Day 1 Don't Judge a Book by it's Color

Picture a young woman. A college graduate. Majored in fashion. Self proclaimed Southern Belle. A Christian who has always been concerned about the environment. She begins to wonder about how or even if protecting the environment is even biblical. So she beings a journey. She scours the Internet...always a reliable source...She searches the bookstores. Nothing concrete. She does acquire a New Revised Standard Edition of the Holy Bible made from recycled materials and soy based ink that's filled with articles explained other authors journey to 'go green' in the front but more importantly the word of God she's known for years filling the rest. The only difference was the scared text highlighted verses that pointed out God's concern for His creation.

So she studies the Word on her own. She even starts a blog to share her findings. Still she wishes she could find more concrete and biblical based writings on this subject called 'creation care'. Then one day, she wanders into a Lifeway bookstore and finds what she's been looking for. A book on environmental stewardship! Called 'Serve God, Save the Planet' by Dr. J. Matthew Sleeth, it walks the christian through the author's (a medical doctor, not a PH.d) personal spiritual walk with God as he discovers that living a life that focuses on treating the planet with respect is more of thinking of God's big picture and realizing that every little thing we do to creation affects fellow human beings. She begins to read it, excited that there is another Christian in the world who thinks like she does. She puts it in her purse and reads a chapter or two whenever she can .

One Sunday, she reads it before Sunday school, when her good friend who is earning his doctorate at seminary notices the cover. He asks to see it, then concern crosses his face. He points out that the 'rave review' on the front cover is by an author/activist named Brian McLaren who does not have a reputation of being a man after God's own heart. The young woman is crushed. But she continues to read anyway and finds out that Dr. Sleeth's book and experience is not only based on the Word of God, almost every word makes sense.

In case you haven't figured it out, I'm that young Christian woman. And I think that the reason Dr. Sleeth's book had to have a less than reputable 'Christian' author give a quote on the front was because the call to environmental stewardship is not one Christians today are eager to answer. There are dozens of excuses, reasonable cause for concern, and misconceptions. If there weren't, Dr. Sleeth's book would not be the only book on creation care I found in Lifeway. The journey I'm about to share with you these next 30 days, is what I've discovered about how creation care is giving glory to God, witnessing to the lost, and becoming closer to God while discovering that environmental stewardship is a part of rediscovering the lost purpose God had designed us for. Caring for His Earth.

So don't judge a book by it's cover Brothers and Sisters...especially if that cover is green.