Environmentalism has become an increasingly prominent issue in recent years. As Christians, how should we view concerns about taking care of the environment and being good stewards of the earth’s resources? Here is a 9000 word exploration of what the Bible says about environmental stewardship and a Christian perspective on environmentalism.
The Biblical Basis for Caring for Creation
The Bible makes it clear that the earth belongs to God, not to us. “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Psalm 24:1). As His creations, we are entrusted by God to care for the world He has made. Passages such as Genesis 1:26-28 and Genesis 2:15 establish that God appointed humanity to have dominion over the earth and to work it and take care of it. We have a responsibility to be good stewards of the blessings God has given us, including the natural world.
There are numerous verses that speak of God’s love and care for His creation. For example, “How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures” (Psalm 104:24). God values all He has made and calls us to share in that valuing. He is a God of order, not chaos (1 Corinthians 14:33), so it honors Him when we treat the environment He organized with care and respect rather than abuse and destruction.
Scripture warns us against exploiting the earth simply for selfish gain with no concern for its wellbeing. Consider Amos 5:24 – “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” Justice and righteousness should characterize our actions, even in how we interact with the non-human creation. We are called to fulfill our given role for the glory of God, not just our own glory.
Calling to Stewardship
As mentioned, humanity’s God-given vocation is to exercise dominion over the earth as faithful stewards. Stewardship implies responsible management, not destructive domination. We are to cultivate the world in a sustainable way that honors God’s design and cares for all creatures, present and future. Our rights come with responsibilities.
To understand our role as stewards, we must balance two key truths. First, as noted above, the earth belongs to God, not to us. We are managers, not owners. Second, He has graciously elevated us above the rest of earthly creation and given us unique capacities that enable us to carry out tasks that achieve His purposes. With these privileges come duties to serve as stewards.
Stewardship means recognizing our place in the created order – a great honor, yet not permission to destroy or waste the abundances of the world. God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden “to work it and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15). The Hebrew words here imply purposeful tending, not mechanistic domination. We are called to dutifully manage the earth in fruitful service to God.
Effects of the Fall
Of course, sin profoundly impacted humanity’s relationship to the rest of creation. After the Fall in Genesis 3, the ground itself was cursed on account of man (Genesis 3:17), and “the whole creation has been groaning” as it waits to be renewed (Romans 8:22). Humans allowed vice to taint aspects of life that God originally declared “very good” (Genesis 1:31).
As a result of sin, caring for the earth requires battling the stubborn remnants of human corruption. Greed, pride, laziness, shortsightedness – all these tempt us to view the earth as disposable property to exploit according to fleshly desires. But the effects of the Fall should increase our longing for the day when God will fully eradicate sin’s stain from the world He loves.
Though stewardship has become more difficult due to sin, our fundamental responsibility has not changed. Made in God’s image, we retain duties of caretaking even amid a fallen world. The presumption of human entitlement to do whatever we want with the earth, with no concern for unnecessary harm, is unbiblical.
Hope in Christ and the New Creation
Only through Christ can human relationships, both with God and with the larger creation, be fully reconciled and redeemed. God’s love for the world was so great that He sent His only Son to restore what sin had damaged and broken (John 3:16). The cross stands at the center of creation’s hope for healing and renewal.
An ecological eschatology sees the earth as stretched between redemption accomplished at the cross and redemption not yet complete at the final restoration of all things. The Holy Spirit empowers the redeemed to begin living now according to our future hope. Though full renewal awaits the future, we can make real progress toward that hope today.
Living in light of Christ’s resurrection and the promise of new creation (Revelation 21:1-4) should profoundly shape a Christian view of environmental care. Our present labors will not be in vain. God will one day wipe away every tear and make all things new for those who belong to Him.
Loving Our Neighbors
A biblical perspective on environmental care recognizes that human flourishing cannot be separated from the flourishing of the rest of creation. While humans have a unique duty of stewardship, our neighbors include more than just other people. Pollution, species loss, water shortages – these affect human communities now, and poor stewardship today steals from future generations.
Love for neighbor, particularly the poor and vulnerable (Leviticus 19:18; James 1:27), demands protecting the creation that sustains them. Environmental degradation often most severely affects those already impoverished. Therefore, caring for the earth is a way to love the individuals who depend deeply on its fruitfulness.
In an increasingly interconnected world, our “neighbors” whose wellbeing depends on ours spans the globe. As Christians, our generosity and care for neighbors can have far-reaching benefits when guided by a broad biblical perspective on stewardship.
Gratitude, Sabbath, and Contentment
Fostering gratitude, honoring the Sabbath, and cultivating godly contentment can help counteract many of the attitudes that lead to environmental harm. These practices recognize earthly resources as sacred gifts from our Creator, not commodities for exploitation.
When we regularly give thanks to God for His provision (1 Thessalonians 5:18), we are more likely to use what He supplies generously and thoughtfully. Setting aside regular Sabbath rest as God designed also reduces overwork and reminds us of proper priorities and dependence on Him.
Furthermore, as we learn true contentment in Christ rather than constant striving for more (Philippians 4:12; 1 Timothy 6:6), we will find less need for the excess and waste that abuses the earth. Creation care starts in the heart.
A Consistent Pro-Life Ethic
A biblical view of environmental stewardship recognizes the fundamental continuity between human life and the rest of God’s creation. All life is precious to God and merits protection from callous destruction.
