The Bible teaches that humanity has a clear responsibility to care for and protect the environment as an act of obedience and worship to God, the Creator and owner of all things. This responsibility is described through several key concepts:
- Stewardship (Caretakership): The Earth belongs to God, and humans are appointed as His stewards or tenants, not owners. In Genesis 2:15, God puts man in the Garden of Eden “to work it and take care of it” (or “to serve and preserve it”), which is often seen as a foundational mandate for environmental responsibility.
- Dominion, Not Domination: The command in Genesis 1:28 for humans to have “dominion” and “subdue” the earth is understood by many as a call for responsible, benevolent rule, similar to a good and just king who protects his kingdom, rather than a licence for exploitation or destruction.
- Creation’s Intrinsic Value: God declared His creation “very good” (Genesis 1:31), indicating it has value in His sight independent of human use. The natural world is also described as declaring God’s glory (Psalm 19:1), which means its preservation is a way to honour the Creator.
- Prohibition of Pollution and Destruction: The Bible contains specific laws for sustainable living, such as letting farmland rest every seventh year (Leviticus 25:3-4) and not cutting down fruit trees during wartime (Deuteronomy 20:19-20), which emphasise long-term preservation of resources. Numbers 35:33-34 explicitly warns against polluting the land.
- Compassion for Animals and the Vulnerable: Proverbs 12:10 states that “a righteous man cares for the needs of his animal”. Furthermore, environmental degradation disproportionately affects the poor, and the Bible repeatedly calls for the protection and justice of the needy, linking environmental care with social justice.
- Accountability: Revelation 11:18 speaks of God’s judgment on “those who destroy the earth,” a sobering reminder that humans are accountable to God for how they treat His creation.
In summary, the Bible provides strong principles for a lifestyle of Creation Care, urging believers to interact with the environment with wisdom, respect, and foresight for future generations.
