Has your attention been drawn to the Green movement lately. It’s hard not to thank about, because it’s everywhere. I try not to laugh as I surf the net and find an article on “How to Green your Funeral,” but in all seriousness going green actually makes sense. Why not put in compact fluorescent light bulbs or buy organic produce from local farmers? Why not walk if you don’t have to drive or hang dry your clothes instead of using the dryer? In Genesis 1, as God creates the world we see the phrase “and God saw that it was good.” Verse 31 says, “God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.” When God created the world, He did a good job. I love Spring. I love it when the snow melts. I love the way the air smells so clean after it rains. I love seeing new life as trees bud and flowers blossom. And as we appreciate God’s creation around us, shouldn’t we also want to take good care of it?
Why is everyone so caught up in being green? Why this huge social conscientiousness to protect our environment? Remember when NBC “went” green? They advertised green during every commercial break and wouldn’t you know it, green was referred to in all of their programming that week. People care about the world they live in. They want it to be a good world to live in. If you are listening to all the hype, we have to be green or else our world is going to fall apart. We have to save the world. So what does green have to do with being a follower of Christ?
In 56-58 A.D. Paul described the condition of mankind in Romans 1: 28-32 “Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” (Read Romans 1:18-32 for full context)
That is the condition of our world.
Romans 3:21-24 says “But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
But, we also see that there is salvation for all. We have all sinned, but we are all offered grace and redemption through Christ.
To be green means to be mindful and intentional of protecting the environment.
Matthew 5: 13-16 says “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
To be green you have to recognize there is a need and then become part of the solution.
So I say we should copy this strategy.
Go Yellow.
The world does need to be saved. But, we are not talking about the physical world. This world of souls needs spiritual salvation. If you have a cause and you believe in it, you tell people. Tree huggers have earned their name because they have a passion for what they believe. They fight to protect what they value and they share their passion with others. Do I have a passion for Christ? Do I have a passion to see souls saved? We are lights, but we won’t shine if we stay hidden under bowls or in our houses, safe circle of Christian friends, convenient Lexus cages... Just like being green means taking action, so does being a witness for the Lord. Get out there; get active. Be a mentor, teach Sunday school, tell people Jesus loves them, invite your neighbor to church, volunteer at a soup kitchen… Love people and live your life in such a way that it points to Jesus and gives Him glory.
To be yellow means to be salt and light to a dying and dark spiritual environment.
Be a light that shines for Jesus amidst the darkness of this world. Go yellow.
by Naomi Andrews
originally posted June 2008
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