The Greening of Christianity
Does Richard Cizik represent the failure or future of evangelicalism?
May 11th, 2009 | By Skye Jethani | Category: Church, Culture, Features, PoliticsIt’s not easy being green…especially if you’re an evangelical.
Richard Cizik was ousted from the leadership of the National Association of Evangelicals for his vocal support of environmental efforts, what many Christians call “creation care.” Now Cizik finds himself a very popular figure being invited to many conferences and speaking to the younger generation of Christians who take environmental issues like global warming very seriously.
But does Cizik’s departure from the NAE represent the failure or the future of evangelicalism?
There is a battle going on to define 21st century Christianity in North America. Will it continue to be a block whose moral agenda is limited to issued related to sexual/reproductive ethics: abortion, same-sex marriage, and the preservation fo the Western nuclear family? Or will evangelicals embrace a wider moral agenda to include poverty, creation care, and other issues related to globalization?
If Cizik’s post-NAE initiatives gain traction he may prove to have the right formula for the future of evangelicalism–a combination of personal and public morality that seeks cooperation with divergent groups for the common good. However, if Cizik’s efforts fail to draw younger evangelicals together it may prove that evangelicalism’s ability to be a visible player in the public domain is drawing to a close.
Here is an excerpt from Adelle M. Banks’ article about Cizik:
Even so, [Cizik] acknowledged that he still has an uphill battle in winning over skeptical fellow believers. A new LifeWay Research poll shows that Protestant pastors are evenly split, at 47 percent each, on whether global warming is “real and man-made” or just a myth.
“It just reveals that there’s a lot of work yet to be done to …
convince the unpersuaded,” Cizik responded. “Nobody ever said it was going to be easy.”
But as he continues his work on going green for God, Cizik tells audiences that evangelicals will need to build bridges with other faiths, just as they have on other issues. He recalls working with Tibetan Buddhists on religious freedom legislation, with Jews on Sudan’s troubled Darfur region, and with Muslims on climate change.
“They’re not giving up their values, their commitment to Scripture or the rest,” he said of “new evangelicals” like himself. “But they do know that they do have to partner with others who don’t share their views in order to save the planet.”
Richard was not “ousted” at all, but rather resigned from his position in December. And while a few years ago Dobson and others called for his resignation because of his stance on creation care, Richard remained at the NAE–with the support of NAE president Leith Anderson–until December. Then it was not his creation care advocacy that led to his resignation but his comments about changing his views on same-sex unions. Homosexuality was still the issue that sealed the deal.
Still, your main point is whether he represents the rising surge or the waning fringe. In terms of creation care, I think it’s the surge–young evangelicals don’t seem all that concerned with the causes of global warming. Creation care is a far bigger issue that that and this generation of Christians seem far more inclined to follow the broader culture into greener ways of living because it is the responsible thing to do, not because it falls in line with a political or religious agenda.
There is a great chapter dealing with these issues in Christopher Wright’s “The Mission of God”. Chapter 12. Check it out.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0830825711/wwwtakeyourvi-20
This book is essential for every Christian to read in my view. The chapter on creation care bought out points that I had never considered before.
Thanks for the clarification, Carla. I realize there were other parts of Cizik’s politics that made the NAE nervous. Ultimately it will be interesting to see if the NAE ever officially expands it’s cache of issues. I don’t expect them to endorse same-sex unions, but creation care may become more prominent in their platform if the trends among younger Christians continue.
Skye, do you know of a book on creation care that you would recommend? I’ve been reading several secular books about the environment lately (and especially liked “Farewell, my Subaru,” which I just finished), but I’m looking for one from a Christian perspective. There seem to be many to choose from. If you’ve read one or two that you thought were worthwhile, I’d love to know what they were.
Hillary,
There isn’t one that I’d say is a “must read,” but I confess that I haven’t read deeply on the issue from Christian writers. I know Tri Robinson has a book, and he’s a pastor I’ve seen talk about this issue rather thoughtfully. Also, there’s an “engaging culture” series of books published by Baker that are really good on a number of subjects. In the series is one one creation care called “For the Beauty of the Earth.”
Skye
Hillary,
In case you didn’t see my comment above…
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0830825711/wwwtakeyourvi-20
This book, chapter 12, is a great start for thinking about these issues.
z
Great! Thanks to both of you for your suggestions!