December 9, 2009 • By Ana Guthrie

This week marks the United Nations' climate summit in Copenhagen. The plan is for over 100 world leaders to agree on a climate change initiative. The event is tainted, however, by tremendous scandal.

 

In late November, hackers stole thousands of emails belonging to executives at the University of East Anglia's Climatic Research Unit (CRU) in eastern England. Critics state that these emails prove that scientists manipulated research and exaggerated the global warming threat. "Climategate," as the debale has been dubbed, is all the rave these days with politicians, global warming experts, the media and the public crying foul play. Many are pondering, "Is this crisis fact or fiction?"

Could it be, though, that the cries of skewed reports are irrelevant? When you consider global warming, do we really need so-called "alarming statistics" to tell us that we need to treat our earth better? Does an abusive husband need to break his wife's nose before he gets the picture that hitting her is not cool?

Not that I'm excusing the allegedly overzealous (at best) or lying (at worst) scientists. That's just trifling. Nevertheless, as CNN so aptly put it, there's enough evidence in the melting glaciers. We don't need global warming scholars or meteorology juggernauts to coax us into doing what we should already be doing: cherishing our planet.

When it comes to social activism and global outreach, Christians have always led the pack. Yet, the Green Movement remains relatively unchartered by the body of Christ. In fact, in my research I learned that Christians have been particularly suspicious of the Green Movement. Many say that the Green Movement is just another liberal hoax.

 

Some believers argue that it's because the field is too secular and that we are commissioned to be "in this world, but not of it." Other Christians contend that we are in the End of Days, so Christ will be here before we know it. As a result, it's useless to be concerned about what condition the earth is in when Our Lord returns.

My reply is really simple, "What harm does it do to care?"

What harm is there in recycling canned goods, newspapers and plastic bags?
Why not give up bottled water for reusable, refillable sports bottles?
How difficult is it to conserve gas by downgrading from an SUV to a compact car?
Wouldn't you agree that it's easy to change your light bulbs to an energy-efficient kind?

There was a time when being environmentally-conscious was an alternative lifestyle. Those who did so were labeled "hippies" and "tree huggers."

 

Today, recycling and living green have become mainstream. It's also cost-effective. So much so that there are countless government kick backs for being environmentally-friendly. All it takes is purpose. Simply put, we have to be intentional about adopting this mission.

 

The costs of going green are meager; the benefits extraordinary. We'll enjoy more sustainable communities, live organically, return to simplicity, and--above all--we'll be carrying out God's mandate to "take dominion over the earth and subdue it."

I believe that it pleases God when we live green. It shows Him that we're good stewards of what He's blessed us with. In my mind, going green could even be a form of worship. Despite the bickering among politicians, experts and journalists, let's treat our planet with respect and conscientiousness. It doesn't take science to propel us on toward excellence.

 

 

 

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