Would Jesus Drive an SUV?

Nov. 21 -- What would Jesus drive? That's the provocative question a group called the Evangelical Environmental Network is asking, and it claims that the answer is something fuel efficient.

In an ad campaign that will air in four states, the group says Christians have a moral imperative to preserve the environment by giving up their gas-guzzling SUVs, minivans and pickups.

"Too many of the cars, trucks and SUVs that are made, that we choose to drive, are polluting our air," the commercial says. "And endangering our health, especially the health of our children."

The television ads, which will run in Indiana, Iowa, Missouri and North Carolina, include a question: "What would Jesus drive?"

The idea is inspired by the popular Christian phrase "What would Jesus do?"

Love Your Neighbor

Baptist minister the Rev. Jim Ball, the executive director of the Evangelical Environmental Network, said the link between the teachings of Jesus and the fuel economy of cars was clear to him.

"When you look at the impact of transportation on human health and on global warming and Jesus was the great physician of body and soul," Ball told Good Morning America. "The most basic teaching of Jesus is to love your neighbor like yourself. How can you do that when you are filling your neighbor's lungs with pollution?"

On Wednesday, Ball met with Bill Ford Jr., chairman of the Ford Motor Company.

"I told him we'd like to see a specific timetable and targets to improve fuel efficiency," Ball said. "He said he'd get back to us."

But does the campaign have a prayer, considering that SUVs, minivans and pickups made up half of all vehicles sold in the United States last year? And do they have the right to connect a religious figure to car sales?

What About the Apostles?

One Christian leader is balking at the idea.

"I think the concept of linking Jesus to an anti-SUV campaign borders on blasphemy, and I regard it as a joke," the Rev. Pat Robertson of the Christian Broadcasting Network said, in a statement.