If you haven’t gotten the memo…
It is really “hip” to be “green.” To be “green,” for the purposes of this blog entry, is to be environmentally sound or beneficial. There are a million ways that this very fashionable word can be defined, so I want to make sure that I limit the definition. We also need to do that with our revered term “Siesta.” Mom, can you do that? I know you’re hurting for things to do. Now back to the point. Being green is hip. So hip, in fact, that organic produce and spaceship looking automobiles have become the next best thing since white high-top Reeboks and leg-warmers in the 80’s.
These days I never feel cooler than when I walk into “Whole Foods” with my reusable bag made from 80% post-consumer waste. My fellow organic shoppers and I gaze in dismay as “the others” walk out of the store with several brown paper bags that they will undoubtedly throw away after just one use. Gasp.
And as I make my way out of Whole Foods, I sneak away quickly so that none of the other eco-friendly shoppers can see me get into my big SUV with a Texas license plate. I have to be careful exiting the parking-lot, so as not to run over their three-foot scooters. I then make my way back to my apartment, and I sense freedom. I am sure that none of them can see me anymore. I approach my front door, set down my 80% post-consumer waste bag, and I do the following things: 1) I flip on almost every light switch in the house. 2) I drink a bottled water to refresh me from my hard work. 3) I crank up the air-conditioner full-blast. 4) I throw the bottled water in the trash, without even thinking about recycling. 5) I throw away all of the little plastic bags that the fresh produce comes in because I just want the mess out of the kitchen. 6) I clean up everything with paper towels. The really thick kind (only Viva brand). 7) I take a second shower for the day, because I feel gross. 8) I throw a load of two towels in the washing machine and each towel has only been used once.
The dead-honest truth is that after I get my approval-fill for the day at the local Whole Foods, I go right back to my over-consumptive ways. I can only think of one word for this: HYPOCRISY. Big time. Though my husband does not know about my self-righteous and childish behavior at Whole-Foods, he told me a few weeks ago, semi-lovingly, that my answer to most everything around the house is: “just throw it away.” Ouch. That hurts. And the worst thing about it is, it’s true.
Well, the Lord has really been confronting me not only about my wastefulness but also my apathy about taking care of the world I live in. I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised that when I walked into church on Sunday morning the title of the sermon was “God is Green.” I will say honestly that the title “God is Green” sort of creeps me out. There is something about this blanket statement “God is Green” that I don’t feel comfortable with. I don’t really want to equate anything with the person of God that can be interpreted as a peppy political agenda. It seems like an easy way to claim and market that God is on board with our current passion. I thought to myself, “Perhaps my semantic disagreement with the sermon title can help me be cynical enough not to receive this holy chastening I am about to get…I mean, good grief, my husband has already left me limp.” The problem is that not liking the sermon title did not rid me of the responsibility to listen to the pastor’s words. One thing I always want to be willing to do is to approach the Bible with an open and willing heart, ready to change any actions that are incongruent with what the text says. And I’ve got to admit, this preacher kept his finger in the biblical text, and presented a clear and timely word for Christians to be better and more informed stewards of the earth. Well, conviction came, even in spite of a catchy sermon title. I even went home that Sunday and did some more research about what the Bible says about the relationship between the people of God and the environment.
Here are my top three reasons for wanting to get more informed about how I can do my part. I know there are a million reasons, but these are simply the ones that are most significant to me:
1. Theologically, taking care of the earth is significant because creation is one of the ways that God reveals himself to mankind. The preacher on Sunday equated damaging or destroying the earth to ripping a page of the Bible. His point is this: God reveals himself in creation (Psalm 19), so when a person is a poor steward or caretaker of the earth, he or she suppresses God’s revelation in creation. I thought this was an interesting comparison. Obviously, God’s general revelation in creation is not salvific, so it is not exactly the same as tearing a page out of Scripture, but he certainly has a point. Since people look at the wonders of the earth and often see the beauty of God, not taking care of it is simply foolish. Since God’s revelation through the creation is a sort of apologetic to all of humankind, we need to be careful not to suppress its witness.
