Is it still important to me if it costs me?

I received my Foxtel magazine today and in it was one of those letters starting with the words 'important changes'. That is code for 'you are about to be worse off'. In this case Foxtel have surveyed their customers and they have conveniently told Foxtel that they really don't want the magazine anymore. So, in an effort to protect the environment, they are no longer going to supply the magazine unless their clients ring up and say that they want to continue to receive it.

Now, excuse my cynicism, but companies are often passionate about the environment if they can see an opportunity to make money out of it. A few years ago Westpac also told me how passionate they were about the environment and suggested that I consider receiving my bank statements electronically rather than on paper. How noble of them to consider the environment in that way.

What do Foxtel and Westpac have in common? They both make money out of being passionate about the environment. Foxtel will save quite a bit of money by printing fewer full colour magazines and on postage and Westpac, I'm sure, has saved money by not printing out statements and mailing them. In both cases I have continued to read the letter looking for the sentence that says "We recognise that our company will save money and we are therefore going to reduce our fees. In fact, we are so passionate about the environment that we will halve our fees and take a financial hit in order to encourage our customers to join with us in protecting the environment." Of course, no such sentences ever appear in these letters.

It is rare to find businesses who are willing to take a financial hit in order to protect the environment. If it costs more they will pass the fee on. If they save money they hang onto it.

So, as I write this blog dripping with sarcasm and cynicism, I think of my faith. Do I only get passionate about it when I get something out of it? When there is a direct benefit to me? What about when it costs me? Because in Christianity, to quote a certain environmental campaigner, it is 'an inconvenient truth'. Christianity costs. And I need to be as passionate when it is going to cost me as when it brings me great benefits.