Evangelical and fundamentalist Christians in general (and I include myself) have been among the slowest to embrace the urgent need to care for the earth. In my opinion, this is due to the combination of a political allegiance with a theological blind spot. We must be careful that our desire to have distinct political lines and clearcut choices does not interfere with our loyalty to God and His word. In this first of a series of posts, I offer four biblical truths about creation care that I believe are indisputable.
1. God Created the Earth and It Belongs to Him.
“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and all those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers” (Ps. 24:1–2).
I remember Dr. Laverne Miley, former Ivory Coast medical missionary and professor at Welch College, beginning Environmental Science class at least once each week by reading these verses. They contain the foundational truths that everything we see and know belongs to its Creator.
2. God Called the Earth Good.
“And God saw that it was good” (Gen. 1:10).
“And God saw that it was good” (Gen. 1:12).
“And God saw that it was good” (Gen. 1:18).
“And God saw that it was good” (Gen. 1:21).
“And God saw that it was good” (Gen. 1:25).
“And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good” (Gen. 1:31).
Can there be any question how God feels about His creation? Beware of any theology or philosophy that teaches or implies that the earth, our bodies, or physical matter are evil or worthless. God loves His creation, and it is good.
3. The Earth Is God’s Gift to Us.
“The heavens are the Lord’s heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man” (Ps. 115:6).
If the earth is God’s gift to us, we must be careful to nurture it and not abuse or exploit it, even unintentionally. Let us not be guilty of despising God’s good gifts.
4. Care of the Earth Is Our God-Given Responsibility.
“Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Gen. 1:28).
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it” (Gen. 2:15).
Our original mandate was to watch over and care for the earth and all of its inhabitants. It’s part of what it means to bear God’s image and to reflect His glory.
Some might question whether humanity’s fall into sin has changed all of the above. I think the Bible indicates otherwise. To that question I’ll turn next Thursday.
(All Bible passages in this post come from the English Standard Version.)
Continue the Series: 7 Reasons Christians Can’t Afford to Ignore Creation Care