Why we should care for the environment?| Genesis 1:26,28; 2:15; Phil 1:27; Psalm 8:3-9; | Caleb Torgerson
What does it mean to be a Steward of the Earth? This is an idea that I read about and discussed in my environmental science class. I read Stewards of Eden by Sandra L. Richter, a book about “what scripture says about the environment and why it matters.” First, let’s see what scripture says about stewardship,
Genesis 1:26/28 “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; 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 in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
As we are made in God’s own image, we are taught to rule over the creation as stewards for God. Further in Genesis 2:15 “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” The words work and care are used to show us that ruling over creation doesn’t mean abusing and overusing the resources God provided, it means caring for and using what is needed while preserving for the future. In today’s day and age, we have technology that makes the production of crops, meat, and other products extremely quick and convenient. However, this is at a cost. We are either putting the animals in harsh conditions, or using fields until they can’t produce efficiently and creating new fields. This is not a sustainable way to move forward because as Christians, we are taught to care not abuse.
Creation care tends not to be talked about as much in churches. However, it is a necessary part of the Christian life because we are called to live “in a manner worthy of the
gospel of Christ" (Phil 1:27). Just as Alister McGrath says, “This is not our world, over which we have sovereignty; it is God's, and we are his stewards, appointed and called to tend his world as something that has been entrusted to us."
You may think, I’m just one person how can I make an impact on creation care. The first thing would be to just get started, there’s simple things that you can do to help. Reducing waste by purchasing less unnecessary items, recycling recyclable items, and composting compostable items. Those are just a few examples of some personal steps, but you could also find out if there is any opportunities in your local area to help with creation care. While at face value these steps may seem miniscule, taking the simple steps is necessary in living out a Christ focused life. As we all know, actions tend to speak louder than words meaning the steps you take could impact somebody else to take some simple steps as well.
Looking at a different passage in the Bible, Psalms 8:3-9 “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
This Psalm written by David is an important reminder that God cares for us and he gave us this earth to live on and care for. As I took that class last semester, I realized that sometimes I may take that for granted. We’ve all been blessed with a creation to care for, but we haven’t done the best job. Whether you feel discouraged to try and help the problem or you may be in denial that the problem exists, it’s important to live out a life “worthy of the gospel of Christ.” (Phil 1:27)
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