Over the last 12 years or so, I have really begun to hate politics. There’s too much judging, criticism and hate going on, and so I have unfortunately turned away from that spectrum for a little while – or at least turned away from engaging in much rhetoric about it. (Outside of a little fun on FaceBook provoking of my favorite political college student, who shall stay unnamed.) Anyway, this is a bit of walking on the edge for me, a slight advance into a topic that could turn very political.
Last week, the man we refer to as Pope Benedict XVI gave his usual and customary New Years Mass speech. During this talk, the head of the Catholic Church stated:
“Nevertheless, in this moment, I would like to underline the importance of the choices of individuals, families and local administrations in preserving the environment,”
and
“An objective shared by all, an indispensable condition for peace, is that of overseeing the earth’s natural resources with justice and wisdom.”
Well, this has troubled me a little bit over the past few days because the headlines and the new bits say “Pope Urges Lifestyle Changes to Save Planet”. Hm. I have always been a conservationist. I agree with the Pope. I have thought for years that Christians should be leading the charge to take care of the planet. You see, its our charge and responsibility. God created the Earth and gave “dominion” to man –
26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image and likeness. And let them rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the tame animals, over all the earth, and over all the small crawling animals on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26, New Century Version)
God has asked us, no charged us with taking care of the world he has created. So we should be going green for God. Taking care of the planet, wisely using its resources, recycling, watching our consumption – these are Godly principles – all in the same vein as the message we are given to take care of our bodies, the temple of God.
18Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. – 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (New International Version)
The beef I have here, however, is the apparent lack of trust or faith in God, when we as men think we can change our behavior and “save the planet”. Its God’s planet. The whole notion that we can destroy it or save it seems a little off base for me. ( Now, I think we can make it a terrible place to live, or we can make it a great place to live, by our actions) It sort of reminds me of the Tower of Babel.
So consider this. I think we should jump in the bandwagon and Go Green for God, because He (not via the Pope) asked us to, not in a last ditch effort to save the planet.
Go Green! Thoughts?
2 replies on “Going Green for God”
I don’t see the beef. What you mean by “I think we can make it a terrible place to live, or we can make it a great place to live, by our actions” is what the headline writer meant by “Lifestyle Changes to Save Planet”. Save the planet from becoming a terrible place to live.
Jon! Thanks for comment. If we take what was written from that viewpoint, then I almost agree with you. However, my beef is probably two fold. First, the “Save the Planet” stuff is a little extreme, and although I have not read, nor listened the Mr XVI’s complete address, I don’t think it matches his words. If the headline were “Pope Encourages Environment Responsibility” then I think we are a little closer to what his was suggesting. Also, I think you would agree that this “Save the Planet/Global Warming/Climate Change” is a hot political topic (no pun intended, but that is punny). The headline implies to me, a spinning of Mr XVI’s words. Now, that being said, I mentioned that I really am tired of politics, and one of the reasons may be that I am tired of the word games that I may even be playing myself even as I write this.
But even more then that, since I can go with “Save the Planet” being a fairly common phrase these days, I think I am bothered by the idea that men can save the planet. As followers of the Christ, we know that magnificent nature of God, and it seemed to me, to be quit over the top that a spiritual leader would be implying that men could save the world. We know that this world will only be destroyed when the Christ returns. We can’t save it, we can’t destroy it. It groans for the return of Christ : Romans 8
However, stepping back from that, and assuming the goodness and Godly direction that Mr XIV was suggesting, I can go with your viewpoint. The biggest thing for me, is that followers of the Christ, realize that we do have responsibility to the creation – to be good stewards, and managers of the wonderful world we were given. That’s were I am coming from. Its not really a political message, its really one to encourage readers to be thinking about the creation, and its relationship to the Christ, and to get us out of our seats and into action a little more.
Thanks! Stay Strong!
(Oh and I know – your were Green when Green wasn’t cool)