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Christians and the Environment

By: Jonathan Bastian

How can Christians become good stewards of the environment?

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Overview

Polar Bear

I am almost certain all of you have heard about "Going Green" or Global Warming or Environmentalism, possibly even "Save the Polar Bears", or save some other animal because the arctic ice is melting. I am guessing that some of you are tired of the constant torrent of related discussions. You may think, "What is the big deal"? Well there may be more than just "saving the Polar Bears."

We, as Christians, play an important role in the environment and the big campaign to stop global warming. However, first we must establish where the vast world, described in Psalm, "There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number - living things both large and small."(3), came from.

The most well-known account of the creation of the universe is found in the first chapter of Genesis. However, in Colossians the relationship between God and the universe is revealed. It tells us that everything in the universe was created by Him and for Him. "For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." (1) John reiterates this when he says, "Through Him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."(2) Since God created everything for him, this amazing and intricate world honors and worships him, "Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the Lord, for He comes, He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth."(4) The concept is repeated in Revelation, "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."(9) We are given a gift by God to even have the opportunity to co-exist with the supreme being of the universe here on earth. What we do to creation essentially affects our relationship with God. We honor our bodies, our fellow human beings, our wives and husbands and rightfully so we should honor the earth we live on.

Not only does the God's world worship Him but it also teaches its caretakers valuable lessons, "But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind."(5) By looking at numerous scriptures in the Bible, we are able to learn where the vast and intricate world came from as well as its relationship to God.

The third component in the triangle is the relationship between God, us, and the universe. The book of Genesis reveals one of the main purposes and responsibilities of man, to be stewards over his creatures, "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it."(8) Additionally, "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.' So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.'"(6)

Not only did God want us to protect His creation because He created it to worship him but also to provide for us. However, in order for the creation to provide for us we must obey God's commands, "If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit."(7)

Now that we have looked at God's commands for us and the reason behind it, we must analyze how we have done. Have we been faithful to God in following his command? Well, let's look at some statistics:

Recycling

Are you doing what you can to help preserve and maintain the environment in which we live in? This is where the ever-common "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" is mentioned, though you may feel that the phrase or slogan may be over-used and has no value, it does actually deserve a lot of merit and can remind us how simple protecting the environment really is. It might be something as small as recycling a soda bottle but every step in the right direction helps. See the article "How can Christians be good stewards of the environment" for more information on ways you can help.

At the end of the first 6 days of the universe, God "saw that it was good." Would God call the earth "Good" today? So, have we been faithful to God in following his command: "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."(6)? It is quite doubtful that our Heavenly Father would be pleased with the way we have followed his command. We must change our current course and follow God's direction, using the "Lighthouse" as our guide.

What can we do to be stewards of his universe?