"T-I-O-N. Shun, shun, shun, shun."
I started writing an entirely different post today and realized every single word that came to mind ended in ‘t-i-o-n’. Elation, Anticipation, Expectation, and on and on it went. And that made me remember the Electric Company song back in the 70’s called T-I-O-N. And that got me completely off track from the original subject and now I find I’ve yielded to the ADD. So, with that said, here’s my contemplaTION.
My memories on the words of the TION song were vague but I was pretty sure it was simply a song about suffixes. Because I had all kinds of spare time on my hands, I decided to indulge my need for nostalgia and look it up on You Tube.
I should preface what I’m about to say by telling you I am greatly distressed about a commercial I saw the other day for the new School House Rock: Earth. Y’all, SHR is going Green. It’s not that I’m fundamentally opposed to all The Green but I’m completely sick of the over-commercialization of it. I know God gave us this planet and we are obligated to be proper stewards of His creative work, but there are segments of the population who have taken this movement into the realm of religion and are worshiping the created rather than the Creator. I try to teach my kids about wastefulness, yada yada, but I’m a little over the Green indoctrination that now appears to be taking over cartoon programming in addition to the school work and cereal boxes. In my humble opinion, SHR should stick to grammar which, in North Alabama anyway, seems to be a much larger issue than whether or not we heathens bought bottled water this week.
Anyhoo, when I found the video on You Tube, I realized something pretty huge. The whole Green Thing isn’t so new after all. Apparently we were singing about Green-ing even then. Y’all watch.
So tell me, and be nice, where do y’all stand on the whole Green Thing? To what lengths are you going to be more environmentally friendly? Will you still love me if I tell you we create at least two bags of garbage a day or just shake your head in frustraTION?
Wow. I can’t believe I’m posting this.
OH MY GOSH that was a GREAT post and I couldn’t agree with you more! I’m a firm believer that we should take care of the world God has created for us but the indoctrination to worship the land and take God out of the equation is simply frustrating! You go girl! Funny that the video mentions “creation”! Ha!
Put aside all of your apprehension about posting this! =0)
Oh…the green thing. Sigh.
Well, I, too, am VERY weary of its religiosity. I stand in agreement that we are to be good stewards of the environment that God created FOR us and to support us. With that in mind, I am conscientious about recycling and using some “green products” (although that’s more for my own health and chemical sensitivities, than anything else). More than anything, I feel like our drive to protect the planet needs to be a desire to keep creation in a condition where is it constantly representing its Creator – to uphold Romans 1:20…
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his external power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
If we destroy the planet through our own selfish negligence, we’ve destroyed a fundamental witness of God’s glory. And that, my friend, is an abominaTION.
Whew, girl, you have opened it up, haven’t you?!! I admire your bravery in addressing this issue. We are actually pretty recently getting our green on with recycling plastics and newspapers (still trying to get hubs to just read the thing online!), cutting back on overindulging in over consumption and doing just a small part in the coming up green participation. Some of it makes me ill at how overdone and commercialized it is, but some of it makes sense and doesn’t hurt for our kids to be aware of their part in keeping God’s earth clean. It reminds me of how our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and we are to take care of God’s temple. The earth belongs to God and we are responsible for doing our part to take care of it, too.
Just please don’t come up tomorrow with a post on the NASA program or it might take me over the edge. I’ve never seen more wasteful spending in my entire life! And for what, exactly? (I love the politicians who are all for pointing out the wasteful spending. I would just like to see how it’s actually rectified altogether.)
I’ve lived in the Pacific Northwest most of my life so thinking “green” has been on my mind for a lot longer than the rest of the country. I was shocked when I moved to Maryland for a while and they didn’t didn’t have recycle bins for every home and business.
I am, and have been for as long as I can remember, as green as I can afford to be. If I can recycle, or compost, or avoid chemicals, or use sustainable and bio-degradable products, I do. That said, a lot of today’s “Green” is very expensive and I can’t justify spending that kind of money.
For me it is all about being a good steward and protecting God’s glory-revealed-through-creation like Melinda mentioned.
What is sad to me about the religious feel to the green movement is that it should have been Christians (and through us, Christ) at the forefront from the very beginning, but rather than step up, we allowed the secular world to speak first. So really, it is no wonder it has turned to idol worship. That’s what humans do – we have souls that cry out to worship something. If we aren’t being pointed to God, we’ll find something else to bow down to.
I am as green as I can be at this point in my life. No that’s not true. I’m as green as I’m willing to be at this point in my life. I am actively trying to recycle, use it up, make do, or do without. I have learned that I can make my own laundry detergent and as soon as this bottle of Tide is empty I plan to do just that – it will save me money and help the environment so it’s doubly good. I have not been able to give up paper towels, however, and I doubt I ever do though I am trying to use less, etc. Most folks have a “cause.” For some it’s animal rights, for others it’s cancer research, and for some it’s “green, do or die.” I’ve chosen my cause and His name is Jesus. He wants me to take care of His earth so I’m doing my best to take care of my little part of it. But taking care of it isn’t my goal – He is. blessings, marlene
The whole green movement is now a religon and it is horrible. I believe in being responsible but I also know that it has gone to far. When we are supposed to buy lightbulbs to better the environment but if you break a CFL lightbulb your house needs to be detoxified.
I find the whole thing creepy personally. When I lived in the Netherlands a decade ago you were forced under penalty of law to recycle, and trash seperation was like an all day job. So I am probably kind of biased.
We are rather “agin” it.
Lisa! Great post! Thanks for being brave. I’m right beside you on this one. I’m tired of the focus being on the creation rather than the Creator, too. Sigh. Can I comfort you with the fact that we are a family of 5 and put out at least 1…somedays 2 bags of garbage as well. And dare I menTION that we don’t recycle?! Yikes! We asked for a bin from our garbage guys and they never dropped one off for us. Got a spare?!
