Thursday, April 22, 2010

Why I Don't Celebrate Earth Day

Today is "Earth Day" and I'm not taking part. More than likely I'll take my 5.7L SUV with my plastic bottle in hand and drive the 5 blocks to my kids school that I could probably walk. I'll turn on the heat in my house higher than I should, take a long hot shower, and throw away something that should probably be recycled.

I'm being completely serious here. I'll do all that, and I wont think twice about it. Its Earth Day and I don't care.

I can already hear the feedback from my eco-friendly friends. The ones who will lambaste me for my indifference and haughty behavior in regards to the environment. They will say that I am thoughtless and cruel, and that I will be held in judgement before God almighty because of my behavior in regards to "mother earth".

I've got news for you- no I wont.

Why? Because this Earth is not my mother. This world is not my home. This "3rd rock from the Sun" is not a Temple of worship or an Deity. Its the planet on which we live.

I'm not celebrating it because of what people like Margaret Mead said in 1978 when she declared Earth day a global "holy day for all nations". Earth day is not a Holy day. The only thing that is Holy is God. He is the Holy one.

I'm not celebrating it because I believe that society puts for things like "earth day" as a way to indoctrinate people into thinking that the Earth is holy and slowly subvert people's thinking into worshipping the creation instead of the Creator.

Its no different than what the Bible says in Romans 1:25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised.

Here's the deal- I recycle the things I can. I don't pour anti-freeze down the drain. I don't throw plastic bags in Puget Sound. I'm not pouring chemical waste into our nations streams. But what do I refuse to do? Worship the Earth. Praise the Earth. Love the Earth.

The beauty and majesty of this Earth serves two purposes- for us to see the splendor of the Earth and to be drawn into a relationship with God, not a relationship with the Earth. Its like what it says in Romans 1:20- For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Like the Earth, don't love it. Look at it and realize that it points to a Creator and worship Him, not the Earth.

No tree saved my soul.

Blessings
matt

6 comments:

  1. You said it like I wish I could have. AMEN!!

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  2. Very well said. The Earth and all it's splendor is not my God - it is the creation of God. And like a child, the earth, because is was created by God, is beautiful, precious and perfect. For this reason, and because I love my God, I want to care for it, nurture it and protect it.

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  3. I think your indifference and haughty behavior in regards to the environment is thoughtless and cruel. Furthermore, you will most likely be held in judgement before God almighty because of your behavior in regards to mamma earth.

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  4. Now see, Derek's response drives home the point pastor Matt was trying to make. "Be Held In Judgement before God" - for what? Driving an SUV instead of a subcompact? Are you kidding me? I believe in doing my part to be a good steward of the environment but this is over the top! But that is because environmentalism to some has become a religion. I believe it is the 8th commandment of environmentalism - "Thou Shalt Not Drive An SUV that gets less than 25 miles per gallon on the highway and 22 in the city".

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  5. Russ, I think Derek was making a joke ;)

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