Can Conservative Evangelicals Hug Trees?

It seems rather odd to many, while others see the obvious connection. Conservative Christians around the country are starting to value and embrace a more natural way of living. Some are even labeling themselves "environmentalists" for the first time. It is still an internal battle for many, who have always assumed that their beliefs differ too greatly to find commonality with those involved in conservation.

Peter Illyn, and his group Target Earth, are all about "serving the earth and serving the poor." At first glance, this seems to be just another group of tree huggers working for their cause, until you learn that Illyn previously served as the pastor of Foursquare Church in Portland. He took a four month sabbatical in 1989, hiking 1,000 miles of the Pacific Coast Trail, studying nature and scripture. It was during that time that he discovered a natural marriage between the two. Now he takes his "green gospel" to Christians around the nation. Younger Believer tend to be more open to ideas of conservation. Older evangelicals have drawn a hard line in the sand, and tend to fear anything that smells eco-friendly.

"Outside" magazine, a national outdoor and recreation periodical, ran a 12-page article in March of 2001, highlighting this "greening of the gospel." "Outside" says that for some Christians, environmentalism "still carries the taint of loose-moral liberalism. There's a suspicion that Illyn's message could be the thin end of the wedge: tree-hugging today; gay marriage tomorrow. Lions may one day lie down with the lambs, but can the beef-eating, pro-life, Jesus-is-Lord soul savers lie down with the tofu-frying, pro-choice, proudly pagan flower children long enough to save the earth?"