In the first part of this post, I gave a broad definition of an environmentalist as “someone who cares deeply about the environment, and is prepared to do all he or she can to protect and enhance it”. Interestingly, since writing that, I have come across a number of articles discussing the difference between the “conservationist” of the first 70 years of the 20th century and the “environmentalist” who was invented in the late 60s. To quote one explanation of the difference:
“In the past, conservationists were concerned with leaving the environment in a better state than the condition he or she found it. The contemporary environmentalism movement, on the other hand, increasingly seems to view humankind as an inherently intrusive interloper upon nature. This may explain why the debate on environmental issues has become increasingly polarised”.
Clearly no Bible believing Christian could be an environmentalist under this kind of definition. We are not “interlopers upon nature”, rather we are the pinnacle of God’s creative genius. We are part of “nature”. And so, for the sake of this post, I stick with my somewhat simple definition in the first paragraph above.
The First Reason: I am a human being, created in God’s image and given dominion over the earth
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. (Genesis 1:26-31)
The first reason that I am an environmentalist is related to my identity as a human being made in the image of God. If God had given dominion over the earth to monkeys or meerkats or hyenas or dinosaurs, there would be little expectation that the planet would be well cared for. These animals cannot, in any conscious and intentional way, take decisions made on the big picture, over the long term, with an eye on consequences of their actions on the complexity of ecosystems around the world. Sometimes their instinctive decisions might be quite “environmentally friendly”, but conscious care for the environment is not the driving force behind their action.
But we are not monkeys or meerkats or hyenas or dinosaurs. We are human beings. We are made in the image of God. Part of what that means is that we have the faculties required to grasp the consequences of our actions in a quite abstract, future-focussed way. Therefore part of the “dominion” or authority that God has given us over the earth is to treat it responsibly with a concern not just for what we can get out of it, but how we can leave it in a better way than we found it and, who knows, maybe even minimise the effects of the Fall.
We need to be careful though. There is a fine line to be walked between “being responsible” and doing God’s job for him. There is fine line between the God-given dominion of Genesis 1 and the God-likening idolatry of Genesis 11. For instance, I find the current debate over man-made climate change compelling. I read both sides of the argument and often struggle to know what to believe. But as a Christian, as a theist, it saddens me that many Christians have lost sight of the fact that God is the God of our climate. I recently asked an astute, theologically aware group of young Christians if any of them had ever prayed that God would intervene and prevent our climate from having the devastating effects forecast by some scientists. Not one of them had. They seemed to believe that God could heal the sick and regenerate the lost and bring revival to Aberdeen, but climate was somehow “our job”.
And so remembering and acknowledging the sovereignty of God, as image bearers of God called to rule God’s Earth, we have a God-given responsibility to look after this planet. This is why every Christian should be an environmentalist.
The Second Reason: The world and all that is in it exists primarily for the glory of God and a badly cared for planet does not reflect his glory as it should.
God did not created the earth because he needed company or because he needed a project or because he needed anything. In fact, if God needed anything, he would not be God and would not have been able to create as he did! No God created first and foremost for his own glory.
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:16)
All was created for Him. It is all moving towards Him, giving Him glory and honour and praise. It is not just the heavens that tell of the glory of God (Psalm 19:1) but all creations speaks to some degree or another of his glory.
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse (Romans 1:20)
The second reason I am a committed environmentalist is that I want to see God glorified increasingly in all things. I want to see his glory reflected in my life, in the life of Gerrard Street, in the life of Aberdeen. That’s why I’m a pastor seeking to do the work of an evangelist. But I also want to see his glory increasingly reflected in the world. When I see a litter strewn area on a forest walk my heart sinks. When I see an animal’s very existence put in danger because of some corporate, money-making scheme, I want to cry. When I read of polluted material getting into people’s water supply and killing them, I want to do something about it. Why? For the glory of God.
The Christian environmentalist recycles for the glory of God. He writes letters to his MP for the glory of God. He uses LCD lights in his house for the glory of God. He contributes to the building of wells in Africa for the glory of God. He complains about the decimation of rain-forests for the glory of God. He goes on a litter pick-up in the local vicinity for the glory of God. Whatever you do, do all for the glory of God!
And so these are my reasons for being an environmentalist and why I believe every Christian should be one. They are liberating and challenging and profound reasons that need not lead to guilt and self-flagellation but can instead bring great purpose and meaning to our conservational actions and activities.
Thanks for that Matthew – it’s refreshing to read a well thought-out post from a theological perspective without getting tangled up in scientific arguments. Although I happen to think science does provide compelling, logical evidence for both the damage we do to our planet and the good things we can do to help it, you are right: whilst we can affect the world around us (whether for God’s glory or for our own selfish purposes), ultimately it is God’s world, not ours. He is in control.
However, we do have responsibilities in how we best steward the resources which God gives us. What we do to look after our planet is a justice issue as much as anything else: the poor of this world are the worst affected by changes in climate – more storms/hurricanes, unpredictable rains, failing harvests, rising sea levels, desertification, etc – and this is happening NOW.
J