Front Page Article
"The Lenses of Reformation ESG"
by Dr. Patti Amsden
"The Lenses of Reformation ESG"
by Dr. Patti Amsden
The owner of any property has the right to discover and develop the property's God-appointed natural resources or grant permission for another to do so. People, lands, and nations have resources. While it may seem that natural resources are limited, God gives inspiration for innovation that can lead to more effective utilization of limited resources or the development of newly discovered resources. For example, before petroleum was discovered, whale blubber was widely used for lamp oil and in lubricating trains. Had God not inspired the discovery and use of petroleum, the whale resource would soon have become depleted to extinction. At the height of horse-drawn carriage travel it was predicted that in a certain number of years, the cities would be too deep in manure for travel. But before that could happen, the internal combustion engine was developed to power transportation. Market demand draws forth entrepreneurs and new inventions.
Reformation lens #1 – Those in business should make legitimate, free-will contracts that benefit both buyer and seller and that comply with existing regulations and responsible stewardship.
The government has the right to act when business endangers the common good or, more clearly, when the boundaries of another are in danger of being violated. This would include one party breaking a contract, danger of contaminating another’s property or person, and when the violation of other laws such as murder, theft and false witness are involved. The government has the right and responsibility to examine evidence and establish laws that prevent the contamination of a neighbor’s personal property or of a group of neighbors’ property. The government’s involvement is limited to that which breaches the boundaries of others. This could include biological or chemical contamination of air, water or soil, which endangers the common good (Leviticus 14:34-45), the physical use of property that does not belong to the business (Exodus 22:5), damage to the private property of others which is caused by the action or inaction during in the course of business (Deuteronomy 19:5-6). Concerning the environment, the civil realm is responsible to make a just determination of the contamination potential of a business. If it does not exist, then the government cannot create laws that prevent its practice.
Reformation lens #2 – Civil government has the duty to ensure the free exercise of biblically-defined personal liberties, promote the common good, and establish and enforce laws, which would include laws that regulate the environment regarding contaminants and safety.
Media provides checks and balances to the other institutions of society. Media serves the public interest as society’s eyes and ears in the manner of a watchdog. Truth-filled reporting holds accountable institutions and individuals who are supposed to be serving the public. Exposés serve to expose or reveal corruption, shine the light of truth upon deeds done in darkness, and aid in uprooting malfeasants. If Media forms a bond, league, or union with another institution, it forfeits its ability to be objective. Big business that spends large sums of money in advertising can threaten to withhold marketing money, or big government can threaten to damage Media by passage of certain kinds of legislation. Threats of these kinds can draw news outlets into unholy alliances. When Media loses its proper and independent alignment with other institutions in culture, the truth-telling role of Media is jeopardized
Reformation lens #3 – Because media has a powerful influence on people's perceptions of issues, it must investigate, verify, and disseminate factual and unbiased information in order to bring forth the truth.
As reformers, we must comprehend that environmentalists have a legitimate collective voice in discovering facts of possible harm to the planet or environment. Their resources are knowledge and information; their love of neighbor can be authentic; their reward should be to bring benefit to the earth. If they operate legitimately, entrepreneurs and investors might come to them for advice; but it sometimes appears that their agenda is not to honor their neighbor’s right to his or her private property but to damage the market for the proposed goal of saving the plant. Environmentalists should have a voice, but caution should be taken that their cause does not infringe upon free enterprise and the reward due to the businessman. The support given to the environmentalist by the media and the civil realms needs further scrutiny. Business, media, and the civil realm have each been given spheres of authority in which God requires them to operate. Media must report truth and government must protect private property. When truth is compromised for the sake of a cause, the media has failed in its assignment. When the interest of one party in litigation is weighed more heavily upon the scales of justice than the interest of the second party, the civil realm has failed in its assignment. Media must be aware that it has a sphere of responsibility and take caution not to manipulate the opinion of the public concerning the environment. Government must, likewise, be aware that it has a sphere of responsibility and take caution not to champion the cause of the environmentalist over the business sector.
Reformation lens #1 – Those in business should make legitimate, free-will contracts that benefit both buyer and seller and that comply with existing regulations and responsible stewardship.
The government has the right to act when business endangers the common good or, more clearly, when the boundaries of another are in danger of being violated. This would include one party breaking a contract, danger of contaminating another’s property or person, and when the violation of other laws such as murder, theft and false witness are involved. The government has the right and responsibility to examine evidence and establish laws that prevent the contamination of a neighbor’s personal property or of a group of neighbors’ property. The government’s involvement is limited to that which breaches the boundaries of others. This could include biological or chemical contamination of air, water or soil, which endangers the common good (Leviticus 14:34-45), the physical use of property that does not belong to the business (Exodus 22:5), damage to the private property of others which is caused by the action or inaction during in the course of business (Deuteronomy 19:5-6). Concerning the environment, the civil realm is responsible to make a just determination of the contamination potential of a business. If it does not exist, then the government cannot create laws that prevent its practice.
Reformation lens #2 – Civil government has the duty to ensure the free exercise of biblically-defined personal liberties, promote the common good, and establish and enforce laws, which would include laws that regulate the environment regarding contaminants and safety.
Media provides checks and balances to the other institutions of society. Media serves the public interest as society’s eyes and ears in the manner of a watchdog. Truth-filled reporting holds accountable institutions and individuals who are supposed to be serving the public. Exposés serve to expose or reveal corruption, shine the light of truth upon deeds done in darkness, and aid in uprooting malfeasants. If Media forms a bond, league, or union with another institution, it forfeits its ability to be objective. Big business that spends large sums of money in advertising can threaten to withhold marketing money, or big government can threaten to damage Media by passage of certain kinds of legislation. Threats of these kinds can draw news outlets into unholy alliances. When Media loses its proper and independent alignment with other institutions in culture, the truth-telling role of Media is jeopardized
Reformation lens #3 – Because media has a powerful influence on people's perceptions of issues, it must investigate, verify, and disseminate factual and unbiased information in order to bring forth the truth.
As reformers, we must comprehend that environmentalists have a legitimate collective voice in discovering facts of possible harm to the planet or environment. Their resources are knowledge and information; their love of neighbor can be authentic; their reward should be to bring benefit to the earth. If they operate legitimately, entrepreneurs and investors might come to them for advice; but it sometimes appears that their agenda is not to honor their neighbor’s right to his or her private property but to damage the market for the proposed goal of saving the plant. Environmentalists should have a voice, but caution should be taken that their cause does not infringe upon free enterprise and the reward due to the businessman. The support given to the environmentalist by the media and the civil realms needs further scrutiny. Business, media, and the civil realm have each been given spheres of authority in which God requires them to operate. Media must report truth and government must protect private property. When truth is compromised for the sake of a cause, the media has failed in its assignment. When the interest of one party in litigation is weighed more heavily upon the scales of justice than the interest of the second party, the civil realm has failed in its assignment. Media must be aware that it has a sphere of responsibility and take caution not to manipulate the opinion of the public concerning the environment. Government must, likewise, be aware that it has a sphere of responsibility and take caution not to champion the cause of the environmentalist over the business sector.
