Save the Earth: Turn Off Your Lights
As I sit here at my desk working on a sermon from Leviticus 1 for Sunday morning, I'm reminded (for whatever reason) that in 14 hours, 30 minutes, and 12 seconds we're all supposed to turn off our lights. If you didn't know, today is "Earth Day" (or something like that) and we are counting down to "Earth Hour." I know... the excitement is hard to contain. We are going to save the world, or poor, dilapidated planet, by turning off our lights.
Thinking Green: The New Religion
Albert Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, had something interesting things to say (and quote) about "going green." In an article on his blog, he quotes Stephen T. Asma, a professor of philosophy at Columbia College Chicago; Asma argues that the new religion of many secular folk is ecology. Environmentalism has become a substitute for religion; environmentalism has the same structure and mindset as almost any other religious system.
Consider the description of Asma:
Instead of religious sins plaguing our conscience, we now have the transgressions of leaving the water running, leaving the lights on, failing to recycle, and using plastic grocery bags instead of paper. In addition, the righteous pleasures of being more orthodox than your neighbor (in this case being more green) can still be had—the new heresies include failure to compost, or refusal to go organic. Vitriol that used to be reserved for Satan can now be discharged against evil corporate chief executives and drivers of gas-guzzling vehicles. Apocalyptic fear-mongering previously took the shape of repent or burn in hell, but now it is recycle or burn in the ozone hole. In fact, it is interesting the way environmentalism takes on the apocalyptic aspects of the traditional religious narrative. The idea that the end is nigh is quite central to traditional Christianity—it is a jolting wake-up call to get on the righteous path. And we find many environmentalists in a similarly earnest panic about climate change and global warming.
Are we supposed to take care of the planet? Sure; we're supposed to be good stewards of our "home" (Gen 9). But, as Christians we believe the Scripture, and the Scripture clearly indicates the end of this planet: destruction by fire (2Pet 3.10; Rev 20.11).
So, let's not walk according to the course of this world (Eph 2.1-3; let's not let cultural fads carry us away as if we didn't know better). Let's read the Bible and do what it says; let's keep the most important things on the top of our priority list. And I can think of two priorities that top any list:
- Love God: (John 15.21, 23, 24; 1Jn 5.3) "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."
- Love our neighbor: (John 3.16; 15.13) There can be no greater manifestation of love than the "missionary spirit" that would lead one to lay down his life in order to preach the Gospel to those who need Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord.
2Timothy 4.3-5For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
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