The other night I watched part of CNN’s Town Hall where the various Democratic candidates for president talked about the urgency of addressing climate change and their plans for doing so. It set me to thinking about the issue of environmentalism and how my faith connects with it. For the most part I tend to lean to the right politically … and environmental issues are typically seen as being embraced and championed by those who lean more to the left. However—when I evaluate the matter through a biblical grid and not a political one, I’m convinced this is something I am called, as a Christian, to do something about. When you really understand what the Bible has to say about the matter, I’m convinced this is a key part of how we’re to live out our faith.
However, the Bible frames the discussion a bit differently, as it has no word that is translated “environment” or “nature.” The Bible speaks of “creation.” “Nature” is a secular word that implies something just randomly happened. But “creation” is a word that connotes intentionality and purpose—i.e., you don’t have “creation” without “a Creator.” It suggests someone somewhere went to the trouble to make it and put it in place. Thus, from my perspective as a follower of Jesus, the issue is not environmentalism and ecology so much as it is creation care.
Now, that doesn’t mean I’m a pantheist—that everything is God … that all the trees, mountains, hills, and oceans are all divine. We don’t worship the earth—we understand the difference between creation and Creator. But the Bible is clear that God is Creator and the handiwork of creation reflects His glory. It belongs to Him and, out of deference and respect for Him, we have a responsibility to care for it.
In Genesis chapter one, after the Lord created the first human being, he said as part of his charge, “Fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground (v. 28).” The meaning of that word “rule” is not “dominate” or “exploit” or “subdue” so much as it is “steward” or “be responsible for.” In issuing that charge, God was not saying it is OK to consume everything and use the earth however we please without regard for the consequences. Yes, He does grant us permission to use what it produces for food and sustenance. He is saying it’s OK to enjoy its bounty. But the sense of what God is asking Adam to do is to treat it in a deferential fashion … to act as His representative for its ongoing care … to respect it and treat it as a gift … to proactively care for it and help it to flourish … to use it in a way that sustains human life and allows it to more fully reflect His glory.
As a result, I am convinced that whenever I minimize the use of energy—whenever I turn out a light, or recycle something, or save a little water—it’s a little act of worship that nor only cares for creation but also blesses the Creator. Just as God asks us to relate to other people in courteous and respectful ways because they are made “in His image,” so He longs for us to treat that which He has made with a similar sense of respect.
One of the things that is so ironic to me is that people who don’t believe in God, or whose notion of God is far afield from the biblical notion, are typically leading the charge as it relates to environmental issues. For if you believe that there’s no God and nature and physical matter is all there is, then you also believe it’s temporary … it’s going to someday be discarded. And if it’s going to someday be discarded, then what’s the incentive to take care of it? Why bust it to preserve something that, in the end, is going to wear out and deteriorate anyway?
But the Bible, in addition to saying that creation is the handiwork of God, also mentions that it’s under a curse. It doesn’t fully function the way it’s supposed to. That’s why some bad things happen from time to time—floods, droughts, natural disasters. But the Bible also points to creation’s eventual liberation and redemption. Romans 8:21 says, “Creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.” The end game of the Christian faith is not the destruction of creation but, rather, the redemption of creation. And the prophet Isaiah gives us a glimpse of what that will look like: “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever (Isaiah 55:12-13).”
So—as human beings responsible to represent God and charged with the responsibility to serve as caretakers of His creation, what should we do? For one thing, we need to recognize there’s no disparity between giving ourselves to this and being about the things we’ve typically associated with being a follower of Jesus—evangelism, discipleship, service, etc. Many of us, when we think about being God’s representative, think about helping people experience the presence of Jesus in their lives. That’s why Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead … so people could come to God. But it doesn’t mean our efforts in this regard should come at the expense of being involved in creation care. For our job, as Christians, is to work for healing in every area of life affected by the fall. That means we don’t just care about the sin problem, but we also care about and work toward remedying other stuff. We address unjust social structures that impoverish people and prevents them from realizing their God-given potential. And part of that means we should do what we can to help nature flourish the way God intended.
But at the same time, we need to do what we do with humility because … if people see it as a political issue and not a Kingdom issue, the result will be disagreement and division. Perhaps we can all find ways to consume less. Consciously turn off the light when you leave a room … turn up the thermostat a degree or two … save paper when and where you can. I’m not talking about living in a grass hut without electricity—in fact, I hate to camp! I’m talking about simple, little stuff. And perhaps we can recycle—not because we’re following some fad … or trying to be trendy, or green, or politically correct. Doing it out of love and deference for a God who has given us the blessing of this planet and we take seriously the admonition He gave Adam in Genesis 1 to be His representative when it comes to taking care of it.