Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen." (NKJV). In other words, it's being sure of what's hoped for and certain of what we can't see (NIV paraphrase). Now I'm not going on a biblical tyrade, this is just a thought that probably stems from too much time reading way into bibilical verses. My senior thesis is searching for a biblical basis for an environmental ethic, and what surprises me is how much this one verse can be tantamount to so many less-religious environmental beliefs.
Environmental ethics, and even the environmental movement in general, is rooted in the idea that one individual has the ability to make a difference--that the impact of an individual's choices can be felt on an almost worldwide scale. After all, why bother fighting for something if there is no belief that one's own voice or own action holds no power? In Matthew 17:20 Jesus says, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to that mountain, Move from here to there' and it will move," (NIV). It is the idea that a small amount can do great things, and it is the exact idea that the environmental movement grasps so tightly. Is this concrete evidence that Christianity has the best enviornmental ethic? By no means. What it does suggest though is that faith is not just a spiritual notion, but a lifestyle change. It is the basis for protests, civil disobedience, petitions, volunteerism and personal recycling efforts, in addition to whatever spiritual decisions are to be addressed. I do not think faith is given the credit it deserves; it is something that is not discussed to the degree it should be. Faith holds power, hope holds promise, and when added to passion, will create something unstoppable.
