I wanted to expand on last week’s entry about “going green.”  If you missed out on that entry, be sure to catch up because its not about what you think its about based on that summation.

I firmly believe that we (human beings) get things backwards sometimes.  We know our world is messed up, so we try to fix the world - and not the people that live on the world, control the world, destroy the world, etc.  Example: We try to “go green” by inventing hybrids, building recycling stations, and growing “organic” products.  You can produce all the hybrids you want, but if people still don’t care about other people, things are never going to really change.  I believe this is what Jesus had in mind when he said the most important commandment  was to love god via loving people.  If every human being genuinely cared about every other human being (or at least every other human being), then I believe our world would be a lot greener… in more ways than one.  None of this is to say that I don’t support the green movement.  I do.  I believe loving people and loving the planet are two important things.  I also believe you can combine the two for one dynamic, world-changing effect.

Here are some ways you can go green and love people at the same time (go green via loving people)

1. Car Pool Evangelism/Discipleship:  If you’re a Christian, you probably have that certain person really want to share Christ with.  Effective evangelism and discipleship requires time, it requires a relationship.  Often this relationship is with someone you spend a lot of time with, a fellow student, a co-worker, etc.  So, what better way to initiate more time together (for talking/listening/sharing) than a car pool?  You could lead someone to Christ and cut down on harmful emissions.

2. Feed the Hungry, Not the Landfill: Do an inventory of everything you use on a weekly basis in your home, from food to laundry detergent to toilet paper.  Try to categorize these things (and more importantly the quantity you use) into three categories: absolutely necessary; beneficial but not necesarry; and pure pleasure.  Try going a month using only the “absolutely necessary” category.  Use the extra money you save at Wal-Mart that month to sponsor a mission organization, a church, or another benevolent charity.  You’ll cut down on waste, probably lose some weight, and help the needy community.  Take it a step further and go a year using only the “absolutely necessary” category.

3. Save the Ozone/Save a Village: The Mvule Project is a great organization to sponsor.  Visit their site to get all of the wonderful trees, but here are the basics: Certain regions in Africa have been completely deforested, the people lack education, employment, and health care to name a few.  When you buy an Mvule tree from the Mvule project you ultimately provide job opportunities and stimulate economic growth which leads to the building of schools, churches, and hospitals.  Your one tree will change the future of generations.  You’ll also be helping to alleviate the deforestation problem that is facing the globe.

Those are a few of my favorites.  Sound Cheesy?  A little.  Simple?  Yes.  But real change does not happen over night.  It happens in small steps.  We can all take at least one step.  I have more to list, and will do so in the future.  In the meantime, please share your ideas about how to go green via loving people.  More importantly, act on your ideas!