To ask if a person is "green" in this highly enviromentally conscious world of today, is like asking are you Democratic or Republican. The views on global warming are about as divided as the Hatfield's and McCoy's (a little southern rivalry). Going "green," by far, is the politically correct thing to do. Employees are getting challenged daily by their leadership to "go green." Companies are spending multiplied thousands of dollars to transform their businesses into sustainable companies with as little carbon footprint as is possible. Living green, as per my working definition, means to consciously live in a harmonious manner with our ecosystem, while reducing as many potentially harmful actions to it as possible. Not because of global warming, but because this isn't my earth to begin with (Psalms 24:1). My question isn't is it politically expedient for me to live politically correct (that is like a dog chasing it's tell, trying to keep up with the ever political correctness). The real question is, what is the Biblically correct thing to do? I think it is time for a "theology of ecology."
IS GOD GREEN?
Does God really care what we do with the earth, it's atmosphere, the plant life and wildlife? Some would equate the fight to go green and save turtle's egg more valuable than saving a fetus of a mother? A panentheist, believes that God is in the trees, frogs, and dogs. Therefore, to save a tree from being cut down would be saving a piece of God. To believe everything Al Gore says about the environment a true assault and insult on reason and God. This is bad eco-theology.
Neither is the view that God isn't interested in climate change, the sustainability of the forest, waters and wildlife a sound Biblical argument. For conservative Christians to debate so strongly for the literal creation of the earth as God's amazing and miraculous work, but not be far more involved in the preservation of His miraculous work, it is duplicitous at best.
He, God, made this world and all that is in it for himself (Colo 1:16). He values all his creation and claims ownership to it all, man, land and the animals (Ps 50:10). He only gave us management rights to His creation (Gen 2:15). We need to understand that God lives in the praises of all His creation (Ps 19:1). God uses His creation as one of the tools to bring people into the saving knowledge of Himself (Rom 1:20). God greatly values all his creation.
Is God Green? You bet your sweet potato's He is. Are you?
ARE YOU GREEN?
I would hope that you would want to be "green" if God is "green." You can take steps forward to live a more intentionally aware and develop a life-style that is more sustainable. Beware, it may be more costly too.
1. Become informed about ways our lifestyle is affecting God's creation. Don't argue for or against climate change until you have done your home work. Check out some faith based environmental websites. These sites hopefully will hold a high view of God and His Word and promote Eco-stewardship:
http://www.restoringeden.org/
http://www.savinggodsgreenearth.com/
http://www.baptistcreationcare.org/
Other non-faith based, but full of helpful ideas
http://www.eco-cycle.org/
http://www.earth911.org/
2. Go plant something...with your family. Model for your children that God made this big blue marble and we must take care of it.
3. Begin somewhere today! Reduce: simplify, simplify, simplify. Remember, you own it then it owns you. Reuse: this could be as small as reusing plastic bags in the house to as large as "reusing" the car you have for an additional 10,000-20,000 more miles. Recycle: Participate fully in local community recycling efforts.
You might feel insignificant and not all that important doing your part. Read Zechariah 4:10, "Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin."
Is God green? You tell me.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Giving that Gives
I have read two articles today that disturb and encourage me all in the same. Though we all know that our nation of affluence has undergone recent set backs that have touch every area our lives. We can't make light of the financial pain and adjustments that people have had to make in their life. I have read studies that virtually everyone has been financially affected by the downturn. Pain is felt by all.
The first article I read today broke my heart. It shows how the downturn in the economy has ripple effects that spread beyond our borders. When I read how one of the strongest church planting, care giving international mission agencies in the country is reducing it missionary personnel appointments in the future, I was saddened. The International Mission Board (IMB), the largest evangelical mission sending agency in the world, is being forced to reduce future missionary appointments. This isn't good for God's ultimate calling to all believers go to the ends of the earth. We must continue to do what William Carey said to do: "hold the rope, as he goes down into the pit." There is something deep in my heart that simply isn't right about slowing down God's global work, when we should be speeding up.
The second article encouraged my spirit when I see creative ways God's people in the church are responding the hard times. Instead of turning inward, I love it when churches turns outward. Kudos's to Cross Timber Community Church for how they are opening themselves up to the community and stepping up.
I am thankful that I get to Pastor a people who knows the value of global missions as our church ranks in the top giving churches by per capita giving to the IMB. When our contributors give to our Global Missions offering, 50% of it goes directly to support IMB missionaries on the field. Of the remaining: 30% goes to support missions throughout North America, 10% goes to support missions throughout Arkansas and 10% goes to help orphanages and crisis family support in Arkansas. Giving is a beautiful act of service.
HOPE-NWA has become a local initiative to keep hope alive in Northwest Arkansas. This is an initiative started at Grace Point Church, but has quickly spread to become a community effort to nurture hope in practical and free ways, much like the Cross Timber's Community effort. There are many new and developing community projects in the making so get ready to be a part.
So the next time you think of giving to something, ask the question, "what is my giving - giving?"
The first article I read today broke my heart. It shows how the downturn in the economy has ripple effects that spread beyond our borders. When I read how one of the strongest church planting, care giving international mission agencies in the country is reducing it missionary personnel appointments in the future, I was saddened. The International Mission Board (IMB), the largest evangelical mission sending agency in the world, is being forced to reduce future missionary appointments. This isn't good for God's ultimate calling to all believers go to the ends of the earth. We must continue to do what William Carey said to do: "hold the rope, as he goes down into the pit." There is something deep in my heart that simply isn't right about slowing down God's global work, when we should be speeding up.
The second article encouraged my spirit when I see creative ways God's people in the church are responding the hard times. Instead of turning inward, I love it when churches turns outward. Kudos's to Cross Timber Community Church for how they are opening themselves up to the community and stepping up.