2. In the creation account in Genesis, God gives man dominion over the earth. He says, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness, and let them rule over…all the earth, and over every creeping thing” (1:26). He then takes Adam into the garden “to cultivate it and to keep it” (2:15). Some have interpreted this sort of dominion language as some sort of beastly mastery over the earth. This is a blatant misinterpretation of the text. As the preacher said on Sunday, “We do not beat the earth into submission.” As Philip Hughes says, “God, in short, gave man the world to master, but to master to the glory of the Creator, by whom man himself, to be truly human, must first be mastered” (Philip Hughes, The True Image: The Origin and Destiny of Man in Christ). The earth remains God’s earth, and we are simply stewards over it. A very important part of our function as human beings then is to carefully rule over the earth as the Lord God would see fit. Stewardship in general is a very significant theme throughout Scripture, especially in the gospels, and should be applied wholistically to each of our lives (see Matthew 25).
3. Christians have been known to argue that since the earth is just going to burn up in the end-times, our efforts to save it are futile. This is not only a very negative application of eschatology, but it is a good example of how our theology affects our behavior. My very favorite professor Dr. Douglas J. Moo has briefly discussed this sort of attitude in an article called “Nature in the New Creation: New Testament Eschatology and the Environment” that was published in Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 49 (2006) 449-88. Dr. Moo is in my humble opinion in the very top tier of New Testament evangelical scholars. His point here is that apathetically thinking “the earth is just going to burn up anyway” flies in the face of the “biblical mandate for Christians to be involved in meeting the needs of the world in which we now life”. As Dr. Moo remarks, “I may believe that the body I now have is destined for radical transformation; but I am not for that reason unconcerned about what I eat or how much I exercise…To be sure, our efforts must always be tempered by the realization that it is finally God himself, in the future act of sovereign power, who will transform creation. And we encounter here the positive side of a robust eschatology. Christians must avoid the humanistic ‘Green utopianism’ that characterizes much of the environmental movement. We will not by our own efforts end the ‘groaning’ of the earth. But this realism about our ultimate success should not deter our enthusiasm to be involved in working toward those ends that God will finally secure through his own sovereign intervention.”
So there they are, the top three arguments that beckon me to change my ways, even if it is inconvenient. In case you haven’t noticed, this blog is RANDOM. In many ways, this blog is a reflection of what it is like sitting at the Moore-Jones-Fitzpatrick family dinner table. RANDOM. The conversation goes from the intense to the absurd, the devastating to the triumphant, and the controversial to the mundane, all in record time. Oh and if you get this memo before we run onto the next random subject… don’t just jump on the eco-friendly bandwagon because it’s cool or trendy, but please don’t rebelliously avoid it for the very same reasons. At the end of the day, do it because as Christians we should be at the forefront of those who care for God’s earth. Perhaps acting as good stewards and taking excellent care of this earth for God in the here and now will somehow prepare us for a time when we will reign along with God in the new creation (see Revelation 5:10; 20:6; 22:5). So, if you are like me, a complete dummy when it comes to eco-friendly consumption, let’s take it upon ourselves to learn a little more about caring for God’s earth. I think I’ll start by trying to figure out where the closest recycling center is.
I’m all for being culturally relevant and not wasteful, but I’ve got to say I am a HUGE skeptic about all this global warming stuff. There are more scientists who refute the “facts” of many of the people in the news. For some reason, I have a real “check in my Spirit” about this issue – it almost seems like a religion to some folks. That being said, I don’t want to be wasteful of anything as the Lord does call us to be stewards of all He has given us. Anyway, interesting topic, Melissa!
Blessings to all,
Gretchen in Thousand Oaks, CA
Melissa –
I have for a long time felt many of the convictions you expressed, but did not have it in written form. Thank you for so eloquently and thoughtfully expressing your convictions on the matter.
Here are some ideas from our house that are little things we do….
*We have recycled for years.
*I’ve purchased my reusable bags, but like other commenters, fail to always take them inside with me.
*I cloth diapered both of my children and used disposable diapers only sparingly.
*I use special.. ahem… feminine products.
*I have always used cloth napkins at my table and seldom use paper products. (not only is it eco friendly, it looks nicer with one of those fabulous meals you cook!)
2 comments I had to laugh at….
Hiker Mama and her tip for the hot flash crowd… 🙂
Elizabeth Smillie – God is green = Kermit the Frog ?!? ROTFL!
