Chopped Bible Salad #7: The Green Bible

Printed on recycled paper, using soy-based ink with a cotton/linen cover, the Green Bible is the project by HarperCollins to bring environmental responsibility and the teaching of Scripture in to one beautiful package.  Within the text of this edition of the NRSV, verses that are about the earth and the environment are printed in green ink to highlight the Bible’s comments on taking care of the planet.

Yet under this cover is a message that arguably undercuts aspects of the overall message of the Word of God.  What’s the harm in putting two good concepts together, you may ask?  Should Christians not be concerned about the environment, it being God’s creation and all?

Recycling

Being Born Again Doesn’t Count

A few months ago I visited a church in New England and was struck with an issue that appeared to be of some concern to the leadership of the congregation.  Several times over the course of the 3 day visit I was told that the neighborhood where the church building is located was pressing them to recycle and was going to be weighing their trash to monitor progress.  The concern was because they did not want to bother with the hassle of recycling.  I had to stop and scratch my head because I was talking to church leaders.  How could people who believe that God created the world not be interested in protecting it?