So, I’m enjoying a quick but somewhat relaxing lunch today in between my writing and motherly duties (as my son naps) and am reading a copy of a Q&A article with Mars Hill pastor Rob Bell. Published in the January/February issue of Relevant magazine, the story’s subhead states that Bell “tells it like it is.” And he most certainly did, when it comes to diapers, at least.
As the young “emergent pastor” details what his church members are doing to protect the environment, he identifies a group of moms that are “exploring environmentally friendly diapers.” Why would they do that? Bell explains that “diapers are an assault on the earth.” Being a first-time mom with a toddler who probably now goes through 8-10 diapers daily, I’ve never considered myself as one who was assaulting the earth but I believe my eyes have been opened. I also guess now is not a good time to mention how many diapers my son went through when he was a newborn (did I say he was eating every two to three hours)???
I suppose I could try cloth diapers. Any moms out there gone this route? It would save me about $20 per week (which I could then use to buy more food or pay for gas, which is also polluting the earth.) I wonder what kind of environmentally-friendly diapers Bell’s underground group will come up with – maybe recyclable diapers! And how much of my arm and leg will they require?
However, my first question upon reading this piece was how many diapers has Rob Bell changed? How many of those diapers have been cloth or some other “friendly” type? Did he also wash those cloth diapers? I am not trying to “judge,” but just asking a few questions. Who knows – maybe he could provide me with some tips on how to handle the toxic “assault” to my nose from handling my son’s ever-so-sweet No. 2 diapers. I’m probably being selfish – after all the earth’s needs come before mine, even though it has somehow managed to survive plenty of other “assaults.”
But, what I think stuck out even more to me than the diaper discussion, was how Bell mentioned several times in his Q&A how conservatives and critics have nothing better to do than to “take shots at other Christians” without realizing he was doing the very same thing by declaring “religious people” who question Bell’s theology (and for good reason, I might add) as ones who are fearful and lack faith. Is that not taking shots at other Christians? Where’s the love?!?!
I believe that Christians are commanded to do what they can to help those in need, wisely use the resources given to us and most importantly share the life-saving message of Jesus Christ with those who don’t know Him. But if I’m stressing over how my son’s 70 diapers per week are going to harm the earth rather than speaking up for the unborn babies who are being killed and the hundreds of people living hopeless lives without Christ, I think something is truly wrong. Don’t you think?
