Biblical Foundations for God’s Physical Creation

Whether it’s Hollywood, Al Gore, or the public address announcer at the baseball game telling us that “good sports always recycle,” we are constantly reminded of the importance of being environmentally conscious. One reaction is to label all those who care about the environment as “hippies” or “tree-huggers.” On the other hand, doesn’t the Bible teach that God’s children have some responsibility to His creation? If so, what should this look like? As Christians, we certainly have more thinking to do on this issue.

First of all, we need start where the Bible starts - “In the beginning” (Genesis 1:1). When God created the earth, He called everything on it “good” (Genesis 1). This means that plants, animals, rivers, mountains, etc. were all part of His original design. On the sixth day, man was uniquely created in God’s image and was given authority by God to rule over the rest of creation (Genesis 1:26-29). This dominion is not merely a license to hunt animals or cut down forests, but rather the privilege and responsibility of using God’s creation for His glory and the good of others. It is a gift to be used wisely for our daily sustenance, our personal enjoyment, and ultimately our worship of God.

There is, however, another side to this issue. Given that all men are born sinful (Romans 3:23), each of us has a tendency to turn God’s gifts into idols. Some people become enamored with God’s creation, focusing their time and energy into protecting plants and animals without considering God in the process. They see the work of art, but not the Artist. They have missed the message that the writer of Psalm 104 got: “O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.” The entire created order puts God’s matchless creativity, power, and wisdom on display. To miss this is sinful.

Obviously, we are left with a lot of gray areas. There is not a specific list of do’s and don’ts in Scripture in the area of environmental stewardship, neither can we cite a verse that says, “Excessive littering corrupts the soul.” We need to begin more broadly by letting Scripture set our agenda and our goals. Our original mandate was to fill the earth and subdue it (Genesis 1:28), and we should do this responsibly. We don’t want to carelessly deplete natural resources or callously dispense of entire animal species in our quest for corporate expansion; however, using natural resources is not evil, as long as we remember that we are accountable to God in the process. A measure of moderation and thoughtfulness would be in order so that we might best use what He has given us.

This kind of concern for the environment is good, but it must not take precedence over our concern for the spiritual good of those around us. And we should not put more effort into protecting animals than we do supporting those who are vulnerable or in need in our own communities. On the last day, all people created in the image of God will have to stand before Him with eternity in the balance. This is not true of the spotted owl, the blue whale, or Yellowstone National Park. Our marching orders come from the Great Commission, not PETA or big businesses.

In the end, our concern for the environment is important because it is tied to Christ’s mission in the world. We learn in Colossians 1:16 that it was through Him that all things were created, and that they were created for Him. Christ is restoring not only men and women, but also the entire physical creation. He will reign as the curse is completely reversed. Therefore, we are to set our hope on a “new heavens and a new earth” as our ultimate destination (2 Peter 3:13, emphasis added).

Those who subscribe to doomsday predictions of environmental destruction have it right in the sense that the present order of things will not last forever. However, it is not an asteroid, but God who will visit the earth with a judgment of fire (2 Peter 3:10-13). There will be no debate about that global warming. Only those who have put their faith in Christ and His death and resurrection will be saved. As Christians, our stewardship of the environment ought to be evidence that we look forward to living in a renewed earth in the presence of the Lord Jesus for eternity. Now that’s a healthy environment.