-Donna (TX)
Wow Melissa that is an awesome point of view. Funny thing is that everytime I go into a Rouse’s that’s our local Lousiana store. I keep seeing the green bags for 99 cents . I brush it off cause we get paid every two weeks and I got four kids so my grocery bill is about five hundred (more than that since it’s the summer) .I’m thinking oh well just throw the plastic in the garbage. I got my ten year old that we went to this recyling place and learned about the earth and how if we don’t take care of it , it will be gone. I guess you can say I’m convicted.
Now I just have to get Hubby aboard cause the kids are willing to do it. I’m just not doing the compost thingy with the worms too many dogs they’ll be in it. We call them the four legged vacum cleaners lol!
RockytopMom I totally agree with your point about saving the unborn. I too had talked to several young women outside of a pregnacy clinic. I’ve even showed pictures of how God took care of me and my children because I choose to do the right thing and didn’t give in to what the world said. My point being yes people make mistakes but if you choose to do the right thing by having that child because you never know how the Lord will use that child. The Lord can change any situation around for His glory. Please pray for my Niece she is pregnant and the Father doesn’t want anything to do with her or the baby and my heart is broken ,but by the grace of God she is keeping the baby and My Sister is going to help Her.
God Bless,
Susan
Melissa, wise words. As the mom of two children ages 6 and 8, we have been teaching them to take care of the world God is allowing us to steward. A few easy tips bless us in being good to the earth and good to ourselves.
Don’t buy processed, pre-packaged foods. They generate lots of trash (i.e. Lunchables, TV dinners, etc.) and are bad for the body. We were taught by a Christian nutritionist not to buy ingredients with words that look like they belong in a chemistry class rather than a grocery store. She also talked about the adverse impact that preservatives and chemicals and steroids have on our bodies. It is causing the on-set of early puberty in girls and boys. And many researches believe these things are partly responsible for the increase in cancer.
Okay, enough of my soapbox. But the word is to shop the perimeter of the grocery stores (fresh foods, fruits, veggies, meat and do frozen, not canned veggies). Avoid the center aisles where processed foods live. It is hard changing our diet (I love some of the recipes loaded with ‘preserved’ stuff, but serve them only occasionally), but we all feel better. This shopping and eating is good for the body, the budget, and the earth. Remember, a huge cost of the processed foods is the packaging!
Thanks for bringing up such a challenging topic. May all we do be for His glory.
Jenny
Interesting post, Melissa! I recently did an online “energy footprint” survey with some kids in a classroom. We discovered that if everyone lived like we live, it would take 4.5 planet Earths to sustain us!!!! If we all made one major change to get back to the one planet we have, it would NOT be about SUVs or trash or house sizes, or all the obvious things. If we all bought and ate ONLY locally grown food, we would have plenty of energy to sustain all people on one Earth. Wow! I guess importing bananas, olive oil, fish, (NOOOO! not, COFFEE!), and all the other wonderful foods we enjoy, all across the world, is costing a big fortune in natural resources.
so I have to admit this makes nerves twitch for me, it is NOT that I disagree with a word you said, only the fact that ‘Green’ is faddish and not a result of us wanting to do what is right because we love the God that created the earth we live in. It is a result of media and commercialism beating down the doors of our vehicles as we pass by the smart car and the sensible woman who probably saves her zip lock bags (okay…not trying to be rude). Recycling and being conscious of our surroundings has to come about as a result of our wanting to honor God in His creation and not because we see it fit to jump on the band wagon. I live in Denver and not so far from tree hugging boulder (sorry boulderites) where it is strictly forbidden to own a dog, but you can be its caretaker. So how far do we take it? Be responsible? Yes! Honor God in our endeavors to conserve? Yes! Consume ourselves with changing our behavior and habits to the point where we lose focus of the reason why? Well of course no. I agree with Rockytopmom when she states so many of us are willing to do the green thing, but we neglect the very life behind the earth we are trying to save. So where is the balance? I will keep pondering this, and conserving to the best of my abilities, but I HAVE to admit…I don’t eat leftovers…so if I need professional help on that one I guess I’ll find out about hypnosis :o) love your outlook Melissa and thank you!
