The Green Baptist is 27-year old Jonathan Merritt, a Th.M. student at Emory University, in Atlanta, GA.
Jonathan wasn’t always The Green Baptist:
Mr. Jonathan Merritt
While pursuing his Master of Divinity degree at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC, Jonathan told Christianity Today of his conversion to Green Christianity via an epiphany:
I was sitting in a theology class with one of my favorite seminary professors, who was pointing out that general and special revelation are equally revelatory. “When we destroy God’s creation,” he said, “it’s similar to tearing a page out of the Bible.”
I was a staunch conservative who thought environmentalism was incompatible with my faith. I thought it was funny and cool to throw trash out my window in college. At that moment I thought, I would never tear a page out of Scripture. I left that room a different person. I knew I could not continue to live the way I lived. Read entire article… (emphasis mine)
Since this epiphany Mr. Merritt has “launched Southern Baptist Environment and Climate Initiative and convinced 700 SBC leaders to sign on.”
Perhaps one of the many things we can be thankful for this Thanksgiving is the conversion of many like Jonathan Merritt to Green Christianity.
But when I read texts like Romans 8:18-22 and Hebrews 1:10-12, I have to wonder about this going Green campaign.
Neither do I believe I have sinned in my refusal, contra Mr. Merritt (his blog).
I’m confused; by “refusal” do you mean your refusal to sign the document?
As for going green, I see it strictly as a stewardship thing. Besides recycling, I don’t go out of my way at all to be green, but if there is a “green” alternative handy, I might take it. I want to take care of creation because the Creator charged us to. NOT because we owe the earth some debt because we’ve sucked it dry, which is the motivation too many people.
Alisa,
I mean to go “green.”
Now you’re making me feeling guilty with that “stewardship” thing.
“the earth will wear out like a garment” -Is 51:6 NASB
Jake,
Thanks for that reference. It’s preparing for its new body, as it were.
Oohh, great Isaiah verse. Have to remember that one.
It’s kind of like, “well duh!” of course we should be taking care of the creation – it reflects our love for our Creator! Shame on those Christians who have any other view!!
“It reflects our love for our Creator.” Hmm… Let me see… And if I don’t?
If you don’t, you still love Him.
But it’s like when, yes, you love your wife, but you don’t take every opportunity to love her, such as pitching in with with massive Thanksgiving prep or it’s clean up. It would reflect your love for her, but even if you don’t, you still love her. (Obviously, this would look different in every scenario and relationship, the imagery is just fresh.
)
It’s just one out of a millions ways to show love to Him.
Alisa,
I like your illustration. Yep, so love is still intact, no matter what? But it’s good to see it on display.
Indeed.