I am thankful that I get to Pastor a people who knows the value of global missions as our church ranks in the top giving churches by per capita giving to the IMB. When our contributors give to our Global Missions offering, 50% of it goes directly to support IMB missionaries on the field. Of the remaining: 30% goes to support missions throughout North America, 10% goes to support missions throughout Arkansas and 10% goes to help orphanages and crisis family support in Arkansas. Giving is a beautiful act of service.
HOPE-NWA has become a local initiative to keep hope alive in Northwest Arkansas. This is an initiative started at Grace Point Church, but has quickly spread to become a community effort to nurture hope in practical and free ways, much like the Cross Timber's Community effort. There are many new and developing community projects in the making so get ready to be a part.
So the next time you think of giving to something, ask the question, "what is my giving - giving?"
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Great Commission Resurgence
There is a stirring in the air that is a breath of fresh air. I am pleased that some Southern Baptist have recognized the need to engage in a desperate and what could be heated conversation that is long over due.
I can finally see some a glimmer of hope for the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) in the latest call for resurgence. I have been quite concerned about the viability and sustainability of our historically Great Commission convention.
As a student and proponent of the Conservative Biblical Resurgence of the 1980's within the SBC, I have become very disillusioned with the militaristic rhetoric and dogmatic elitism that has emerged in our convention in the new millennium. I think it is time for the convention to wake up to the evadable: the convention has a very short “shelf life,” if there isn’t a resurgence of the Great Commission.
The axiom’s that the Great Commission Resurgence advocate are maybe what is necessary to help a dying convention extend it's life, but more important than extending the SBC life is finishing the task Christ gave his followers 2000 years ago. I think the statements are a good move in the right direction to help recreate the aroma of the SBC.
Here is the value of the axioms as I see it:
1. The Axioms reinforce what the SBC has believed historically, reproduced in their seminaries and modeled through their missionaries. However, there has develop a great disconnect between what many Southern Baptist believe and live; between what churches say they do and what they actually do; between what the agencies where designed to produce what they actually produce.
2. Some have said “our [the SBC] convention is in worse shape now than it was 15 years ago” as a rationale for doing nothing to change. They have used this rational as reasoning for not signing the axioms. What did Einstein say one is when we keep doing the same thing, but expect different results? Insanity. If the SBC, historically the largest mission sending protestant convention, is broke, as some say, this is all the more reason to adjust our actions, spending and programming. The convention has had a spiralling down problem for years. At least now some are trying to stem the tide and change the direction.
3. The axioms call for a serious self evaluation of each agency, seminary and board in an effort to downsize of duplicated duties to create leaner and more efficient mission agencies and training institutions.
5. It is time for the local churches in to be the missional agencies instead of funding larger agencies to do the work of the church. This is a form of prosititution. When the local church send's $1,000 of dollars to agencies to do their missions for them, it is virtually prositituing the gospel because the local church isn't willing to do what they have been called to do. Missions starts with local churches reproducing local churches. Sending our money to others to do our mission is not the most effective church planting approach. The cry of the missional church is to go and not just to gather. It is time for the church to be the church in the community. As the church becomes the mission agency we will need leaner and more strategic agencies to come along and support the mission.
It is time for all the churches of all denominations to call for a resurgence of the Great Commission. it's time to become lean and strategic
I can finally see some a glimmer of hope for the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) in the latest call for resurgence. I have been quite concerned about the viability and sustainability of our historically Great Commission convention.
As a student and proponent of the Conservative Biblical Resurgence of the 1980's within the SBC, I have become very disillusioned with the militaristic rhetoric and dogmatic elitism that has emerged in our convention in the new millennium. I think it is time for the convention to wake up to the evadable: the convention has a very short “shelf life,” if there isn’t a resurgence of the Great Commission.
The axiom’s that the Great Commission Resurgence advocate are maybe what is necessary to help a dying convention extend it's life, but more important than extending the SBC life is finishing the task Christ gave his followers 2000 years ago. I think the statements are a good move in the right direction to help recreate the aroma of the SBC.
Here is the value of the axioms as I see it:
1. The Axioms reinforce what the SBC has believed historically, reproduced in their seminaries and modeled through their missionaries. However, there has develop a great disconnect between what many Southern Baptist believe and live; between what churches say they do and what they actually do; between what the agencies where designed to produce what they actually produce.
2. Some have said “our [the SBC] convention is in worse shape now than it was 15 years ago” as a rationale for doing nothing to change. They have used this rational as reasoning for not signing the axioms. What did Einstein say one is when we keep doing the same thing, but expect different results? Insanity. If the SBC, historically the largest mission sending protestant convention, is broke, as some say, this is all the more reason to adjust our actions, spending and programming. The convention has had a spiralling down problem for years. At least now some are trying to stem the tide and change the direction.
3. The axioms call for a serious self evaluation of each agency, seminary and board in an effort to downsize of duplicated duties to create leaner and more efficient mission agencies and training institutions.
5. It is time for the local churches in to be the missional agencies instead of funding larger agencies to do the work of the church. This is a form of prosititution. When the local church send's $1,000 of dollars to agencies to do their missions for them, it is virtually prositituing the gospel because the local church isn't willing to do what they have been called to do. Missions starts with local churches reproducing local churches. Sending our money to others to do our mission is not the most effective church planting approach. The cry of the missional church is to go and not just to gather. It is time for the church to be the church in the community. As the church becomes the mission agency we will need leaner and more strategic agencies to come along and support the mission.
It is time for all the churches of all denominations to call for a resurgence of the Great Commission. it's time to become lean and strategic
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