What Would Jesus Drive? This Author Has a New Idea
Overland Park, Kansas, December, 2009 - What would Jesus drive? That tongue-in-cheek question may have been first posed as a cute way to demonize gas-guzzling SUVs, but author Richard Gasaway suggests that there is more to the story..
Gasaway’s new book bears a title – An Inconvenient Purpose – that’s clearly a twist on two runaway bestsellers: Pastor Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life and Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth. Combining the messages of those two authors appears a foolhardy task, since many believe their audiences share little beyond antagonism for the other’s views.
Yet Gasaway insists our energy-hungry world desperately needs a meeting of the minds on a neutral playing field.
"Energy supply issues transcend economics and politics," he said. "They are Biblical stewardship issues. Christians can and should lead in this area, honoring God by caring for His creation."
Gasaway is an electrical engineer with more than 18 years experience in electrical power plant design. His surname sounds remarkably apt, since he advocates a reduction in gasoline dependence. Gasaway is also a devout Christian and a man deeply troubled by the divisiveness that energy issues trigger.
“I experience the polarization of both conservative and liberal camps first-hand,” Gasaway said. “Attending one meeting, I see frustration build in global-warming believers. In their minds, the case is closed. I pray nobody utters that four-letter word, ‘Bush,’ or the whole meeting may sink into the quicksand of pent-up political frustration.
“The next week, in a meeting discussing energy policy with a group of conservatives, a crescendo of frustration builds on mandated environmental protectionism. Inevitably, somebody invokes a different four-letter word, ‘Gore,’ and the feeding frenzy of anti-liberalism begins.”
Gasaway has friends of both sides of the fence. Rather than speak to liberals or conservatives, the author aims his book squarely at Christians. He believes they should take care of their God-given resources.
“Considering the importance of electricity to us – even if it is underappreciated – we as Christians should seek to practice good stewardship of God’s creation by considering carefully how we generate that energy. We have many options,” Gasaway writes. “The Christian position does not necessarily say, ‘God only approves of solar power’ or ‘Jesus only loves hydrogen power.’
“Most people, including Christians, would love to believe ‘God approves of cheap power.’ We should seek wise application of resources to generate power cleanly, not just efficiently, always striving to make the right choices at the right time.”
Before writing An Inconvenient Purpose: Linking Godly Stewardship and Alternative Energy (WinePress Publishing, 2009), Richard Gasaway served as a contributor to the book, Living the Serenity Prayer (Adams Media, 2007). Gasaway lives in Overland Park, Kansas, with his wife and son.
Simran Sethi, Lacy C. Haynes Professional Chair, University of Kansas School of Journalism and Mass Communication: “Rick Gasaway articulates in clear, compelling language the ways in which we all need to band together to solve our most pressing environmental problems. While I do not agree with every premise, I laud his courageous effort to thoughtfully bridge the environmental divide and acknowledge the powerful role of faith in forging a cleaner, greener energy future.“
Bob Dixson, mayor of Greensburg, Kansas: “When we have discussions on sustainability and ‘green,’ we need to remind ourselves that we are called to be good stewards of the resources the Lord has blessed us with. … I challenge each one of us to be those chosen stewards. Rick's book is biblically based and written from a Christian perspective.”
Lowell Bliss, CreationCareResource.com: “While it may be argued that An Inconvenient Purpose represents a side door into creation care, there’s a lot of evangelical Christians hanging out on the energy side of the building, and Gasaway’s door is large and inviting.“
