Putting Lipstick on a Pig

Recently at the grocery store: "Hey hunny - let's get this the new Moose Tracks frozen yogurt...after all it's yogurt; it's good for you." When you look at the nutritional info the yogurt is still packed with sugar and fat...just not as much as the Paula Deen-two-sticks-of-butter-extra-chocolate-heavy-cream-and-probably-two-pieces-of-bacon-for-good-measure version. So is it Good for you? Or less bad. You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig!

The other day I listened to an old Catalyst podcast with a "creation care" theme. It was encouraging to hear honest dialogue within the church critically considering how to engage this important issue. It hurts that often Christians have an image of being ignorant about what it means to care for God's green earth. While overall the conversation was positive, certain moments betrayed some of the naivete that the church still holds.

One of the creative designers at Catalyst had recently bought a Toyota Prius, giving the hosts a perfect opportunity to interview a Christian intentionally making a environmentally impactful decision. During the spot, the host quipped about checking out 12 mile per gallon Tahoes that weekend while the creative designer was "saving the environment" in his 60 mpg Prius.

And that's where I had to laugh. I hate to say it, but driving a Prius is not saving the environment, or as they later said, it is not "good" for the environment. Here's what I mean: If you smoke 4 packs a day we might say this is bad for your lungs. Now lets say you drop to one pack. Is this "good" for your body? Maybe it's relatively good, but really, it's "less bad" for you.

Driving a Prius is not "good" for the environment, it's only "less bad" than a Tahoe. Or maybe a nicer way to put it is, " a Prius is more environmentally responsible." A Prius still burns fossil fuels; it still requires steel and aluminum that is mined somewhere causing deforestation and toxic run-off; it still uses plastics derived from fossil fuels. Really, the only "good" option is walking or riding a bike.

Now before we go on a big guilt trip, I'm not saying we shouldn't drive cars (or that we shouldn't eat ice cream for that matter)! The point of all of this is to be honest with ourselves and with those we dialogue with. In this way we as Christians can take a big step toward shedding a layer of ignorance that, fairly or unfairly has been applied to us. It's all about presenting ourselves as honest thinkers who are able to critically engage in the most important issues facing our world and humanity. And it starts with little things like ice cream...

Our language not only helps us gain respect with outsiders, it benefits our daily lives. By using "good for us" language in situations where "less bad" really applies we hurt ourselves. If we are in less unhealthy relationships this is not "good", this is "less bad." If we watch less porn this is by no means "good", but "less bad". If we gossip less...we get the idea. And don't get me wrong, progress is to be celebrated in these areas and should be rightly seen as "relatively good compared to where we've been." We can rest in the grace of God as we reach these milestones but in the end, settling for "less bad" is not settling for "the best." Who wouldn't want the best? Let's not let our language trick us from reaching it...

So how about it? Have you experienced the "lipstick on a pig" phenomena? What pigs are you dressing up in your life?