Printable edition: Would John West Reject This Pulp Mill? [pdf 2140kb]

IS THIS THE PULP MILL JOHN WEST WOULD REJECT?

The proposed development by the Gunns Corporation of the Longreach (Bell Bay) Kraft Pulp Mill has been given “Project of State Significance” status by our State Government- and rightly so. At an estimated cost of $1,500,000,000 with a potential to inject a further $6,000,000,000 into the Tasmanian economy, this project has the potential to affect each Tasmanian in some way. It has also proven to be a very divisive issue. People vigorously disagree about the environmental impact, the economics, and the political integrity of both the project and process. We believe there is a need to consider this from one more perspective: a Christian perspective.

THE NEED FOR A “CHRISTIAN” RESPONSE

It is a misconception of the scope of Christianity’s concern to restrict it to the realms of “religious” matters only. The average reader of the New Testament will be surprised to discover how rarely Jesus Christ spoke about ‘religious’ matters and how, instead, He frequently spoke about God and His concern for every area of our lives- individually and corporately. Christ’s teachings encompassed: taxation, inheritances, health care, politics, social responsibility, entrepreneurialism, materialism, justice, the after-life, sexuality, agricultural practices, family relationships, and how to live in peace. To be a follower of Christ is to invite Him into every ‘compartment’ of our lives and to make His will known to all people (since this was His last command to His followers).

It is therefore wrong for the Christian to limit his Christianity to matters merely religious, since the One he professes to follow did not restrict His teaching to just “religion”. Indeed, the Christian is probably more obligated than most to prayerfully and thoughtfully formulate a Christ-honouring response to the issues we all face.

Thus, it is certainly appropriate to attempt a Christian response regarding the proposed Bell Bay (Longreach) bleached Kraft Pulp Mill.

DEVELOPING A “CHRISTIAN” RESPONSE

The careful reader will note that I have refrained from the audacity of claiming that this is “The” Christian response to this issue. Christians understand that we can each contribute to the Christian response using the perspective that comes with the gifts God has given us, the experience we have enjoyed, the learning we have earned, and the perspective our relationships afford us. It is my hope that this brief response will contribute to the thinking of others in this regard. A ‘Christian’ response encompasses the various perspectives that comprise the richness of the historic Christian thought. This includes Biblical, Theological, Ethical, Pastoral and Academic considerations.

I am reluctant to use the term “Christian” to describe anything other than a spiritually regenerated person. I much prefer the adjective “Biblical” as I think it far more aptly describes what we generally mean by “Christian”. Yet, I use the term “Christian”, understanding that the Bible is the highest authority on earth for the Christian and that each of the above mentioned perspectives which help to shape this response are derived from that starting point. This response has endeavoured to develop certain recommendations which recognises the scope of (its limitations), the historical warrant for, the objectiveof, and the Biblical considerations of what a “Christian” response should be. It will also include other considerations that Christians share with the broader community.

THE SCOPE OF A CHRISTIAN RESPONSE

The evaluation process for the proposed Pulp Mill has proven to be a very controversial matter. Eminently qualified members of the RPDC (Resource Planning and Development Commission) were hampered for various reasons in their attempts to scientifically assess this proposal. Environmental scientists serving as consultants to the RPDC were yet to make their final reports. In the meantime, Gunns have published on their website the favourable reports by similarly qualified specialist scientists regarding the Pulp Mill’s environmental impact.

This has led Gunns to boldly declare that their proposed Pulp Mill will be “the world’s greenest pulp mill” based presumably on these favourable scientific assessments.

Because the environmental science is so complex, and the combatants (those convinced the Pulp Mill will be environmentally safe based on their understanding of the science involved, and those convinced otherwise) are still debating the scientific data, it is not appropriate nor necessary, for a Christian response to encompass a detailed scientific analysis of this proposal.

While considering and drawing upon the science involved, a Christian response is not merely a different interpretation of the scientific data. The scientific analysis is just one component of the Christian’s evaluation of a proposal of this magnitude. The other factors impinge not just on the natural environment, but the social, moral, political and religious environments as well. It was on this understanding of how Christian commitment can affect all the arenas of life that great Christian statesmen like William Wilberforce (a Parliamentarian who reformed labour laws, introduced animal welfare legislation and co-founded the RSPCA), David Livingstone (who mapped central Africa), Martin Luther-King Jnr (who campaigned for equal rights for the Blacks of America), passionately sought to reform their societies.

THE HISTORICAL WARRANT

(THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN RESPONSES IN LAUNCESTON)

Our local newspaper, The Examiner, was founded by early Christian settlers who wanted a means to promote Christian values to the district. The principal founder was Rev. John West (1809-1873, pictured left) along with other Congregationalists James Aikenhead and Jonathon Waddell. West was an ordained Congregationalist minister who came to Launceston to pioneer a Congregational Church and discovered that God had a greater purpose for him. He used this newspaper to withstand and ‘examine’ what he considered to be issues that were incongruous with the teaching of Jesus Christ. Among his campaigns - his opposition to the attempt by the then Anglican Bishop of Tasmania to decree that the Church of England would be the “State Church” of Tasmania, but most prominently - his campaign against Tasmania being a Penal Colony. He is credited with leading the movement against British Convict Transportation to Van Diemen’s Land. His efforts culminated in the formation of the 'Australasian League for the Prevention of Transportation' in late 1851. His Christian commitment led him to also help found the Launceston City Mission to care for the poor of the city and even the Launceston Mechanics Institute.

