How should a Christian view environmentalism?

Response

There is a distinction between the biblical perspective on the environment and the political movement referred to as “environmentalism.” Understanding this contrast will influence a Christian’s perspective on environmentalism. The Bible clearly states that God gave the earth and all its contents to humanity to rule over and subdue. “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 air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth'” «And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. », (Genesis 1:28).

Because humans were created in His image, God granted men and women a special position among all creatures and instructed them to practice stewardship over the earth (Genesis 1:26-28;Psalm 8:6-8). Stewardship involves caring for, not exploiting. We are to wisely oversee the resources provided by God, using diligent care to conserve and safeguard them. This principle is evident in the Old Testament where God decreed that fields and vineyards should be cultivated and harvested for six years, then left uncultivated for the seventh year to restore the soil’s nutrients, both to rejuvenate the land and to ensure ongoing provision for His people in the future (Exodus 23:10-11;Leviticus 25:1-7).

In addition to our responsibility as caretakers, we are to admire the functionality and beauty of the environment. Through His amazing grace and power, God has placed

On this planet, everything necessary to feed, clothe, and house the billions of people who have lived on it since the Garden of Eden has been provided by God. All the resources He has given for our needs are renewable, and He continues to supply the sun and rain needed to sustain and replenish those resources. Moreover, He has adorned the planet with magnificent colors and scenic beauty to captivate our aesthetic sense and fill our souls with amazement. There is an abundance of flower species, exotic birds, and other beautiful displays of His grace towards us.

However, the earth we dwell on is not a permanent abode, nor was it ever meant to be. The environmental movement strives to protect the planet indefinitely, but we understand that this is not God’s intention. In 2 Peter 3:10, He informs us that at the end of the age, the earth and all His creations will be annihilated: “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up” (NKJV). The physical, natural earth in its current state, along with the entire universe, will be consumed, and God will establish a “new heaven and a new earth” (2 Peter 3:13;Revelation 21:1).

Therefore, instead of striving to preserve the earth for thousands or even millions of years ahead, we are called to be responsible caretakers of it for as long as it endures, which will be as long as it fulfills God’s sovereign plan and purpose.