A Life of Abundance: Energy and Ethics

Conversations about energy often revolve around the concept of scarcity. But the truth is that God has given us energy sources in abundance. We may have a finite supply of some sources of energy like coal and gas, but sun, wind, and water are examples gifts from our Creator with the potential to generate power in perpetuity. Creation is brimming with energy, and a Christian perspective on energy involves acknowledging the abundance of God’s Creation and the call to care for Creation including our “neighbors.”

Energy is a gift from God, whether it takes the form of food that fuels our bodies, gasoline that fuels our cars, or electricity that lights our nights. God intends abundant life for all people, and energy is a critical part of that.

Unfortunately, we have not always lived out our call to be good stewards of energy. We waste energy in myriad ways. We fail to acknowledge that some forms of energy, like gas and oil, are finite. And, we fail to make energy available to everyone in order for them to meet basic needs. We also have not made good choices regarding how and where we get our energy. From extraction to production to transmission, the decisions we make about energy have consequences, sometimes devastating, on God’s Creation and on the health and well-being of our neighbors.