forms, two basic related causes stand out in my mind: selfishness and disrespect. The selfish man pollutes as does the man who dis respects Cod and His creation. It is selfishness that causes industrial waste to be dumped into a river by a manufacturer contributing to the auto industry. But it may not be just the selfish owners or stock holders who are protecting profits. The selfish purchaser of the car may demand the basic car and a dozen luxury items all at a reason able price, and he may be unwill ing to settle for a price structure that may rule in favor of an unpol luted river instead of luxury op tions. Here in California we have learned that to many the extra cost and poorer performance of auto mobile anti-pollution devices are harder to take than smog. Many Southern Californians would rather die in style in smog than live in simplicity in fresh air. Selfishness and disrespect for both nature and others leads us to dump our trash wherever it is con venient. On January 1st of this year, the City of Pasadena spent thou sands of dollars in the waking hours of the New Year cleaning up tons of rubbish left by parade on lookers. Billboards clutter scenic landscapes because men desire profit more than they respect the rights of others to enjoy beauty. God's creation — man included — are mere elements to be used and exploited by the selfish and dis respectful manipulator. Francis Schaeffer, in Pollution and the Death of Man, the Chris tian View of Ecology, sharply fo cuses the problem when he writes: "Science today treats man as less than man, and nature as less than
nature. And the reason for this is that modern science has the wrong sense of origin, and having the wrong sense of origin it has no cat egory sufficient to treat nature as nature any more than it has to treat man as man." I would argue, however, that in the broader scope in which I have set pollution, it is not science that permits the defilement of both us and our environment, it is any seg ment of society that lives for self. Advertising that plays up greed, sex, and self-gratification is treat ing man as an object to be ex ploited for profit. The producer of pornography, the owner of a bar that features nude entertainers, and the entertainer that specializes in off-color material all have found that financial success is possible if you are willing to stoop low enough. Selfishness for profits and a lack of respect for their fellow- man characterize such people. Just as water and air can be defiled and limited in serving its highest func tions, so can man be limited by the polluters of our age who are bent on exploitation for profit. The Christian must not only be doubly on guard to protect his spiritual sanity, he should and must live differently. As the salt of the earth, he can show the way to both a better physical environment by his respect for Cod's creation and a pure and productive life through a committed walk with our Savior.
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