Through his writings in the newspaper, West contributed much to the debate on political, educational, religious and cultural issues of the day. For example, in 1854 a series of sixteen articles on federation (which has since been described as the first scientific treatment of this topic in Australia) was published in The Sydney Morning Herald.

The same year John Fairfax, the owner and another Congregationalist, invited him to become the Editor of The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax had first met West in the early 1850s during the anti-transportation campaign and was impressed by his leadership in this campaign as well as his stance on many political and religious issues.
The Launceston Historical Society

Because of the Rev. John West’s significant contribution to the foundations of this Valley-City and his concern that local issues be addressed by Christians, we ask, “Is this the Pulp Mill John West would reject?”

A quick tour of the Launceston Museum and Art Gallery will impress the observer with just how involved the pioneer Christian Ministers of Launceston were in contributing a Christian response to the many issues (social, political, moral, commercial, educational) our Valley has faced since European settlement here. There is therefore some historical warrant for Christians to respond with a considered, thoughtful, caring response to any issue that affects the welfare of our valley-city. 

 

THE OBJECTIVE OF A CHRISTIAN RESPONSE

Authentic Christianity is not merely a matter of behaving religiously or even morally. It is the spiritual regeneration of the soul by the Spirit of Jesus Christ that converts a person. Those Christians who had a hand in shaping European culture saw that Christianity could not be imposed upon a society by legislation but that legislation of a civil government could hinder or promote the liberty of individuals to express their Christianity. This is the origin of the expression separation of Church and State.

For I do not allow men to make laws respecting religion and the worship of God…though I approve of civil government, which provides that the true religion which is contained in the law of God, be not violated, and polluted by public blasphemies, with impunity.
John Calvin, The Institutes of Christian Religion, Book IV, Chapt. 20

Christians worship, love and obey a God who cares for all people- not just Christians. As Christians, we should reflect this same attitude of concern for all people. Our objective in formulating a response to any issue confronting us is the welfare and betterment of us all, not just our own religious community. It is with the deepest conviction that Christians believe God’s Word gives guidelines, principles, boundaries that will not only benefit them, but all of society as well. It is with this in mind that we humbly remind our society that the very basis of Common Law is the Bible, and in particular, the Ten Commandments (Do not murder, lie, steal, etc.). We believe that society at large is made the better for keeping the Moral Law of God, as expressed in the Ten Commandments, as the standard for all laws.

The Pulp Mill proposal may not essentially be a “moral” issue, but it does encompass within its proposal and assessment process certain moral aspects.

Critics of this notion may well cry that we cannot legislate morality. I would like to quickly rebut the absurdity of this protest. Laws do indeed curb and fashion morality. What would happen to our society if we scrapped our laws against murder or theft? Chances are there would be an outbreak of murders and theft! These laws are an imposition of morality. Others might argue against allowing Christians to express a moral position on matters of civil importance by saying that legislation never changes anyone. To this we respond that even though we currently have good laws, like - Do not murder, there is still murder in our society. Laws must form the right standard for a society’s acceptable behaviour. Good laws, therefore, are necessarily idealistic because they define standards and acceptable limits of toleration. They are idealistic because we know that not everyone will always keep them.

The objective of a Christian response to any issue affecting our society is therefore the welfare and betterment of our society. This involves withstanding certain proposals and promoting others.

BIBLICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Then God blessed them (Adam & Eve), and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Genesis 1:28

The depth of a Christian response to an issue should involve a consideration of both sides of the issue’s debate. Based on God’s original commission to mankind, to subdue all the earth, Christians are pro-development. We are all the beneficiaries of past developments. It is in and because of development that man finds the dignity of work and creativity. God never intended mankind to be subject to nature, but rather that nature would be subject mankind. As Christians we can enjoy nature without worshiping it. We recognise that even the Garden of Eden where Adam was placed was not be left “natural”, for God commanded Adam to “dress” it. This involved removing vegetation, replacing vegetation, and adjusting vegetation. We hold no romantic infatuation with “nature” simply because it is “natural”.

Yet this commission is not a licence to abuse the earth for selfish purposes. God required that the earth be worked and rested from mankind’s activities. When God addressed Israel in the Old Testament, He linked their moral condition to the earth’s environmental conditions.

If you do [wrong], the LORD’s anger will burn against you. He will shut up the sky and hold back the rain, and your harvests will fail…
Deuteronomy 11:17a New Living Translation

And if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you.
Leviticus 18:28 NIV

It is incompatible with Christianity to destroy the earth we are commanded and commissioned by God to steward. And this should be the essence of any development: that it is a stewarding (good and right management) of the earth and its (potential) resources. We recognise then that opposing proponents from the various conservation groups and commercial stakeholders, each can justify their position as the “Christian” position. But to my knowledge, neither group has formally approached the Church of Tamar Valley to share its perspective and provide what might rightfully be regarded as a considered Christian position.

The criteria for determining the Biblical teaching and principles on a matter includes-

• Does the Old Testament specifically teach on the matter?
• Does the New Testament specifically teach on the matter?
• Can we surmise from the teachings of Christ any principle upon which we might apply to the issue before us?
• Are there didactic principles within the contents of Scripture that might be applied to the issue before us?

It is on the basis of these four points for developing a Christian response - Biblically - that I begin to formulate a response to this issue. I begin by briefly examining the Old Testament (that part of the Bible written before Jesus Christ) and then the New Testament (written since the time of Jesus Christ). This is because the Old Testament was written largely to one nation (Israel) in which the modern reader must sift its contents through the ‘grid’ of the New Testament to find those principles applicable for today. Where the New Testament is silent on a matter an Old Testament edict is not binding today.

Continue...[Part 2]

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