This perspective aligns with an emerging model among Christians known as a “consistent pro-life ethic.” Valuing life in the womb, opposing euthanasia laws, and speaking out for environmental responsibility when human flourishing is at stake are all parts of respecting life as God designed it.
Caring for creation is thus a profoundly pro-life issue with deeply biblical roots. We must consider future generations who will inherit the world we leave behind. A consistently pro-life environmental ethic considers their lives as precious as those of people alive today.
Averting Idolatry
Seeking to serve God’s purposes in environmental stewardship aligns with the biblical command to avoid idolatry. Idolatry constitutes not only worshipping statues or false gods, but also prioritizing anything other than the one true God.
Some environmental rhetoric risks crossing into a form of nature worship – ascribing inherent sacredness and “rights” to the natural world apart from relationship to the Creator. But the creation is not divine. All of nature has instrumental value in enabling human thriving and showing God’s glory.
So while responsible biblical stewardship recognizes nature’s value, it avoids deifying the environment itself. Our awe should be directed toward the wise God who crafted each molecule and ecosystem to reveal Himself.
Being Salt and Light
Jesus calls His followers to serve as salt and light in the world (Matthew 5:13-16). Part of this mission involves creative culture-making – living out redeemed values that serve as a witness. The early church did this by adopting abandoned infants (a practice considered shameful in Roman culture), initiating reforms to help the poor, and valuing life consistently from conception to death.
Similarly, Christians today have opportunities to lead the way in a movement toward lifestyles and social systems that support long-term environmental sustainability. Our salt and light can manifest when we model conservation, development of renewable technologies, wise public policies, and graceful political discourse around creation care.
We can seize opportunities to show the world something beautiful – a better way of being human together that points toward Christ. This includes humbly advocating for continued improvement in how our society cares for the stunning world God has crafted.
Balance and Nuance
Environmental issues are complex, and biblically wise solutions require nuance and balance. While Scripture clearly indicates that we should be concerned with caring for creation, it does not mandate specific public policies. Well-meaning Christians may disagree on exactly how to apply a theology of stewardship.
Room should be left for discussion around finding the right balance between conservation and development. And the poor should not be neglected in an idealistic rush to implement programs aimed at environmental reform. Justice is an important concept when assessing environmental policies (Amos 5:24).
Though specifics may be debated, a biblical environmental ethic clearly values sustainability, restrains human greed, considers future generations, and pursues innovation – all to serve God and bless people. There are many possible paths to get there while still honoring core principles.
Cultural Mandate
God’s command to humanity in Genesis 1 to “fill the earth and subdue it” is sometimes called the cultural mandate. Many scholars understand this as a call to create societies, cultivate the earth, build cities, develop technologies, and advance culture. Doing so is part of what it means to bear God’s image.
So technically, environmentalism falls under the cultural mandate as we develop sustainable technologies and practices. We also fulfill this mandate by studying ecosystems in order to manage natural resources in fair and effective ways that create prosperity. Wise cultural development enables human (and non-human) flourishing.
However, we must reject views of the cultural mandate that wrongly equate “subduing the earth” with destructive domination. Our creative subduing should instead enrich the world and provide for its ongoing fruitfulness. We create best when guided by ethics rooted in God’s character and love for all life.
The Problem of Pollution
Widespread pollution exists as a consequence of human sin and error. Yet God graciously designed the earth to be somewhat resilient against even massive pollution. Natural processes can gradually neutralize or incorporate many toxins introduced irresponsibly into soil, water, and air.
However, there are limits, and the staggering scale of modern industry severely tests those limits. Without changes toward less toxic means of production, transportation, farming, and energy generation, pollution could increasingly threaten long-term viability of earth’s interdependent ecosystems.
Though we err to think we can “destroy the earth” which God upholds, love still compels us to avoid polluting His creation. This honors the Father and protects our vulnerable neighbors – current and future – who rely upon a flourishing planet.
Population and Consumption
Two major factors affecting ecological sustainability are population levels and per capita consumption. Though fertility rates are declining globally, continued population growth makes conservation efforts to protect forests, freshwater, and biodiversity more difficult.
However, excessive consumption habits especially in developed nations also substantially strain limited resources. A minority of the world’s population produces a majority of its carbon emissions and waste.
A holistic environmental ethic considers reducing both our population impact and our consumptive practices where feasible. This upholds the biblical call to temperance and pursuit of justice. Family planning can be guided by spiritual wisdom.
Toward Renewal
Environmental stewardship aligned with biblical values will exhibit the following traits:
- Motivated by love for God, neighbor, and the goodness of His creation.
- Guided by proven science yet skeptical of claims that try to silence moral debate.
- Pursuing innovation and development to bless society.
- Aiming for conservation that does not neglect human needs.
- Valuing all life while recognizing humanity’s special status.
- Offering hope through the cross and coming restoration.
As important as environmental care is, it should not distract from the gospel message. But the gospel has much to say about wisely ordering our lives in light of God’s love for the world He made.
Creation care is ultimately about faithfully stewarding the earth God calls good, for the benefit of all life, to the glory and enjoyment of the One who alone can bring forth new creation. When rooted in serving God and others, environmentalism can be a way of expressing obedience in our day.
