Heather Taylor-Miesle's Blog
God's Environment
August 24, 2007
Posted by Heather Taylor-Miesle in The Media and the Environment
I have been planning to write this post for weeks but have struggled, procrastinated, and generally tried to avoid any deep thought that this kind of post would demand. That changed last night. I will explain…
If you talk to me for more than a half hour, you will probably hear me talk about my faith. I was blessed to have been brought up in the church so God's presence in my life has been the foundation of my relationships, my marriage, the way I raise my kids – and now, my career. I wish I could tell you that my upbringing has made me perfect. I am far, far from it. There are days when I curse like a sailor and others when I am selfish or self-righteous. Bottom line – don't go to Church to find the perfect. We are all sinners and I personally have to ask God's forgiveness every day (sometimes several times in one day). Despite and because of that imperfection, I believe that God has a purpose for my life and that part of that purpose is taking care of God's creation.
I am not going to lie. There are many of people in my business who do not believe in God and find my faith frustrating, ignorant, and naïve. They do not try to intentionally persecute me and in fact, many come to my office to sincerely try to figure out how I can believe in a God that allows things like Hurricane Katrina, 9/11 or the crisis in Darfur to happen. I tell them that I trust God's plan. I pray for ways to help them come to know God's love. Unfortunately, that just got a little harder.
Everyone knows about the mega-church/evangelical boom that has been taking place across the country. People are pouring into these places where they are finding support, fellowship, and the word of God. As these churches have grown in numbers, so has their stature in the political arena. The increased political activism has made me worry about their choice in priorities.
One such evangelical group that carries a lot of clout is The Family Research Council (FRC). The FRC put out a statement yesterday that called global warming "hype" and stated, "The environment ranked last among the priorities of evangelicals" in a survey done by the George Barna Group . I am not surprised. This group has long warned their faithful flock that stewardship of the environment – and in particular, efforts to slow global warming - will prove detrimental to the economy and families. Are they reading the same Bible that I am reading? One only has to turn to their Bible's here , here , and here to see that the Lord values his creation. So, why don't they get it? Is it false teaching or poor priorities?
Far be it from me to know their motives and I am not going to analyze them here (although a quick Google search reveals that others have). If there is one Bible verse I know, it is Mathew 7:1 – "Judge not, that ye be not judged." That being said, I guess I shouldn't be offended that they rank environmental protection at the bottom of their priorities. The FRC brags that the evangelicals also didn't prioritize the improvement of care and resources devoted to children in the survey despite the fact that Jesus clearly values children ; and they didn't think much about enhancing the lives of the poor and disadvantaged either even though the Bible mentions the poor or those in poverty more than any other subject in the Good Book.
Surveys and press statements like these are what alienate people who are currently non-believers. As someone who spends most of my days with many of those people, I am sympathetic to how they judge Christians. I am not sure how we can relay God's love in a fair way to those people when the principles that we advertise and brag about are less about grace, love and forgiveness and more about judgment and ridicule. Fortunately, there are many faith groups out there (including the one that I belong too) that overwhelmingly support efforts to protect our environment and public health. I have a sneaking suspicion that some members of the evangelical church may even be softening to the idea. Hopefully, their voices will be heard soon. I will continue to walk the path that God has prepared for me but I hope they figure it out – it is getting lonely out here.
Have a good day!
Heather
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Comments
Kate — Aug 24 2007 02:54 PM
Hey Heather, nice post. I'd been trying to figure out how to blog on this great line from the Weds NYT piece on "Church and Steak," but I think you set it up perfectly. Here's Joel Salatin, organic farming pioneer, talking about his farm tours.
“Ten years ago most of my farm visitors were earth muffin tree-hugger nirvana cosmic worshipers,” Mr. Salatin said. “And now 80 percent of them are Christian home schoolers.”
If you walked into a group of EMTHNCWs and called them "Christian Home Schoolers", I don't know that you'd get a warm reception, or vice versa. But both groups are treading a path towards more humane farming and greener stewardship.
Travis Van Hauen — Aug 25 2007 03:52 PM
It takes no advanced degree to find fault with another man — or to show the stupidity of someone else's thinking. It takes much grace to see God at work in a fellow redeemed sinner whose life is marred by sin and marked by grace. It takes grace to see it and strengthen it. It takes grace to encourage them in a way that glorifies God and strengthens faith…
Am I a judge? I have very good standards and others need to measure up. I wake up in the morning and the first thing I see is what has not been done. I see faults all over. I am God's agent to make them excellent (sarcasm)..
A few years ago a friend saw my sin and encouraged me to spend a whole summer doing nothing but encouraging my others. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done. Every day I would look for grace in them but find faults. I had to bite my tongue all the time. But the fruit on their lives and our relationship was amazing.
So — as I lead my family an dvisit with friends, do they hear my criticism more than my commendation? Do I see myself as the great and indispensable fault-finder (just picture me in blue tights with a big F on my chest)?
As I relate to fellow-Christians, am I more aware of their sin or of their growth in sanctification?
I am learning this most crucial element of fellowship — and seeing it as the first step. Until I see grace in others I am in no position to help them grow by pointing out their sin.