A Green God

Tonight Bill Moyers will present a special called "Is God Green?".  The PBS website says that the show will explain the new "holy war" occuring within Christianity between those evangelicals who are arguing for greater attention to stewardship of creation and those--mostly staunch Bush supporters--who "adamantly support the Bush administration in downplaying the threat of global warming and other environmental perils." 

In addition to offering some more Kingdom observations that I have been working through at church, I would like to jump back into the blogging fray with some observations after I watch the show tonight.

In the meantime, can I just register a giant "SHEESH" at the use of the term "Holy war"? 

While there are no doubt, huge differences of opinions about global warming, large amounts of distrust on what has mostly been seen as a "liberal" issue, and more sarcasm than we should ever reveal about Al Gore (and Bill Moyers, for that matter), can we Christians at least begin with an acknowledgement that caring for the earth is part of the clear mandate God gave humanity? See Genesis chapter 1:26-28

While we certainly can benefit from good, healthy, honest debate on how to carry out the command of God to be stewards of the earth, need it become a "political hotbutton" let alone a dividing line, (and God forbid--a "war")

Two of my friends at church who are in marketing heard me talk about my convictions that Christians have been neglecting our responsibilities toward the earth and said to me, "Tod, the environment has a 'branding' problem with evangelicals. It has become 'branded' as a liberal issue and now people can't hear you talk about it without thinking that you are going to make it a political issue."

Granted.  So, let's see what we can do about "un-branding" it, lowering our weapons and considering again what our responsibility toward God's earth should be?  And let's make no mistake: the world is watching us. HOW we go about this discussion will greatly affect our witness to a world that is already tuning us out.

For those of you who'd like to read more thoughts from pastor who drives both a Prius and a 4WD SUV--one to preserve the environment, another to enjoy the environment--I point you to my earlier posts.

I also want to offer some observations along the way about how our MIS-reading of the Jesus' statements about the end times is a huge part of the problem.

Comments

[John Schroeder (Blogotional)]

Tod:

IMHO, too late for this - it is already heavily politicized, reason left the building a long time ago.

[Sheryl France-Moran]

I agree that it really is sad how politicized the "environmental" issue has become. My grandmother, who lived to nearly 90, was very conservative both politically and in her interpretation of Scripture. She and I didn't always see eye to eye on various issues, but the woman was an environmentalist in the sense that she took good care of the part of the earth God had given her. She was a farmer's wife in the Central San Juaquin Valley most of her life. She conserved water, recycled everything by reusing it or not purchasing items packaged in bags, boxes and more bags, etc. I wondered how much of her choices were based on her understanding of a Christian's responsibility to care for the earth and her depression-era childhood. I would be interested in hearing how others who lived through the depression view this issue.

Sheryl

[JohnH]

I, for one, am a little tired of statements that the problem is misreading Jesus' statement. That's wrong, shallow and unfair. I read things that way (in an apocalyptic sense), but I wouldn't say that trashing the environment is rampant among pre-tribs or dispensationalists. They're a pretty small group and have no real political or economic power. Do you think they are setting governmental policy? LOL.

Pursue what you want on the basis of the strength of your arguments and stop bashing the people whose eschatology differs from you. It's a tired argument and lacks substance (OK, I'll give you james Watt, but that was a generation ago).

[societyvs]

I watched the Moyer special and I really liked what was being said by some Evangelicals and their duty to the environment. I applaude their stands for doing the right thing over doing the political thing.

I was somewhat appalled at the attitude that the one representative gave for Evangelicalism, a 'wait and see approach'. He was quick to dismiss the findings of many scientists on 'global warming' and even had Exxon backing the endeavor (that seems fishy). It's such a mistake not to care about the environment, I mean there was proof in the show a community was suffering pollution from a coal-mining company in Virginia...yet if there's money to be made that's more important...these Evangelicals better wake up an drink the pepto with polluted water and then try backing their position.

[Don Bosch]

It's just good stewardship, folks. It's also a great ministry outreach, another method of missions, and a way to let God know how much you appreciate what He hath made.

Christian ecology is just hitting its stride, as the Holy Spirit uses the Church to transform the discussion on the environment into a dialogue about saved people caring for people and creation.

Drop by the Evangelical Ecologist when you get time.

Grace and peace,
Don Bosch
evaneco.com

[Don Bosch]

Would also recommend "Saving God's Green Earth" by Vineyard pastor Tri Robinson of Boise, ID. Great read, lots of practical advice for congregations.