The founder of the Southern Baptist Environment and Climate Initiative is on a mission to depolarize and depoliticize environmentalism. Instead of wrangling over left-right issues, Jonathan Merritt approaches the topic from a theological perspective, exploring Scriptures that demonstrate God’s concern for His creation.
He will make some squirm with his adept observations of how America’s materialistic lifestyle is a leading cause of environmental damage.
Writing in an approachable, persuasive style, he also argues that Christians are captive to faulty biblical interpretations. Among those he cites are turning the Genesis “dominion” mandate into an exercise in human-centric behavior, and using end-times theology as an excuse to shrug off Earth stewardship. Merritt has a sense of humor, too, exploring how trendy environmentalism often stems from a self-centered, boasting frame of mind. Christians should wince over his retelling of the vitriolic attacks he faced from fellow believers when he raised the idea of caring for the environment. The fact that Merritt bases his approach on Scripture should lay to rest the idea that only liberal tree-huggers can be active in this arena.
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