Christian Environmentalism

Written by Darren Hewer

treehugger What exactly did God mean when he said “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.” (Genesis 1:28, NLT)

This question confronts us as we consider how a Christian should consider his or her environment. Certainly human beings have been given a responsibility to take care of the Earth that God has created, but though we may be caretakers, God is the owner. “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” says Psalms 24:1. This should, at very least, cause us to carefully think about the way in which we treat our planet. We never want to overvalue the Earth to turn it into an idol, but at the same time, it’s the only Earth we’ll have, until the Kingdom comes.

But how should this general concern more specifically impact our day-to-day lives? Is there anything practical that you do to care for our Earth? And what environmental concern do you feel is the most important for Christians to address today?

Special event: Join our Caring for the Earth online chat session, April 21, 2009 12:15 pm Eastern time!