Environment
I am not an environmentalist.
There, I said it. Whew, that feels better. What? Oh, no, I don't mean I don't care about the environment. I very much do. I reduce, recycle and reuse as much as I can. I just don't like to be called an environmentalist, because what I actually am is a steward of God's creation.
What's the difference?
Well, in today's world, the term "environmentalist" has gotten tied up politically and practically with a lot of agendas, some of which have nothing to do with protecting or preserving the earth. And even when that term manages to escape those associations (which is rare), it often simply means saving the earth for the sake of saving the earth.
The opposite and unfortunate Christian response has often been to live as if the creation doesn't matter. Tear it up, use it up, because, in this apocalyptic worldview, it's all going to burn anyway. Those folks interpret God's instructions in Genesis to "have dominion" (1:28) over the creation as an excuse to use and abuse the earth. That's not what God called us to do.
In fact, Genesis says we were made to "rule" over creation (the 2011 NIV translates this correctly). A good ruler is not one who uses his or her subjects for their own pleasure or whims. No one would call a dictator a good ruler, an acceptable ruler. No, a good ruler takes care of or stewards all that he or she has been entrusted with. Jesus uses that image of a steward, one who cares for the property of a king, to describe our role in many situations in life. In a Biblical worldview, we are stewards, caretakers of creation, ruling in a way that causes creation to flourish under our care.
But if we are stewards, then who is the owner? Psalm 24:1 gives us the answer to that question: "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it" (24:1). The earth belongs to God, which is why Paul says all creation longs for his appearing (Romans 8:18-22). God owns it all, and we are stewards, caretakers, not only of each other, but also of the actual creation, the physical earth. It's our responsibility to rule it well, to care for it with excellence.
I am not an environmentalist. I am a steward of God's creation. One focuses solely on the world. The other focuses on being a child of God and listening to his voice as we care for his creation. The difference is huge, because it matters whose voice we listen to.
On this Earth Day, remember, it all belongs to God. And you are the steward.
There, I said it. Whew, that feels better. What? Oh, no, I don't mean I don't care about the environment. I very much do. I reduce, recycle and reuse as much as I can. I just don't like to be called an environmentalist, because what I actually am is a steward of God's creation.
What's the difference?
Well, in today's world, the term "environmentalist" has gotten tied up politically and practically with a lot of agendas, some of which have nothing to do with protecting or preserving the earth. And even when that term manages to escape those associations (which is rare), it often simply means saving the earth for the sake of saving the earth.
The opposite and unfortunate Christian response has often been to live as if the creation doesn't matter. Tear it up, use it up, because, in this apocalyptic worldview, it's all going to burn anyway. Those folks interpret God's instructions in Genesis to "have dominion" (1:28) over the creation as an excuse to use and abuse the earth. That's not what God called us to do.
In fact, Genesis says we were made to "rule" over creation (the 2011 NIV translates this correctly). A good ruler is not one who uses his or her subjects for their own pleasure or whims. No one would call a dictator a good ruler, an acceptable ruler. No, a good ruler takes care of or stewards all that he or she has been entrusted with. Jesus uses that image of a steward, one who cares for the property of a king, to describe our role in many situations in life. In a Biblical worldview, we are stewards, caretakers of creation, ruling in a way that causes creation to flourish under our care.
But if we are stewards, then who is the owner? Psalm 24:1 gives us the answer to that question: "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it" (24:1). The earth belongs to God, which is why Paul says all creation longs for his appearing (Romans 8:18-22). God owns it all, and we are stewards, caretakers, not only of each other, but also of the actual creation, the physical earth. It's our responsibility to rule it well, to care for it with excellence.
I am not an environmentalist. I am a steward of God's creation. One focuses solely on the world. The other focuses on being a child of God and listening to his voice as we care for his creation. The difference is huge, because it matters whose voice we listen to.
On this Earth Day, remember, it all belongs to God. And you are the steward.
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