Break Point founder (and former Nixon employee) Chuck Colson interviewed Nancy Sleeth last month on her new book Go Green Save Green. Didn't know he was blogging on green stuff, yet here's a post on CO2 regulation, and the planet and the poor.
He doesn't do much on his initial review of Nancy's book, but some thoughts seemed to finally emerge over the weekend:
A recent discussion on our blog, The Point, demonstrated how uneasy many Christians feel about environmentalism. The subject was the book Go Green, $ave Green by Nancy Sleeth (who founded the organization Blessed Earth along with her husband, Matthew). Some of our commenters were bothered by our bringing up a subject that’s largely considered to belong to the left wing.
I can see where they’re coming from. I’ve said before on BreakPoint how appalled I am at the apocalyptic language some people are using to scare us into the green agenda. And Christians ought to oppose any environmentalist agenda that would ignore or even scoff at the plight of the poor and the sanctity of human life.
But Christians don’t have to let concern for the environment—that is, concern for God’s creation—be hijacked by those who are hostile to our beliefs. [snip]
In the end, Sleeth shows us that environmentalism doesn’t need to be about a radical political agenda. It can be about our own behavior, informed by values like good stewardship, protecting family time, self-restraint, and helping others. That’s not radical. It is common sense and, most important, thoroughly Christian.
You know, Don, I, too, was surprised when I heard this on BreakPoint and also received it in my email. Chuck has been one of my "heroes" for some time, now, and I agree totally with what he said. Like your header says, "The world isn't ours to mess up."
Thanks for sharing Chuck Colson's commentary.