DaytonDailyNews.com

"All I am doing is testifying to the biblical doctrine of creation care as a responsibility that every Christian has, whether they like it or not," says the Rev. Richard Cizik, the vice president for governmental affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals.

Cizik's position on conservation has some evangelicals calling for his resignation. For example, James Dobson, the founder and chairman of Focus on the Family, has asked that Cizik's green speech be quelled or Cizik himself be removed. Dobson's letter, signed by more than 20 other Christian leaders, stated that there was not an evangelical consensus on the issue of climate change and that the emphasis Cizik places on creation care may take away from the standard conservative values of "sanctity of life, the integrity of marriage and the teaching of sexual abstinence and morality to our children."

However, Cizik says he has a tough skin and believes his opponents are "simply wrong."

"My fellow evangelicals have a biblical responsibility to examine the evidence for what is occurring to this Earth, which God has given us, and act accordingly," says Cizik.

For Cizik, it's not just about the science. "The Bible teaches that God is not only redeeming his people but he is also restoring the whole creation. We say that just as we show our love for the Savior by reaching out to the lost, we believe we show our love for the Savior by caring for his creation," Cizik says.

Cizik says it's important for everyone to pitch in and do their part to conserve, but he also states that, "global climate change is a global problem that deserves a global solution, and you can't address that kind of problem without federal legislation."

"What we do now will impact the generations that follow," Cizik says.

At a recent NAE board meeting, Cizik says that Dobson's letter never came up for discussion and the interim president, Leith Anderson, has spoken out in support of Cizik's work with creation care.

Brian Orme is an associate pastor at Community Church in West Milton and a freelance religion writer. Send e-mail to mjorme@gmail.com or read more at www.brianorme.com.