My stock response to this is that:
a) motoring is actually still historically cheap compared to incomes so we should spend more time thinking about how fortunate we are instead of moaning
b) increasing fuel costs is probably the only thing that will make us burn less fuel and, even if you're broadly skeptical about global warming (which I'm not), that's certainly a good thing
But another blog post a friend was telling me about the other day made me realise there's a deeper issue here. It was from a Christian worker in the area of China affected by their terrible earthquake asking people to pray because they can't sleep well due to all the aftershocks in the building they've fled to because their home is unsafe.
Maybe in an absolute sense it's not wrong to pray for fuel prices to come down - our heavenly Father is concerned for all our needs. But I have to say I do think it's wrong to Christians to pray about petrol prices if:
a) the reason I ask for it is so my life can be more convenient and I can spend more money on other stuff for me
b) praying for this, and other me centred concerns - displaces prayers that display love for God and my neighbour
Perhaps we should pray that petrol prices go up to curb our relentless destruction of God's world but that giving to missions also goes up so that more and more Christians can afford all the costs (including fuel) of taking the good news about Jesus round the world?
3 comments:
"increasing fuel costs is probably the only thing that will make us burn less fuel and, even if you're broadly skeptical about global warming (which I'm not), that's certainly a good thing"
Given that the UK is responsible for only 2% of worldwide carbon dioxide emissions (Wikipedia), I don't think there is much that we can do to prevent global warming. Even if we stopped all greenhouse gas emissions, if this does not happen worldwide, global warming could still occur.
However, many of the potential harmful effects of global warming could be managed, and charitable giving could be one way to do this. For example, if changed weather patterns causes drought, charities can help.
Charitable giving may decrease in difficult economic times
Higher petrol prices may do little or nothing to prevent global warming, but may make life more difficult, and therefore reduce people's willingness to help those most in need.
Good point Ben. Though of course the current increase in fuel prices is because of increased oil prices for the whole world - which accounts for 100% of CO2 emissions.
Also given that charitable giving as a percentage of incomes in the US and UK has remained broadly stable since the 1950s and is highest (relatively) amongst the poorest people in society I'd be very sceptical of a claim that economic hardship will result in decreased giving. It's the sort of stories that charities circulate regularly when times are hard - curiously ones that say the opposite are circulated when times are good! Which means, I think, that it is an attitude of the heart not economic circumstances that determines giving.
One of several reasons why oil prices are rising is increased consumption, particularly in places like India and China. Presumably, the price has not yet risen to a level which would greatly reduce demand worldwide.
Other reasons for price increases are political tensions and a weak US Dollar. I think political reasons are a good reason for countries to not be too dependent on a consistent supply of oil.
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