As an ER director and hospital chief of staff, Dr. J. Matthew Sleeth says he felt like he was “straightening deck chairs on the Titanic.” He saw the increasing amount of patients struck with environmental illnesses—particularly asthma and cancer—as symptomatic of a much greater sickness. In looking for a way to respond, he turned to a source outside of the medical establishment. He turned to God.

He says God told him that humankind was failing as stewards of the earth, that their life-sustaining environment was being spoiled by pollution, waste and neglect. So he moved his family into a smaller house, cut back on energy use, and gave up many of their material possessions. Then the devout evangelical Christian started testifying.

He laid out his message in his book Serve God, Save the Planet. The idea is part of a Christian-based environmental movement called “creation care,” which Dr. Sleeth defines as “caring for creation because we love the Creator.”

Creation care’s union of God, science and activism has galvanized parts of the Christian community and polarized others. Some connect its environmental message with Bible passes like Ezekiel 34:18: Is it not enough for you to feed on the green pastures? Must you also trample the rest with your feet? Other evangelical camps see it as defection, an alliance with liberal political forces.

Sleeth contends that politics are irrelevant. “The message is universal because the problem is universal,” he says. “People have confused consumerism with religion.”

Sleeth has now toured for five years, visiting all sorts of diverse audiences. He anticipates a receptive crowd at First Presbyterian Church of Monterey. “They live in an area of incredible natural beauty,” he says. “I’ve found that they value the creation. However, many probably feel their lives are too busy, and that they are ruled by the things they own. They want a deeper sense of community and a greater spiritual life.”  

DR. J. MATTHEW SLEETH speaks this Monday at the First Presbyterian Church of Monterey, 501 El Dorado St. in Monterey, at 7pm. Entrance is free. 373-3031.