan as he sat at the breakfast table one morning. What an endearing, funny little outburst! But in a country where children are a primary focus of national advertisement, parents are growing ever more concerned about the slogans, jingles, and images that are being planted in their children’s heads. Some would say that parents should attempt to remove every avenue of advertisement from the eyes and ears of their young ones; however, unique opportunities are increasingly available for parents to teach their children the proper response to advertising and consumerism.
From food and clothing to video games and toys, American youth are bombarded with commercial promotions. The television is not the only avenue by which advertisements reach children, marketing is everywhere: the internet, in schools, in movies, on buses and billboards, even on clothing. The average child will see approximately 40,000 commercials a year (Cantor, Dowrick, Kunkel, Linn, Palmer, & Wilcox, 2004). Though ads for children are not considered morally wrong, many of them encourage excess junk food consumption. According to CBS news, a study done in 2007 showed that “Children ages 2 to 7 see an average of 30 hours of such [junk food] ads a year. Kids 8 to 12 see 50 hours annually, while teenagers see 40 hours every year” (Cosgrove-Mather, 2007). A majority of the remaining child-targeted commercials promote consumerism, and only a few promote healthy behaviors and eating habits. Figure 1 demonstrates a breakdown of the types of food advertisers market to young people (2008).
While the goals of most marketing campaigns may be to promote awareness, preference, and loyalty to the brand (French & Story, 2004), children are not aware of these agendas. Per French and Story, in their article Food Advertising and Marketing Directed at Children and Adolescents in the US, “Prior to age 7 or 8 years, children tend to view advertising as fun, entertaining, and unbiased information” (French & Story, 2004). This view of advertisement as ‘just another cartoon’ is evidenced by the four-year-old Evan’s (the author’s child) loud protestations to switching the channel during a commercial, “Hey! I was watching that!” His mother explains to him that it is not a show, but he does not understand that. All he sees are children having fun and enjoying whatever product is currently being touted as the latest thing. Yet, subconsciously his mind is making the connections that he does indeed want the toy that looked like so much fun, and seconds later comes the plea, “Mommy, can I have that? I need it.” That reaction, called “The Nag Factor” (French & Story, 2004), is exactly what manufacturers count on.
Another way that marketing succeeds is by using children’s cartoon and super hero characters on toys and food products. Taking children to the supermarket these days is no easy feat. There are Sponge Bob, Spiderman, and Dora the Explorer characters around every corner. As an adult, it is understood that the box of macaroni and cheese does not taste any better just because there is a well-known figure on the box, but to a child, that food just became manna from heaven! What a sneaky trick of advertising genius!
On top of that are all the slogans, such as “Silly Rabbit, Trix are for kids!”, and jingles that are permanently stuck in children’s heads, and also admittedly in the heads of their parents (the author has caught herself singing the ‘Goldfish jingle’ on more than one occasion). Those six words about the Trix rabbit, in child-logic, say that rabbits eat carrots, and likewise Trix cereal is a food that should be included in every kid’s diet (See figure 2).
So what should parents do about this advertising mayhem, outside of disposing of their televisions, shutting down their internet, and in essence blindfolding their children every time they step foot outside the home? A recent blog posting by Flexo had some excellent recommendations for parents on dealing with advertising: view every advertisement as a teaching moment, talk to children about what the commercials are attempting to persuade them to buy, teach them to question the truth behind statements that are made about the brand, as well as, ask what the company does not say about it (Flexo, 2010). This blog adds, “If you put a value on being an informed consumer through your interactions with this material world, there’s a good chance your children ... will eventually see the value as well” (Flexo, 2010). The Federal Trade Commission has even created an interactive game, at admondo.gov, to assist parents in teaching children critical thinking skills in regards to advertisements, and to show them how to be good consumers.
From a Christian perspective, advertisements offer a wonderful opportunity to impart valuable spiritual lessons to children. Our consumer-driven society would have children value things of this world over the eternal things of God. Advertisers’ sly messages seem innocent, entertaining, and even funny at times, but they fill the children with materialistic ideas. It is not that the latest toys, or the newest breakfast cereal, are bad things, it’s just that those are not the things that the heart should long for. This is explained quite simply in Matthew 6:19-20 (English Standard Version), “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
The onslaught of advertising aimed at American youth shows no signs of slowing down, if anything it is growing. As technology advances, there will be increasing methods available to marketers for children’s commercials. There is reason for parents to be concerned, but they cannot hide from the inevitable -- kids will be exposed to these advertisements. Each and every ad that children hear or see is a potential learning moment. Parents need to be ready to discuss the content of commercials, and how they should respond to them, with their children, as well as to relate to them the blessings of choosing eternal things over the things of this world.
References
Cantor, P. J., Dowrick, P. P., Kunkel, P. D., Linn, E. S., Palmer, P. E., & Wilcox, P. B. (2004).
Psychological issues in the increasing commercialization of childhood. Advertising and
Children , 4. Retrieved from http://www.chawisconsin.org/Obesity/O2ChildAds.pdf
Cosgrove-Mather, B. (2007, March 28). Kids get diet of junk food commercials. CBS News.
Retrieved 2010, from:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/28/health/main2620036.shtml
Flexo. (2010, April 27). How to teach kids about advertising. Message posted to
http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2010/04/27/how-to-teach-kids-about
advertising/
Freedhoff, Y. (2008, April 8). Children’s junk food ad ban in Ontario? Message posted to
http://www.weightymatters.ca/2008/04/childrens-junk-food-ad-ban-in-ontario.html
French, S., & Story, M. (2004, February 10). Food advertising and marketing directed at
children and adolescents in the US. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and
Physical Activity. Retrieved from: http://www.ijbnpa.org/content/1/1/3
Kaiser Family Foundation. (2008, Sepetember 16). Food for thought: Television food
advertising to children in the United States. Retrieved April 29, 2010, from
http://facts.kff.org/chart.aspx?ch=453
Figures
Figure 1
Figure 2
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