On Oct. 7, the Bible is going green.

A new revised standard version Bible will be composed of environmentally friendly products. The cover is 100 percent cotton/linen and manufactured in factories which purify the air and water they use. Among other environmentally friendly features, the ink used is soy-based and the paper is recycled.

The Green Bible also contains over 1,000 verses highlighted in green ink which correlate to the environment. Although the Green Bible has noble intentions, the Bible is a holistic document pertaining to the human condition and was not intended to address certain issues over others.

Every Bible does have verses pertaining to how people should take care of this Earth as in the New Testament, Matthew 6:26, “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns. And yet your heavenly Father feeds them.”

However, the Bible also has verses pertaining to how people should eat, treat each other, deal with money, respect their governments and many other subjects. Because of its deliberate focus, the Green Bible brings apprehension to its sincerity.

“I think if there was a Green Tora would be fine as long as it did not overshadow other main principles” stated Brandon Marks, a senior media studies major and President of Hillel, a Jewish student organization.

At best, the Green Bible walks a thin line between good intentions and self-interest.

“I think that God can use this Green Bible as a tool to attract environmentalists to his word,” said Megan Hencke, senior Spanish major and member of the Lutheran Campus Ministry.

Faith should never become the means and justification for political agenda, and the Green Bible has a sense of persuasion. Consider if the message or focus were different. The Bible has verses which could be used to justify war. Luke 10:19 says, “Behold, I have given you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

Highlighting only similar passages would seem to support aggression, and that statement would contradict faith.

“[I]f people start to use this for selfish aims, that’s where the problem lies,” said Brittany Sheldon, junior literacy education major and member of the Lutheran Campus Ministry.

The Green Bible may have an environmentally friendly message, but the Bible should only have its original message.

Just as the separation of church and state suggests leaving out religious bias in political and public institutions, political beliefs should remain separate from faith.