Comments on: The Monday Hum: Evangeligreenies? http://humbleoradio.com/-2-2-2-2/the-monday-hum-evangeligreenies/ Live Interactive Talk Radio on the Internet Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:04:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Joel Gillespie http://humbleoradio.com/-2-2-2-2/the-monday-hum-evangeligreenies/#comment-85 Joel Gillespie Wed, 16 Apr 2008 19:57:01 +0000 http://humbleoradio.com/first-ammendment/the-monday-hum-evangeligreenies/#comment-85 It's hard anymore to define what "Evangelical" means. I have about given up trying. So many people have so many meanings and associations with the word it almost just does not mean anything. So, putting aside that rubric, there is a growing sense of concern amongst historic orthodox Christians (Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox) that concern for the glory of God and the good of man must include concern for the health of God's world. I am certainly one of those, being what many would call an evangelical Protestant. But I am uneasy about Cizik's position for several reasons. First, assuming he is right on global warming, how does he know America will face judgment from God if we don't attend to global warming. There are many sins, even environmental one's that I think might be closer to the front of the line. That's just empty talk. Just blather. He doesn't know that. The phrase "destroyers of the earth" in Revelation 11:18 could possibly be, but probably is not, a reference to environmental degradations. However, Israel's disregard for the land, their failure to give sabbath rest to the lad, was one of the reasons for the time length of their exile. Third, and OK, I expect to get here, but as passionate an environmentalist as I am, I am not convinced on the extent or causes of global warming, and I fear that many very real tangible environmental issues that involve public health and the integrity and beauty of creation are being put aside in all the global warming hoopla. Fourthly, Cizik speaks for himself, only. We do have reason to believe that the "fall" included the fall of the whole of the created order. And yes, we also affirm and believe in a "new heaven and new earth." Until this earth is renewed by the events of those days, we have a responsibility to love God and love our neighbor, which means caring for God's creation for both reasons. And Cizik is right that Christian citizens should care just about abortion and gay marriage. many other issues matter in the ongoing role we have as lovers of God and neighbor, and even as we seek to present the truth of ghe gospel of Jesus Christ. We cannot preach the gospel with integrity to our neighbor if we are killing him with our waste products for example. And pray tell, how many people do you know, when they need retreat, when they need to get away and pray and be with their God, prefer parking lots and freeways and such. We need special places for the sake of God's glory as their beauty reflect back to him, for the sake of the creatures which God declared to be "good" and which he blessed, and for the sake of our own spirits as we seek to hear God amidst the din of this noisy dirty world. Joel Gillespie Greensboro, NC It’s hard anymore to define what “Evangelical” means. I have about given up trying. So many people have so many meanings and associations with the word it almost just does not mean anything. So, putting aside that rubric, there is a growing sense of concern amongst historic orthodox Christians (Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox) that concern for the glory of God and the good of man must include concern for the health of God’s world. I am certainly one of those, being what many would call an evangelical Protestant. But I am uneasy about Cizik’s position for several reasons. First, assuming he is right on global warming, how does he know America will face judgment from God if we don’t attend to global warming. There are many sins, even environmental one’s that I think might be closer to the front of the line. That’s just empty talk. Just blather. He doesn’t know that. The phrase “destroyers of the earth” in Revelation 11:18 could possibly be, but probably is not, a reference to environmental degradations. However, Israel’s disregard for the land, their failure to give sabbath rest to the lad, was one of the reasons for the time length of their exile. Third, and OK, I expect to get here, but as passionate an environmentalist as I am, I am not convinced on the extent or causes of global warming, and I fear that many very real tangible environmental issues that involve public health and the integrity and beauty of creation are being put aside in all the global warming hoopla. Fourthly, Cizik speaks for himself, only.

We do have reason to believe that the “fall” included the fall of the whole of the created order. And yes, we also affirm and believe in a “new heaven and new earth.” Until this earth is renewed by the events of those days, we have a responsibility to love God and love our neighbor, which means caring for God’s creation for both reasons. And Cizik is right that Christian citizens should care just about abortion and gay marriage. many other issues matter in the ongoing role we have as lovers of God and neighbor, and even as we seek to present the truth of ghe gospel of Jesus Christ. We cannot preach the gospel with integrity to our neighbor if we are killing him with our waste products for example. And pray tell, how many people do you know, when they need retreat, when they need to get away and pray and be with their God, prefer parking lots and freeways and such. We need special places for the sake of God’s glory as their beauty reflect back to him, for the sake of the creatures which God declared to be “good” and which he blessed, and for the sake of our own spirits as we seek to hear God amidst the din of this noisy dirty world.

Joel Gillespie
Greensboro, NC

]]>