"The Greening of Evangelicals" a very hopeful article for "earth care"

[KoKo]

from a surprising source. Not sure what to make of this...but it sure sounds hopeful to me..in these dark times. Thought you all here might like it, too. (Gets into the "right to lifers" worried about Mercury and other things)

washingtonpost.com
The Greening of Evangelicals
Christian Right Turns, Sometimes Warily, to Environmentalism

By Blaine Harden


SEATTLE -- Thanks to the Rev. Leroy Hedman, the parishioners at Georgetown Gospel Chapel take their baptismal waters cold. The preacher has unplugged the electricity-guzzling heater in the immersion baptism tank behind his pulpit. He has also installed energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs throughout the church and has placed water barrels beneath its gutter pipes -- using runoff to irrigate the congregation's all-organic gardens.

Such "creation care" should be at the heart of evangelical life, Hedman says, along with condemning abortion, protecting family and loving Jesus. He uses the term "creation care" because, he says, it does not annoy conservative Christians for whom the word "environmentalism" connotes liberals, secularists and Democrats.

"It's amazing to me that evangelicals haven't gone quicker for the green," Hedman said. "But as creation care spreads, evangelicals will demand different behavior from politicians. The Republicans should not take us for granted."

There is growing evidence -- in polling and in public statements of church leaders -- that evangelicals are beginning to go for the green. Despite wariness toward mainstream environmental groups, a growing number of evangelicals view stewardship of the environment as a responsibility mandated by God in the Bible.

"The environment is a values issue," said the Rev. Ted Haggard, president of the 30 million-member National Association of Evangelicals. "There are significant and compelling theological reasons why it should be a banner issue for the Christian right."

In October, the association's leaders adopted an "Evangelical Call to Civic Responsibility" that, for the first time, emphasized every Christian's duty to care for the planet and the role of government in safeguarding a sustainable environment.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1491-2005Feb5.html

[Me.]

1. Hey It Sure As Heck Can't Hurt

if they get behind environmental issues, in fact I would love it because (a) it can only help us (b) they are holy rollers when it comes to organizing and (c) it means trouble for the shrub if his base starts demanding concessions which are not in the best interests of his corporate buddies.

I just hope this is for real

[KoKo]

2. I posted this last night and was hopeful. I woke up this a.m. and

relized this article was probably a "plant" in the WaPo to counteract Bill Moyers powerful article on the "Dominionists" who are preaching how great it will be if we "hasten Armageddon."

Dobson and others are getting alot of bad press lately. This article is probably some effort to take the heat off them...sadly.

I read it and was so hopeful...today I feel I was gullible. I wish I could just delete the post, but editing time has expired.

It would be wonderful if this was true, though. If only these folks would wake up...:shrug: So much GOOD could replace the EVIL out there if we all worked together.

[Me.]

3. The Fault Lies Not With You

but them. And hope for sanity in these people has been one of the factors that has kept us all going, the ability to believe that there is the potential of innate goodness buried deep down that wriggles its way up into the light of day. It would have been wonderful and something which could have brought the two sides together in agreement. Unfortunately I read something later that one of them said that Christ won't come until the last tree is felled. Gullible? No, they are for believing that Christ would want this beautiful planet destroyed.