I’m fairly green, and working that direction. I guess I see the whole idolatry thing, but the Christian rejection of the whole green movement seems to me a bit like throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Nutrition can be a false God, but Christians aren’t preaching against broccoli to counter it. Government can be an idol, but we still vote. TV is an idol to many, but we still follow Lost. World peace wouldn’t save anyone’s soul, but we strive toward it.
To me environmentalism is a good thing, working with God to steward creation. It may not mean that to everyone, but that doesn’t negate the value of the work.
There are lots of good causes out there, and no one person can do their utmost for every single one of them. Some will do more for any one cause than others, and that’s fine, and a part of liberty. But the Christian trend to insult the environmental movement really baffles me.
All of the commercialization of “going green” makes me want to run the other way.
We don’t recycle and I let the water run while I’m brushing my teeth. Barney taught my children not to do that but I didn’t change my ways.
I agree that we are to be stewards of what God has given us, Earth included. But it has become a religion to people and that is wrong.
And girl, we are a 1-2 bag a day family and 3 loads of laundry a day too.
The green police will soon be after me!
My family is working on being more green. I do turn off the water while brushing my teeth, use cold water when washing clothes, hang clothes out to dry when its warm enough, refill plastic water bottles 2 or 3 times before getting a new bottle, use CFL light bulbs, and use environmentally friendly products when our budget permits. Most recently we have really been trying to conserve energy by keeping lights and appliances turned off unless we are ACTIVELY using them. However, I don’t recycle, mainly because there is no pick up service in our area and I do use disposable razors (gasp)! I have no problem with “Go Green” initiatives as long they don’t become a priority over God. What I do have a problem with are the corporations who are capitalizing on the initiatives. Shame on them for charging way more to consumers for things that actually costs them less to make!!! The love of money and power are much bigger threats to me than trying to take care of the home that God gave us in this life. I love the idea of passing on a healthier earth to my children, so if there is anything the Lord allows me to do while I’m here, I will!
Do you really want me to answer this?? LOL
Lots of Love,
CatGranny the Green Jean Organic Gardener!!!
Kudos to those who are green! I’m so green with….oh whatever. :)
I hate to admit it but I’m not an environmentally conscious person. It’s a little overwhelming really if you ask me. Yes, I can start with me but then I over think it. I start to think of the ozone and smog and polluTION and trees in the Amazon being cut and I start getting all panicky. So I do nothing.
I tend to this with a lot of issues come to think of it.
What would be great is if we put as much energy into bringing people to Christ as we (or the green’s) do in saving Mother Earth.
(Because one day we will have a new place to live!)
*This in no way is to insult the environmental movement.
First, does going green mean we have to go naked like the cartoon characters in that video? Seriously, they are naked. Nice post preachers wife! LOL I would also like to thank you for getting that song stuck in my head.
Second, I’m a little freaked out by the post that says if we break one of those CFL lightbulbs in your house you have to detoxify it. I did not know that. I will have to rethink that purchase.
I go as green as the pricetag allows. I bought recycled toilet paper because it was cheaper than the regular toilet paper. I also bought the “green” dishwashing liquid for the same reason. I have bought a couple of ‘green’ lightbulbs because they were buy one get one free but if they are toxic I probably won’t buy them anymore. I do try to keep my lights off it we aren’t using them at the time but for my own benefit more than the environment.
I guess I’m an accidental environmentalist. My cheapness causes me to rethink purchases more than my concern for the planet.
Besides, if we completely mess up this planet I’m sure the government will just buy us a new one. :p
I’m a fan of recycling and conserving and all that… But I’m learning more and more about the cycle of “green” and how we’re kinda evening-out when it’s all said and done… It’s not an efficient system right now, it just shuffles around the $$ and resources and time and energy…
All the $$ it takes to be green eats up our other resources – work, technology, etc. In the end, when you look at economics and exchange and all, going “green” just sucks the saving out of some where else – further down the “green” chain.
I tend to agree with Brandi – it seems counterproductive to do nothing b/c some lost people turn it into their religion. The Bible definitely says we are to be good stewards of that which He has entrusted to us. I see being "green" as being a good steward of His Earth.
So, I use "green" re-usable grocery bags, I recycle (luckily there is no sorting – my garbage co picks up everything & they sort), we turn off lights when they are not in use, we set our AC/Heat higher or lower (depending on the season) than most people, I try not to buy bottled water – instead I use my Nalgene bottle, & we did recently by the "green" lightbulbs. I'm looking into growing some of my own veggies this summer & I've also thought about doing a little composting but I have to do more research on that before I try it. I'm sure there is more I could do & I'm always looking for new ways to be a good steward of God's Green Earth!
Personally, I think that God is an environmentalist. Why else would God have taken such care to create such a beautiful planet, with so many places to explore? I also think that Christians who rally against recycling and re-usable materials tend to turn people away from their religion, rather than drawing them towards it.
On a practical note, a bit of preparation can save countless hours. If you simply purchase a separate trash can for recyclables and line it with a plastic trash bag (also recyclable), you can “sort as you go.” Put that empty can into the recycle bin instead of the trash can. Done. Those plastic drawer sets (see also, every dorm room in America) work really well if you need to separate items by type.
Thank all of you for your input on the subject!
Before I close comments, I just want to clarify that I don’t think I nor anyone here is objecting to recycling. If it were convenient, I would have no problem sorting my garbage. As it is, I would have to drive 30 miles to the nearest center and I’m sorry, but that’s never going to happen.
My only objection is against those who make a religion out of Green. I agree wholeheartedly with Brooke when she said we should spend so much energy on winning the lost.
Okay, nuff said.
:)