Melissa,
Thanks for doing the research and being willing to sit with the discomfort of the conviction. I’ve often thought God must have something to say about this “being green” concept – and certainly stewardship had come to mind – but it always seems something else is more pressing on my list to learn about, and I often ignore opportunities to be a good steward if it causes me an inconvenience. It becomes much tougher to ignore when you’re looking at His commands and callings in black and white. I particuarly liked your 1st point of helping to preserve God’s general revelation of Himself, because then, changing my habits: 1. becomes an opportunity to be a spiritual blessing to those who will enjoy His creation after me, 2. allows my new behavior an act of worship before the Creator, and 3. provides opportunities to share my awe and appreciation for the Creator with those who may not know his name – Jesus.
Thanks for that perspective changing blessing! Elizabeth, Alexandria, VA
Im so in agreement with you!
I heard a story years ago and it was told by Bill Gothard, a wonderful man of God. He said you you could take everyone in the world line them up side by side and put then all in the state of Florida, and there would be the rest of the world. Also, the ocean is yet to be tapped for it’s other many food resources besides fish and the like. Now that was told about 27 years ago. I am sure now you would need another state to fill up the population but it made me think that there is plenty of room in this world and plenty of resources out there yet to be had and we get stuck in a limited routine. God could change some of the desserts into lush green for people to live. Some places only the rich and famous go could be handed over to the not so rich and famous hard working people to populate. The sinful selfishness of man takes away the land and the resources.
Allison
I could swear you and my husband have been chatting! I am the ORIGINAL “thrower!” I do have those green bags…now I see “having” them isn’t enough… I should try “using” them!! ha ha
Thanks, always love reading your words girl!
Sasha in Washington
Maybe I can start by remembering to bring one or more of the FOUR reusable bags I already keep stashed in the back of my car into the store in the first place! They’re not doing much good just riding around with me in the car. Thanks for nudging me one step further along in this process that is already near and dear to my heart.
Good word, Melissa. Living in an area where natural gas drilling and massive clearing of the land for more and more development threatens to take over every square inch of undeveloped green space, I have become very concerned about taking care of creation. I’m all for necessary development, but I fear that those who look at the land and see lots of (green) dollars are robbing all of us of some of the beauty and reflections of His glory God put here on earth. It makes me sad.
Thanks for this reminder of our role as stewards of this beautiful place we call home for now.
Lisa
It was so like God just this morning to have me to confess to my two sisters in Christ this very same thing you speak of! One of them sent me this blog after that! (His confirmation is always fun isn’t it?!)
I too have had apathy and my own laziness. Yet I live in a somewhat liberal college community and the message I am getting Melissa is much the same. I also know we can use (after getting some knowledge which is next for me too) this whole “go green” thing to preach the gospel. Thanks for doing just that. I am being led this way too. I pray we can take it to non-churched areas (in this town, college age and/or liberals)and educate them on what God has to expand on this “Go Green” movement. He’s giving me some ideas and I am excited, and a little overwhelmed! Must be him!
To me it’s like this “Ship’s goin’ down” and Go Green is the world’s response!
I say GO GOD!!!!!!!
Go Melissa!! God bless you:)
~Cherie Wilson, Indiana
Melissa – As I read through your piece, it really hit home. I shall be buying the reusable bags and will be sure that my laundry loads are FULL. Oh, and I will also be looking for the nearest recycling center. Lots of thought always goes into this process, but very little action. You have motivated me! Thank You! We drink lots and lots of bottled water in our household!
Nancy
Melissa, thank you for your Biblical look at “being green”. And people say a book written 2000 years ago is not applicable to today! God never changes does he?
I will muse over your points and see where I can do more.
Hmm…I’ve hesitated in writing, but feel I must. Much of the so-called ‘green earth’ movement is rooted in marxist and communist theology-both God-less in “doctrine”. The earth has become their god and is exalted, worshipped and protected. Romans cautions us that a time would come where the creation was worshipped and not the Creator! (Romans 1:25 They exchanged God’s truth for a lie and worshipped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.)
The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. We did not create it obviously, and we cannot destroy it.
I honestly can’t say I agree with the preacher’s assertion that not taking care of the earth is the equivalent of tearng a page from the Bible. I think that is making it up as you go along. God’s Word is pure, perfect, undefiled–this world is not and it’s because of sin–not because I’m throwing away plastic water bottles instead of recycling them.
