Broadening the Conversation about Moral Issues

A debate is going on within Evangelicalism as to the nature of the day's great moral issues of the day. James Dobson and friends have been on the attack mode against those who would dare expand the base beyond abortion, gay marriage and sexual abstinence. Issues like torture, poverty, immigration reform, global warming, they are seen as divisive and distracting. It has led to a letter to the National Association of Evangelicals calling for this organization to shut down Richard Cizik, its VP for Government Affairs, because Cizik has taken a lead in the Global Warming conversation. Jim Wallis, Brian McLaren, and others have taken him on and called for a real debate.

I am involved in an ongoing conversation between the California Democratic Party and the Faith Community, a conversation that is going to lead to a summit in June where the local community will be invited to share in a conversation about the great moral issues of the day.

The issues we have identified are: the environment, foreign policy/war, poverty, health care, and immigration. It's not as if family and sanctity of life aren't part of the conversation, but they need to be discussed as part of the broader conversation of moral issues.

Lyndsay Moseley, a Sierra Club staff person working with faith communities, suggests the analogy of Jonah and Nineveh. God sent a warning and Nineveh repented. We have been given a warning on Climate Change, are we willing to heed it?

Ms. Moseley offers some good news, however, that some are heeding the call. But will more heed this call?

In my travels around the country, I see evangelical Christians and people of all faiths choosing life, embracing their call to environmental stewardship in unique and inspiring ways. I see them choosing to conserve energy, choosing energy efficient technologies in their homes and congregations, and advocating for renewable energy sources and community-wide solutions. I see them gathering in worship to offer prayers of thanksgiving and petition for God’s creation.
With this growing momentum, people of faith can turn the tide on global warming and other threats to God's creation. The question remains: how will you respond in light of the biblical call to stewardship?

Indeed, how will we respond?