What Would Jesus Drive?

I am sure every reader of my blog has pondered the deep and philosophical question, "Would Jesus drive?"

It seems that even some Evangelicals are now concerned with the impact car culture is having on the world. While their website doesn't give us the make and model of Jesus' probable ride, it does seem to promote some degree of conservation, and it also touches on some recognition of the human cost of our appetite for foreign oil.

http://www.whatwouldjesusdrive.org/

As Christians we confess Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. The Lordship of Christ extends throughout every area of our life. Nothing is excluded from His Lordship. This includes our transportation choices. The Risen Lord Jesus is concerned about the kinds of cars we drive because they affect his people and his creation.

Obeying Jesus in our transportation choices is one of the great Christian obligations and opportunities of the twenty-first century. Pollution from vehicles has a major impact on human health and the rest of God's creation. It contributes significantly to the threat of global warming. Our reliance on imported oil from unstable regions threatens peace and security.

Making transportation choices that threaten millions of human beings violates Jesus' basic commandments: "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Mk. 12:30-31); and "Do to others as you would have them do to you" (Lk. 6:31).

In making our transportation choices with the Risen Lord Jesus, we believe He wants us to travel in ways that reduce pollution and consumption of gasoline.

We therefore invite the evangelical community to engage in a serious, sustained dialogue with these urgent questions: What transportation choices would Jesus make? What Would Jesus Drive? If we do that with faithful submission to biblical truth and humble exploration of the best scientific data, biblical Christians can help create a better society for our families and our children’s children.

For ourselves, as we renew our confession of Christ as Lord of every corner of our lives we pledge:

• to walk, bike, car pool, and use public transportation more;
• to purchase the most fuel efficient and least polluting vehicle available that truly fits our needs;
• to educate others about the moral concerns and solutions associated with transportation;
• to encourage automobile manufacturers to produce the most fuel efficient and least polluting vehicles possible that fit the needs of the American people; and,
• to urge government leaders to support public transportation, a significant increase in fuel economy standards, and research and development for promising new transportation technologies that reduce pollution and increase fuel efficiency.

In obedience to Christ our Lord, who is the Creator and Reconciler of all things (Col. 1:15-20), we call on all our Christian brothers and sisters in the United States to join us in this Call to Action. And we invite all our neighbors to reflect anew and join the dialogue on the way our transportation choices are moral choices. Today the excessive gasoline consumption resulting from the cars, SUVs and trucks we drive is causing serious air pollution and global warming, tragically harming those Jesus died to save (John 3:16). It is time to repent and change. Together, let us enhance human health, protect creation, and help promote stability and peace in the world.

I have heard it asserted that, in fact, Jesus would not drive- he would walk (see video below). All speculation aside, I happen to know that Christ rides a touring rig with 26" wheels.