I could write more, but really don’t see the point in getting into an intense debate over this subject on this blog. I really just wanted to urge each one to use discernment in this area. Again, I refer you to the Romans passage.
In love,
iamHis
I think that one of the pros of the recession is that we stop and think about how much we drive and how much water we use and on and on. To save money we cut back on consumption which helps the earth.
I remember 25 years ago there was a push with reusable grocery bags. I bought 4 or 5 and used them for months, maybe years and then I must have gotten tired because I quit. But I’m back to it and glad of it.
I really liked your well thought out essay. I have always felt that we as Christians should be taking the care of the earth more personally than those who don’t know its Creator.
Thanks for getting us thinking and acting!
RANDOM is a good thing. The level of interest stays high because there is always something new and fresh to think about.
LOVE IT. Don’t change a thing.
Yes, Amanda, I am with you on the Viva paper towels. They smell funny.
Melissa, a friend referred me to your blog today because she knew your comments would be echoed in my heart. I applaud rockytop mom’s comment and agree that the green movement can easily become a source of commercialism and consumerism that can further cloud our judgement from what really deserves our attention. Our family hopes to spread the word in a project next year about how our faith can bring us together to care both for our environment, and consume less so that we may give and love more! So glad she sent me to your blog, thank you!Kim
YAY! Thank you for this post. I talk with my friends all the time about why we should be good examples of good stewardship, not because it’s all of the sudden popular but because it’s what we should have been doing all along!
Great post. Thanks!
Jaime
Ouch! I didn’t move my toes fast enough! 🙂 We are trying to do better…but it’s a difficult lifestyle to change!
Great post, Melissa. I have to agree with those who mentioned that, to many, “green” is a religion of its and that’s primarily why I’ve stayed off that bandwagon (I would be the one w/o the reuseable bag rolling my eyes at those who use them – until today; Pride will sneak up on you in the strangest ways! )I think I maintain a pretty good balance (keep the AC way up in the day, reuse my plastic bags when dog walking, plan my errands, etc..). But I have to admit I was seriously convicted about my attitude by those who posted about living in/visiting 3rd-world countries. They have so little – compared to our excess. This really was thought provoking – thanks – keep ’em coming!
p.s. had the Whole Foods discussion with a friend at the Deeper Still conference – she said they regularly donate to Planned Parenthood – anybody know this for a fact?
Four and a half years ago I moved from Alaska to western Washington. I went from a state that laughs at being green to a state that takes it very, very seriously. I came into WA with an open mind and I’ll admit, I was convicted. I have never been able to find any argument in scripture that teaches us it’s okay to decimate the earth, let alone any species of animals. We weren’t put here to use everything up! Adam was God’s steward – to take care of His beautiful creation.
Don’t get me wrong. I know some branches of environmentalism are nothing more that a godless religion. But I believe there is room for balance on both sides.
Thanks for your inspiring blog – I agree wholeheartedly with you!
My daughter going to grad school and is an environmental science major, and wrote an article for their paper about how to do a lot of little things to go green. Interesting read if you get a chance. It’s called a latte to think about Christians especially have an obligation to be good stewards of our land. Love your writing, Melissa. It always calls me to higher living in Him. Blessings to you, Annette
Whooo Hoooo!! I’m so excited to see the body of Christ responding with such openness and perspective to a call to be more environmentally friendly. Thank you for articulating the Christian “tree hugger” argument so well. It is certainly important to keep perspective (people & their souls are so much more important) but it is also important not to use that as an excuse for neglecting our stewardship responsibilities to this planet. Again, well said Melissa!
Wow, this gives me something to think about for sure now. I haven’t thought it going green this way, but it makes sense. I feel more at ease with going green from a biblical standpoint, rather than a moneymaking, hyped up on half truths political stands!
Thank you for getting on your Soapbox!! 😀
A really great place to start http://www.greendimes.com...
This service will help eliminate your junk-mail and plant trees on your behalf! Fabulous.
You are so very wise, Melissa! Thanks for sharing this. I too, need to be more conscience of my everyday tasks and take better care of the earth we have been given to live on! 🙂
Lindsee
Francis Schaeffer wrote a little book called “Pollution and the Death of Man …. this post reminded me of it.
