The Green Bible HarperCollins, New York; 2008; 1,311 pp.
Earth is a Holy Bible. Her trees are the chapters, each leaf a page of scripture. Water is living theology. And every breath of air is a reminder of the love of God who made us.
I speak no idolatry.
Symbiosis is the biological term for two living organisms so entwined with one another they become one. There's no separating creation from the holy word.
The Green Bible affirms that simple truth. Journalists, who love the truth, should be at least a little familiar with scripture.
This green version in this age of ecology gives them a reason to delve regardless of religious skepticism.
Curiosity after a change in family lifestyle sent me to the environment-friendly New Revised Standard Version published last year. The cotton-linen cover over recycled paper, soy-based ink and water-based coating is stamped with a spreading oak.
My wife and dog and I moved out to the edge of town for the acreage, for the semi-rural peace, for the trees. Always the trees.
They make me wonder why many religious folk cannot see their mission to renew, refresh, rehabilitate the planet.
God created humankind in his image, turned creation over and asked us to be good caretakers. From that start of civilization, we have God's very own word — this is the good earth (Genesis 1:31): "God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good."
A lot went wrong.
We live now in environmental crisis. You may count the ways for yourself, unless you live in denial as even some churchgoers do.
The solution lies with us. God swore off interference when he promised Noah he wouldn't send another flood. Damage to the planet comes from humankind.
People of the earth will reclaim our eternal stewardship one family at a time and one society at a time.
At our new house we built a compost bin before we moved in. A kitchen pail collects all the green-making stuff.
Sunday's ritual is a trip to recycle newspaper, plastic and cardboard collected all week in garage bins.
Energy efficient light fixtures brighten the house. The thermostat stays on a moderate setting. Brrrrrr. Cars are high mileage.
Blessed with trees, we planted more — an entire orchard.
The garden fed us all summer. We give away preserved food. And we contributed a squash casserole from our plenty when we sat down to a potluck Thanksgiving with friends.
But I'm brought up short by a quote from then-President-elect Barack Obama. We're not going to save the planet just by changing light fixtures, he said.
We need community change on a continental scale to meet our spiritual duty to God's good earth. Science matters, as Al Gore reminds us, but equally comes faith.
The Green Bible can inspire the movement person-by-person, congregation-by-congregation. Clearly it's designed for individual study and Sunday school, temple and parish hall study groups.
Evangelical, Roman Catholic, mainline Protestant, Jewish thinkers and ministers, ethical scientists — all have essays between those ecologically correct covers, including useful concordances, study guides and proposed action plans for discussion.
My favorite section — besides the Bible text itself with pertinent passages literally printed in green — is a collection of short "Teachings on Creation through the Ages." The compiler of quotes and aphorisms is J. Matthew Sleeth, M.D. He reminds us of the great commissioning when Jesus last spoke to his disciples (Mark 16:15): "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation."
There's material aplenty for a church revival themed on earth and grace. There's need aplenty for another historic Great Awakening in America and beyond.
I'd let the trees preach. And harmonize. As in Psalm 96: "Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy."
The tree of life in the midst of the garden is the religious symbol at the center of our being. It is the spine that keeps us erect, the dream we share with Nebuchadnezzar of reaching to heaven, the story we believe of life everlasting despite the crucifixion of a worker with wood and with our world soul on, of all things, a tree.
The tree of life opens The Green Bible in Genesis 2:9 and closes it in Revelation 22:2 — "And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations."
I can't speak for others who see the need for saving the planet. But as for me and mine, we listen when we hear the trees call us to grace.
Curiosity after a change in family lifestyle sent me to the environment-friendly New Revised Standard Version published last year. The cotton-linen cover over recycled paper, soy-based ink and water-based coating is stamped with a spreading oak.
My wife and dog and I moved out to the edge of town for the acreage, for the semi-rural peace, for the trees. Always the trees.
They make me wonder why many religious folk cannot see their mission to renew, refresh, rehabilitate the planet.
God created humankind in his image, turned creation over and asked us to be good caretakers. From that start of civilization, we have God's very own word — this is the good earth (Genesis 1:31): "God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good."
A lot went wrong.
We live now in environmental crisis. You may count the ways for yourself, unless you live in denial as even some churchgoers do.
The solution lies with us. God swore off interference when he promised Noah he wouldn't send another flood. Damage to the planet comes from humankind.
People of the earth will reclaim our eternal stewardship one family at a time and one society at a time.
At our new house we built a compost bin before we moved in. A kitchen pail collects all the green-making stuff.
Sunday's ritual is a trip to recycle newspaper, plastic and cardboard collected all week in garage bins.
Energy efficient light fixtures brighten the house. The thermostat stays on a moderate setting. Brrrrrr. Cars are high mileage.
Blessed with trees, we planted more — an entire orchard.
The garden fed us all summer. We give away preserved food. And we contributed a squash casserole from our plenty when we sat down to a potluck Thanksgiving with friends.
But I'm brought up short by a quote from then-President-elect Barack Obama. We're not going to save the planet just by changing light fixtures, he said.
We need community change on a continental scale to meet our spiritual duty to God's good earth. Science matters, as Al Gore reminds us, but equally comes faith.
The Green Bible can inspire the movement person-by-person, congregation-by-congregation. Clearly it's designed for individual study and Sunday school, temple and parish hall study groups.
Evangelical, Roman Catholic, mainline Protestant, Jewish thinkers and ministers, ethical scientists — all have essays between those ecologically correct covers, including useful concordances, study guides and proposed action plans for discussion.
My favorite section — besides the Bible text itself with pertinent passages literally printed in green — is a collection of short "Teachings on Creation through the Ages." The compiler of quotes and aphorisms is J. Matthew Sleeth, M.D. He reminds us of the great commissioning when Jesus last spoke to his disciples (Mark 16:15): "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation."
There's material aplenty for a church revival themed on earth and grace. There's need aplenty for another historic Great Awakening in America and beyond.
I'd let the trees preach. And harmonize. As in Psalm 96: "Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy."
The tree of life in the midst of the garden is the religious symbol at the center of our being. It is the spine that keeps us erect, the dream we share with Nebuchadnezzar of reaching to heaven, the story we believe of life everlasting despite the crucifixion of a worker with wood and with our world soul on, of all things, a tree.
The tree of life opens The Green Bible in Genesis 2:9 and closes it in Revelation 22:2 — "And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations."
I can't speak for others who see the need for saving the planet. But as for me and mine, we listen when we hear the trees call us to grace.
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