Going Green for God

http://www.blessedearth.org/

A friend sent me information on this organization, and I love it. To be honest, I think the entire idea is way overdue, but finally it is in place. Blessed Earth, per their website, is “an educational nonprofit that inspires and equips people of faith to become better stewards of the earth.”

If you are a Christian, I highly recommend this site. If you are not a Christian, take a look anyway and see what Christians should, could, and are doing for the environment. Great stuff!

There are so many aspects of agriculture and life in general that could be lived in a more sustainable way, a way that is more responsible and respectful of the earth. This organization is providing education to make it happen, and doing it in a way that corresponds with a Biblical worldview.

Billy Graham, the noted Christian preacher, when asked if the Bible says anything about taking care of the environment:

“…of all people, Christians should be the most concerned for the environment.

Why is this? The reason is because Christians know God created the world, and we are only its stewards or trustees. The very first verse of the Bible says, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). When we see the world as a gift from God, we will do our best to take care of it and use it wisely, instead of poisoning or destroying it.

We don't worship the earth; instead, we realize that God gave it to us, and we are accountable to Him for how we use it. After creating Adam, the first man, the Bible says, "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it" (Genesis 2:15). God didn't tell him to exploit the world or treat it recklessly, but to watch over it and use it wisely. Like a good ruler, we should seek the welfare of everything God entrusts to us—including the creation. The Bible says, "A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal" (Proverbs 12:10).

Yes, we should take care of the environment. But most of all, we should take care of our souls.”

I love this response. It should be how any and every person who identifies themselves as a Christian should be living their life. Unfortunately, it is not. My hope is that with the work done by this and similar organizations, we will start to make some significant and worthwhile changes.

From the Blessed Earth website:

Beginning in 2012, Blessed Earth is initiating a series of partnerships with influential churches across America to dig deeply into a wide range of stewardship topics. In this historic first year, we are working together with the Washington National Cathedral to offer sermons, forums, small group studies, lectures, panels, and creation care models that can be used by churches throughout the country. Each year will see successive partnerships with other churches as we expand this model to reach out to churches across denominational spectrums and around the country.

Our Creation Care Year at the National Cathedral will host some of the top creation care people in the world, including Joel Salatin, Norman Wirzba, Ellen Davis, Richard Bauckham, Barbara Kingsolver, and others. We will cover a wide range of topics such as care for animals, how we think about food, how we use energy and the relationship of creation care to the poor among us. The year began with a special Earth Day message and forum in April 2012 and will follow with a series of seven monthly creation care topics starting this coming October. 

Over the course of the next year we will be developing materials, resources, and other information to assist churches across the country in implementing their own creation care focused programs.