I was taught by a very loving grandmother a very balanced view of taking care of the earth and being mindful of our use of things. But I am so not getting on board this trendy “green” movement of today’s environmentalists because the view they have is a result of having taken God out of the discourse. There is a tendency to scare our children into thinking “tick,tick, tick” the world is going to explode. As we know, Our Sovereign God holds it all perfectly in place, and it won’t last one minute longer than He allows no matter what we do. Christians can be at the forefront of doing good for the planet under the heading of the stewardship we should always employ, but the environmentalist movement of today is not really about the environment…it is specifically about something else.
Melissa,
Very insightful and convicting for me as I have had that very same attitude…minus the reuseable bags. I was in whole foods this week in Houston and left with one of my boys(one of three), carried, my two paper sacks to the suburban, hopped in and took a big swig of my bottled water.
I needed this view point and need to rethink and renew my mind on this.
Thanks
KC
Thanks Melissa for “greening” me up biblically. I am a non-consistent recycler…sometimes I do and sometimes I don’t, but after reading your blog, I AM going to be more aware of how I handle God’s earth and His richest blessing.
Thanks for opening my eyes a little wider.
Betty Shoaf
Lexington NC
Dear Beth, Melissa & Amanda, This comment is more in reference to Beth’s post about the ladies of this world that “just need to stop.” I completly understand and identify with that train of thought. A significant question we might want to look at is “why” they are acting the way they are. Deep sigh… why I have acted in ways I am NOT proud of on occasion. What need am I trying to meet? I believe it is a lack of connection to something in this world and the deep soul scaring lonliness that motivates the disconnected. The unmarried, childless among us deal with a depth of lonliness that is shattering. I can personally tell you that even though I persue my sweet Jesus like a pack of wolves after a pork chop it is the lonliness of being single and childless at 40 that never leaves me. It is exghausting. Worse yet there are no guidelines for the disconnected… the divorced, living alone, empty nesters, widows, all of whom struggle and then struggle some more. I wish to the core of soul that I could say that I have figured out, over the last 15+ years of being alone, how to make my faith be enough. Can one of the three of you please address this? I think it might be more common that it appears at first glance.
Thanks,
Liz
i just can’t get going on the green thing.but good idea. i always say we will get a heaven and new earth. you gave me something to ponder over. thanks
Oh Melissa…a timely word. I am one that cringes at the “go green” statement, not because I don’t agree with their intentions, but because I tend to feel like it is just the next political passion. Thank you for your encouragement to think about it from a Biblical perspective…and hey, those reusable shopping bags are pretty cute anyway. Off to go buy some! Thanks girl!
What is with you Moore women and your conviction this week?!?!?!!? Sheesh! Seriously though — THANK YOU. Good thing we didn’t get ‘STOP IT, GO GREEN’ in the same blog though! 🙂
I have recently been convicted about being more green and reducing waste in our household. My husband is a big thrower awayer of stuff, and I often throw away food scraps. Our goal for the next year is to cut down on paper products, start a compost pile and recycle. It does require some effort, but is is something we can do. Thank you for your encouragement!!
I struggle on this topic…for example, high fuel prices…drilling here in the US could possibly help us. But there is NO DOUBT it would cause HUGE envrionmental problems. Destruction that could never be corrected again.
So how do we balance that as Christians?
Thanks, Melissa; well said as always! I love that you aren’t just slapping our wrists like many environmentalists and “green” proponents, but that you chose to remind us of the REAL reason we should be conscious caretakers of this world: our incredible God made it for us and charged us with taking care of it! Can’t argue with that. Your post was a good reminder about recycling and going green, but also, in a day and age when this is such a popular issue in our secular world, maybe it will remind us Christians to use this topic as a segue into witnessing about our God – just a thought!
Good thoughts Melissa…. I tend to be annoyed at this “Go Green” bandwagon that EVERYONE is jumping on. It seems like everywhere you turn it’s “green” this and “green” that. In some ways it’s a bit much. People have talked about helping the Earth for years and all of a sudden it’s the hip thing to do. I have always recycled and still do…I even cringed a little at the thought of your water bottle in the trash.(It’s the OCD in me!) 🙂 We have done some other green around our house as well with the lightbulbs and such. Your post today, made me realize I should view the Earth more as God’s creation–not that I don’t, I just think I haven’t “valued” it as His precious workmanship. And, I have to admit, I think I have the viewpoint that the Earth’s decay is just part of the “end time” isn’t all this just part of his plan? So, I will try to take on a more “Godly Green” point of view. Thanks for getting us thinking!
