Creation Care: The Responsibility of Christian Believers

Once I found myself in a conversation with a friend about whether environmental justice was an extra-Biblical addition to Christianity. My friend made a good point–can’t things like recycling or advocating for environmentally friendly laws take our attention away from knowing God and making him known? Doesn’t it make us feel needless guilt when the earth will be destroyed and God will make a new one anyway?

In some ways, I got her argument. But ultimately I didn’t agree. I believe that creation care is the responsibility of Christian believers because of what I see in scripture.

Environmental Stewardship

One reason I disagreed with my friend was because practicing environmental stewardship isn’t an all or nothing type thing, as this argument was pitching it. We get to play whatever role we can based on what we are able to do when it comes to creation care. For example, for a season I used cloth diapers with some of my kids. But because of my bandwidth and health reasons I couldn’t always do this. 

Secondly, this leans into the Christian theology of escapism, what Skye Jethani calls “evacuation” in his book, Futureville. This doctrine is pervasive, essentially saying what we do now doesn’t matter because it is also going to burn anyway. But in scripture even destruction has the overarching context of restoration. As Christians, we engage in the long game of building what will last in a fire–gold and silver (1 Corinthians 3:12-15), for what we do now has eternal value. And honoring God by caring for creation is part of this, as well as helping all people experience dignity and flourishing, which creation helps provide.

But the above two points only matter in light of the third one. This one is that God actually cares about the creation he has made. Here are some verses I found about this

God’s Value For Creation Care in the Bible

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” Genesis 2:15 (NIV)

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” Psalm 24:1 (NIV)

“The land must never be sold on a permanent basis, for the land belongs to me. You are only foreigners and tenant farmers working for me. With every purchase of land you must grant the seller the right to buy it back.” Leviticus 25:23-24 (NLT)

“How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number—living things both large and small.” Psalm 104:24-25 (NIV)

“For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.” Romans 8:19-21 (NIV)

“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible… all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:16-17 (NIV)

“The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.” Proverbs 12:10 (NIV)

Creation Care to Meet Our Needs or for Something Bigger?

A couple weeks ago I was reading a passage about the Israelites going to war, giving general boundaries in war. Then something jumped out to me: they were specifically told to not destroy the trees (Deuteronomy 20:19). In a passage about killing people, they were told to protect fruit-bearing trees so the people would have food! And yes, this needed to be clarified, because destruction of everything often comes with war. Even at the base-level of using creation for our own needs, we still have to ensure it isn’t misused or pointlessly destroyed.

But there are hundreds of passages about the majesty and beauty of creation, from poetry to prophesy. When Christians are responsible for creation only to meet their own personal needs, we are missing something vital to the flourishing of humankind. Creation doesn’t just serve humans needs, but it’s purpose is to point us to God’s artistry, his character, power and wonder. Creation is a path to the mystery of God. As we care for creation, we might do better to think of ourselves as art gallery owners, because we know the worth of the master painter.

If you also find yourself in a conversation with a friend about whether environmental stewardship is part of the way we live out our faith in action, hopefully this has helped confirm it for you. In our daily life the Bible calls us to see God’s glory in nature, be compassionate to living things, and ultimately, to care for creation.