The outdoors captured my attention and imagination from an early age. Images of oceans, mountains, vegetation, wildlife, and rivers flash through my memory. It was my original passion. It remains so. This passion revolved around exploration, climbing, rafting, hiking, camping and other recreations. I marveled at the natural world. I asked questions, read and explored.
I found more than what I had been seeking. This curiosity led me to a relationship with the creator, with God. God knew me from my time in the womb (and before). I didn’t know God. However, the living, loving and creative God brought me into the family because of what I saw in creation. Many scientists become believers because of the intricacies, beauty, and intelligence they discover “under a microscope.” Science and faith are not mutually exclusive. Rather, science is one way to know and understand God.
God’s command for us
Creation care will be a regular segment of this writer’s blog—the environment, climate change, nature, wildlife. Some Christians have looked at saving the earth as a left-wing liberal issue. Instead, Christians need to remember God’s marching orders about being caretakers of our creator’s creation.
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 (NIV). Or, Adonai, God, took the person and put him in the garden of Eden to cultivate and care for it(CJB).
Caring for the earth. Being a good steward. Using it, but not ruthlessly. We are not to exploit God’s creation for selfish wants, destroying beauty, and elevating disunity within the human creation.
Billy Graham preached: “Why should we be concerned about the environment? It isn’t just because of the dangers we face from pollution, climate change, or other environmental problems—although these are serious. For Christians, the issue is much deeper: We know God created the world, and it belongs to Him, not us. Because of this, we are only stewards or trustees of God’s creation, and we aren’t to abuse or neglect it. The Bible says, ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it’ (Psalm 24:1). When we fail to see the world as God’s creation, we will end up abusing it. Selfishness and greed take over, and we end up not caring about the environment or the problems we’re creating for future generations.”
Seeking the practical and the spiritual
Search for Christian denominations’ position on the environment, and you’ll see most if not all declaring the importance of “environmentalism,” including climate change. Other faiths likely have similar views.
This is simply an introduction. I’d like us to begin a dialogue and stimulate action in our homes, churches and communities. In these blogs we’ll look at practical things we can do and delve into the spiritual. God is in all things. Caretaking the environment is an act of worship—not of the creation, but of the creator. Let’s worship together.