Stephanie from MO
Wow clarity is a thing of beauty. It hits home when I realize what a hypocrite I am to what God provided for us. I should be helping take care of it all the time. My first step will be to not drink that bottled water and buy a permanent bottle that I can fill with my purified water from the tap? Good start? We do recycle our cans and also return our plastic bags to Walmart. Walmart recycles everything in case someone didn’t know already.
I’m so proud of you for being able to seriously examine your actions and behaviors and be willing to look for simple ways to change. Once you catch the bug and start it becomes an awesome game. You’re reducing your footprint, saving money, teaching a higher way of living to your kids, and WORSHIPPING! So proud of you!
Melissa,
Great post! God is good and knows what I need to read and exactly when. I just logged on to fill out a city survey on banning plastic bags from business within city limits. But decided to check in on the LPM blog first. I was thinking before I read this post how stupid and absurd that they want to punish the few who properly dispose their bags for the ones that let the bags fly out and litter the town. And to my surprise the managers of the Wal-Mart and HEB agree with the ban!
Also, I think that the devil, the master schemer of all, father of lies, wants us believers in Christ to believe the lies that we dont have to take care of the earth. I like Dr. Moo relates the stewardship of the earth to our bodies. It’s an analogy I can relate to.
Blessings in Christ–
My husband has been on my for years to recycle and my comment has always been, ” God will give us a new earth.”
Thanks for showing me the errors in my thibking.
LOVE this post. i’m a huge greenie– my husband calls me “al gore” all the time. why can’t Christians be environmentally conscious too?
Hey Melissa, thanks for the post!! I know this is totally off the subject but I’ve been reading Francis Chans new book Crazy Love and viewing his book website, and I think it is a real find. Like a starbucks in a town with a population of 350.
You know, I have been the freakazoid eccentric my whole life. People seem befuddled that I am both very conservative and essentially a hippy. I have been pretty green for a very long time. It is nice to suddenly be cool and fashionable. Come walk on the wild side with me! : )
Melissa,
I recently picked up an issue of a magazine for photographers called “JPG”. There was a section in the magazine regarding the human impact on our earth. Some of the photographs were very disturbing to see. If you would like to see what I’m talking about you can go to this webpage:
http://www.jpgmag.com/themes/75.
Tina W, Oklahoma
Thanks Melissa. That is some good food for thought with some great scripture to back it up.
Ok, I’m feeling convicted, too about not recycling and not doing what I can to take better care of our environment. I guess before, I never really thought much about it, other than how inconvenient it was for me. (Or maybe that was my excuse) But Melissa, reading what you wrote made it more clear on the Biblical point of this. I am going to do better myself, and be a better example for my children on recycling. My friend/co-worker is so good about this. She keeps a box in her office and encourages others to recycle paper, cans, etc. Then every week she lugs all of that recycling to her own home to be picked up by the recycling company. Now thats dedication!
Awesome thoughts!
I have talked about this concept with friends but hadn’t thought about your 3 points so succinctly! I love how deep your conclusions are and yet how humorous and openly honest you are about struggles! It encourages me and makes me think even more.
This will make great dinner conversation tonight. My family is just like the dinner scene in “While You Were Sleeping”. If you haven’t seen it, take a look and enjoy the laugh!
God bless,
Esther
I have always considered the GREEN thing to be a business ploy to make americans buy a new product therefore making the businesses more money. It makes me mad as fire to see new GREEN products popping up everywhere. Pretty soon there will be “green” cupcakes and potato chips. I have never recycled, I dont own anything reusable and my babies diapers are disposable and I change him so often that there is hardly a speck of pee on them, what a waste!!! so there I am a non tree hugging mama who thinks that green was a dumb color for the “powers that be” to choose, they should have chose a beautiful pinky color, maybe that would have gotten me to buy their products.
Now, I will go back and read the post and see if I get convicted, I do appreciate the earth that God has given me, but I dont worry about the ozone layer one bit.
Wont name my name either..lol..