As we journey through the season of Lent, we enter a period of lamentation. Globally, we are experiencing more frequent and severe climate-related disasters, such as floods, droughts and storms, which are disproportionately impacting those at the margins of society. A UN Refugee Agency reports climate change is a growing threat to people fleeing war: of the more than 120 million forcibly displaced worldwide, three-quarters live in countries heavily impacted by climate change. Closer to home, scientists find that spring is the fastest-warming season in the UK, largely down to climate change. As we look around, we long for the renewal and restoration of the planet.
Yet, there is much that we can do to reflect on what the Bible has to say. This Lent, I’ve been going through Operation Noah’s new Lenten course, ‘Where your treasure is’, which explores how we can use our money to tackle the climate crisis. The economy is often viewed as a topic that is separate from creation care. Yet, our relationship with money reflects our relationship with God and His world. As Billy Graham, the evangelist, states, “tell me what you think about money, and I will tell you what you think about God, for these two are closely related. A man’s heart is closer to his wallet than anything else.”
Our society’s relationship with the planet is linked to how we value, use, and sadly exploit God’s gifts given to us to steward. The course takes us through five-weeks of reflections and actions, considering, what the Bible says about money, the relationship between money and caring for God’s creation, using our money to love our neighbour and pursue climate justice, and how church investments can be a sign of prophetic action.
We are encouraged to walk in Jesus’ footsteps, who implores us: “do not store up treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, instead store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matt 6:19). Money is a topic that Jesus does not shy away from, discussing it in many of his parables. The Christian faith invites us to unmask the modern-day idol of money and recognise the ways in which our money can fuel the climate crisis. It is easy to slip into despair when we consider the magnitude of the climate crisis. Yet there is more power we have as individuals than we realise. Money is at the heart of how we care for creation, whether it be what we consume, where we invest or who we vote for. From sustainable consumption to ethical pensions, there are various ways we can act. A starting point is the ethical consumer website which gives a list of ideas.
In the Bible, Jesus tells us the most important commandments are to love God, and to love our neighbours. Tackling the climate crisis is vital to both – honouring God by protecting his creation and loving our global neighbours who are hit first and worst by the climate crisis. Through the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) we are shown that our neighbour can mean anyone, even an enemy (Luke 6:27). This is important to recognise as the climate crisis affects our global neighbours intragenerationally, across the world, as well as intergenerationally, across generations. This means our money has not only local implications but global implications. Our financial systems are currently locked into financing fossil fuels. Citizens around the world have the power to change this. This is why Operation Noah along with Just Money Movement and other partners is supporting the Big Bank Switch, inviting all UK bank account holders to make a pledge to switch to a greener bank, and join thousands of Christians taking action to care for God’s creation.
Finally, and perhaps most pertinently, churches can take prophetic action by considering church financing towards climate investments. The course reminds us “Christian hope is in a restored, redeemed and renewed heaven and earth” (Revelation 21:4). Through Jesus’ death on the cross, we can have hope that everything sin has broken and corrupted is being restored and reconciled to God. And what is more, we are called to share in this ministry of reconciliation(2 Corinthians 5:17). This is why the Green Investment Declaration, championed by Operation Noah and the Just Money Movement, invites churches to move beyond negative screening and consider how our investments actively fund climate solutions to create positive social and environmental impacts. The global Church collectively manages approximately $260 billion in financial assets according to an Oxford University and Saïd Business School report. Imagine the difference the church can play by investing in a way which accords to the values of God’s Kingdom. The six steps to green investment practically breaks this down, and is one of the many resources developed by Operation Noah to support churches on this journey.
Six steps to Green Investment – Green Investment Deceleration
One priority area is investments in church land which can impact both the climate and biodiversity crises. This is why Operation Noah is calling on UK Churches, which own approximately 1% of UK land, to be more transparent about the land they own as well as to scale up climate action to achieve net zero land emissions by 2030. There are many examples of churches already taking action on their land. In our recent webinar, ‘Growing Hope: Church Action for Sustainable Land Use’ , we had contributions from speakers like Revd Mike Saunders, whose parish church has planted 7,000 trees in partnership with local landowners and the Woodland Trust and Jaye Brighton, whose food Co-Op is leasing land from the Diocese of Truro.
While progress is being made, there is much more work to be done. The course has challenged me to evaluate my savings, and I would recommend churches and individuals to use this resource to reflect on actions they can take. As with all Kingdom work, the urgency remains for Christians to play a prophetic role in addressing the climate crisis. This year, Earth Day falls two days after Easter Sunday. This is an opportune time to reflect and live in light of the resurrection – what are you going to commit to?
Shilpita is an environmental economist and focuses on climate resilience. Originally from India, Shilpita grew up in Sri Lanka, Jordan and Thailand before moving to the UK. She holds a BA in Land Economy from the University of Cambridge and an MSc in Environmental Economics and Climate Change from the London School of Economics.
