Monday
Dec042006
Love thy planet
Monday, December 4, 2006 at 3:00AM
By Ellen Ratner
Recently Rev. Joel Hunter, the elected president of the famed Christian Coalition, founded by Pat Robertson, stepped down due to what appears to be irreconcilable differences over how to use the organization's political and real capital. Does the organization, as it has in the past, continues to focus on pet personal piety issues such as same-sex marriage, or does it take a completely new tack and resurrect the social justice roots of Christianity? Rev. Hunter wanted to fix the Christian Coalition's massive energy beam on the environment — which is proving to be an emerging social-justice issue. The organization's board said no.
While there is no commandment per se to ''love thy planet,'' people who believe that the Earth was created by a higher being, also believe that ''man'' has dominion over creation. And with dominion comes responsibility, or as believers like to say, ''stewardship.'' Rev. Hunter was trying to push his organization toward ''stewardship,'' and away from consumership. Of course there is a difference between a glib, generalized platitude about ''stewardship of creation'' and taking measurable steps in our homes and communities to stop the tide of ruin.
The board members of the Christian Coalition are not the only ones of their faith who are uncomfortable with the so-called environmental agenda. I recently had the opportunity to listen to Dr. Matthew Sleeth, M.D., an evangelical Christian and author of ''Serve God, Save the Planet.'' The three things that struck me most about Dr. Sleeth were his commitment to his faith, his commitment to his belief that at our current rate we are going to ruin creation and finally his sense of humor. He was not a stereotypical whack bird right-winger and he wasn't a dour tree hugger either. He's a doctor and a father who believes that each one of us has a responsibility to our planet. So what's the problem? Christian booksellers are, shall we say, less than enthusiastic about ''Serve God, Save the Planet'' and that's why Christians are unlikely to see it at the stores where they buy books.
I'm not sure how Christians became adverse to preserving what they believe God created. I suppose, however, if you believe God created the universe in six days, then you might also believe God could fix it in at least half the time. Or maybe scorching the Earth is all part of the master plan and the destruction of mother Earth will usher in Christ for his second trip to Earth. Al Gore might even be the anti-Christ . . . no, as I recall, these folks are saving that title for Bill Clinton.
All joking aside, this church split seems more like a political move than a spiritual one. They tend to go with whatever direction their ''Christian in Chief'' gives them. The Bush administration has no interest in environmental issues. Bush's ''Clear Skies'' initiative should be renamed, the ''Gray Lung Initiative,'' because it doesn't even take into account Carbon Dioxide emissions. Sci Fi Team Bush rejects the overwhelming evidence that says we are cooking ourselves on low heat and marinating in poison. Never mind the science Mr. President, just open your eyes. Tripling cancer rates, spiraling mercury levels, melting polar ice caps, and Katrina are clues that even Inspector Clouseau could have acted on, but not our president and not his faithful.
That's OK because it is this liberal Democrat's opinion that Campaign '08 is going to turn for the Democrats on the issue of the environment. Those soccer moms and dads are getting wise to the ADHD and Autism epidemics that plague their offspring. The Christian Coalition's board of directors should have listened to the man they elected. And America should be listening to anyone, of faith or no faith, who gives us tools to save our planet.
Ellen Ratner is the White House correspondent and bureau chief for the Talk Radio News service. She is also Washington bureau chief and political editor for Talkers Magazine. In addition, Ratner is a news analyst at the Fox News Channel.
Recently Rev. Joel Hunter, the elected president of the famed Christian Coalition, founded by Pat Robertson, stepped down due to what appears to be irreconcilable differences over how to use the organization's political and real capital. Does the organization, as it has in the past, continues to focus on pet personal piety issues such as same-sex marriage, or does it take a completely new tack and resurrect the social justice roots of Christianity? Rev. Hunter wanted to fix the Christian Coalition's massive energy beam on the environment — which is proving to be an emerging social-justice issue. The organization's board said no.
While there is no commandment per se to ''love thy planet,'' people who believe that the Earth was created by a higher being, also believe that ''man'' has dominion over creation. And with dominion comes responsibility, or as believers like to say, ''stewardship.'' Rev. Hunter was trying to push his organization toward ''stewardship,'' and away from consumership. Of course there is a difference between a glib, generalized platitude about ''stewardship of creation'' and taking measurable steps in our homes and communities to stop the tide of ruin.
The board members of the Christian Coalition are not the only ones of their faith who are uncomfortable with the so-called environmental agenda. I recently had the opportunity to listen to Dr. Matthew Sleeth, M.D., an evangelical Christian and author of ''Serve God, Save the Planet.'' The three things that struck me most about Dr. Sleeth were his commitment to his faith, his commitment to his belief that at our current rate we are going to ruin creation and finally his sense of humor. He was not a stereotypical whack bird right-winger and he wasn't a dour tree hugger either. He's a doctor and a father who believes that each one of us has a responsibility to our planet. So what's the problem? Christian booksellers are, shall we say, less than enthusiastic about ''Serve God, Save the Planet'' and that's why Christians are unlikely to see it at the stores where they buy books.
I'm not sure how Christians became adverse to preserving what they believe God created. I suppose, however, if you believe God created the universe in six days, then you might also believe God could fix it in at least half the time. Or maybe scorching the Earth is all part of the master plan and the destruction of mother Earth will usher in Christ for his second trip to Earth. Al Gore might even be the anti-Christ . . . no, as I recall, these folks are saving that title for Bill Clinton.
All joking aside, this church split seems more like a political move than a spiritual one. They tend to go with whatever direction their ''Christian in Chief'' gives them. The Bush administration has no interest in environmental issues. Bush's ''Clear Skies'' initiative should be renamed, the ''Gray Lung Initiative,'' because it doesn't even take into account Carbon Dioxide emissions. Sci Fi Team Bush rejects the overwhelming evidence that says we are cooking ourselves on low heat and marinating in poison. Never mind the science Mr. President, just open your eyes. Tripling cancer rates, spiraling mercury levels, melting polar ice caps, and Katrina are clues that even Inspector Clouseau could have acted on, but not our president and not his faithful.
That's OK because it is this liberal Democrat's opinion that Campaign '08 is going to turn for the Democrats on the issue of the environment. Those soccer moms and dads are getting wise to the ADHD and Autism epidemics that plague their offspring. The Christian Coalition's board of directors should have listened to the man they elected. And America should be listening to anyone, of faith or no faith, who gives us tools to save our planet.
Ellen Ratner is the White House correspondent and bureau chief for the Talk Radio News service. She is also Washington bureau chief and political editor for Talkers Magazine. In addition, Ratner is a news analyst at the Fox News Channel.
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