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There was an interesting article in the New York Times Monday entitled "When Cleaner Air Is a Biblical Obligation" by Michael Janofsky. It’s basically about how the environmental movement is gaining a new ally in segments of the Evangelical Church. I think it worth the read. Although much of the article is about global warming, which remains a difficult subject for many in terms of the exact cause, and in terms of exact response, there is more to the article than just that. I have a few thoughts I want to share that were stimulated by this article. First, Protestant Evangelical Christians long ago gave over the arts and sciences and issues like the environment to the “left,” or to “liberals,” or whatever name you want to use. This anti-intellectualism was not the case in the early part of the reformation for sure, nor even in later Dutch Calvinism, but it has taken root deeply in American Evangelicalism. The consequences have been tragic for Christian individuals, for the Christian Church, and for American culture. For Christian individuals this flight from intellectual and artistic rigor has led to an emasculation of their gifts, and a revocation of their potential contribution to the good of their world. For the Christian Church it has led to the creation of the alternative trivial cheap stupid inane Christian pop culture where everything is second rate and always a step or two behind the best of what’s out there in the general culture. There has been little room for a Bach or a Herbert or a Rembrandt in American pop Christian culture. For American culture, Evangelical escape has meant an accelerated slide into the valueless mess we find ourselves in today. A vital Christian scientific and artistic influence would have impacted the general culture at many levels. Second, the environment is a perfect example of Evangelical flight. Why pray tell would this issue be given over to the left? Why would it come to be defined as a concern of the left? There is no inherent reason why it should. Because environmental protection requires government oversight of industry? Well, what guru got to decide that keeping industry in check was "leftish" as if we're always on some slippery slide into socialism? Maybe there wouldn't be socialism if people with power didn't abuse it at the expense of people without it. And besides, environmental care and creation care for the Christian is about caring for God’s honor and well as the well being of one’s neighbor. It is aboutt he beauty of God's world as well as the well being of His creatures. As to the well being of one’s neighbor it is not just the cut and dry matter of pouring PCB’s into his water. It is also preserving biodiversity, not just for the inherent good and beauty of so doing, but even for our own sake, physically and spiritually. How many cures for disease have yet to be discovered in the vast (but declining) richness of our world’s diverse biological life? And have we yet come to grips with the impact on our souls and psyches of the disappearance of wild spaces full of biological richness? I don’t think so. Why should that be a concern of just the left. I just can't see that the left should own that concern. Third, I think Evangelical Christians have been too quickly pigeonholed and taken for granted by the political right, just as I think African American citizens have been too quickly pigeonholed and taken for granted by the political left. I prefer to look at issues rather than candidates per se, but, there is a point when I think candidates need to know that just as we’re not going to vote for you if you are supportive of partial birth abortion or gay marriage, we’re also not going to vote for you if you’re supportive of environmentally destructive policies and agendas and abandonment of the poorest and neediest among us. For, after all, environmentalism is often, if not usually, a matter of social justice, in that it is often the poorest amongst us who pay the highest cost for environmentally destructive habits and policies. Fourth, the left still does not trust us Evangelical Environmentalists. I am coming to the slow but disturbing conclusion that many of the stalwart folks who man the trenches in the environmental movement simply hate historic orthodox Christianity. And though for the sake of the Artic National Wildlife Refuge I am quite happy to sit in a room full of Lilithites, worshippers of Sophia, advocates of the Gaia hypothesis, and various gay rights leaders to work out an approach and a policy to present to conservative and liberal lawmakers, they don't wish to sit in the room with me. I think they just can’t stand historic orthodox “Apostle’s Creed” variety Christians who actually think highly of the Apostle Paul and not much of the so called “Gospel of Thomas.” But for the sake of our planet, they need to get over that and work with the growing environmentalist movement within Evangelical Christianity. They don’t have enough votes otherwise. So, to you left leaning environmentalists out there, though you may dislike “us” for a hundred reasons, theologically, socially, politically, whatever, more and more of us care about this world and its future health and well being. So, take advantage of that while you can. Fifth, and finally, to conservatives and republicans, the ground is shifting, and it’s time for you to shift with it. You may not sign on to Kyoto, but there are a hundred other ways you can come around on creation care. Don’t let big industry dictate what is best for this world and its future. Many of you are men and women of faith. Deep down you know that fouling the air and water, destroying the remaining wild places we have left, gulping oil like drunken sailors, allowing God created species to become extinct because of our negligence or pollution, etc., is just not right or God-honoring. It’s time to step out of the pack and say so. That’s my two cents. Joel Gillespie |
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