Tim Nicholson, 42, says his beliefs on the environment are so strong they led to clashes with other senior staff at Grainger, one of the UK's biggest property companies. He said the chief executive, Rupert Dickinson, showed contempt for his concerns and once flew a member of staff to Ireland to deliver his BlackBerry, which he had left in London. In March, employment judge David Neath gave Nicholson permission to take the firm to a tribunal over his treatment. The company is challenging the ruling, arguing that environmental beliefs are not the same as religious or philosophical ones.
In his commentary on Isaiah 5, theologian Matthew Henry observes:
Here is a woe to those who set their hearts on the wealth of the world. Not that it is sinful for those who have a house and a field to purchase another; but the fault is, that they never know when they have enough. Covetousness is idolatry; and while many envy the prosperous, wretched man, the Lord denounces awful woes upon him. How applicable to many among us! God has many ways to empty the most populous cities. Those who set their hearts upon the world, will justly be disappointed. Here is woe to those who dote upon the pleasures and the delights of sense. The use of music is lawful; but when it draws away the heart from God, then it becomes a sin to us. God's judgments have seized them, but they will not disturb themselves in their pleasures. The judgments are declared. Let a man be ever so high, death will bring him low; ever so mean, death will bring him lower. The fruit of these judgments shall be, that God will be glorified as a God of power. Also, as a God that is holy; he shall be owned and declared to be so, in the righteous punishment of proud men.
There are many who rail against the Dickonsons of this world who in their wealth and spite would cause tons of needless pollution over a cell phone. But what of Nicholson? His is a humanist asceticism of sorts. He declares that his commitment to living a low-carbon life is "life-changing." But it is not. Henry is right. Both the "high" man and the "mean" man are both risking judgement when they fail to first glorify a Holy God.
More importantly, as more and more Christians take up the cause for creation care, the line between science and faith is beginning to blur. Christ is becoming a subject of debate within the Church, while environmentalism - particularly with respect to climate change - a surrender of devotion.
My friends, we must guard against this. Let's energetically apply our intellect to the challenge of understanding our Father's world, and our muscles to the work of stewarding it, and may our passion, faith and belief be in Christ alone. Else we will have no standing from which to reach out to the Nicholsons or Dickinsons of the world.
For God will be glorified, regardless.
