Creation Care
or
Environmentalism?
(What’s the difference?)
Introduction
A.Since the 1960s, there has been a lot of controversy about man’s relationship to the environment and nature. A movement has developed that seeks to place the value of the environment above the needs of man. Many refer to this movement as environmentalism or some of you might be more familiar with the term “tree huggers.” I realize there is a lot of variety in this movement from the environmental terrorists to conservationist who seek to preserve wilderness areas. But I believe most environmentalists hold to similar core values. This environmental movement is primarily a reaction to businesses that have exploited the environment for man’s greedy and materialistic pursuits, by clear cutting entire forests without any effort at replanting, without any care for the damage to the wildlife, or to dumping wastes in our rivers, streams and lakes, or to strip mining mountains and leaving the remains without any concern for soil erosion, or for releasing toxic fumes into our atmosphere. There are some things being done to our environment that ought to get people upset.
B.In this sermon I would like for us to examine some truths found in God’s Word that might help us formulate a godly viewpoint of creation care. Creation care is a Christian view point on our responsibility to care for creation. I want to look at three major differences between creation care and environmentalism. Let’s turn to Genesis 1:26-30.
Three differences between creation care and environmentalism
A.The first difference between today’s environmentalists and a Christian who feels a responsibility to his environment is how we view man’s place on this earth. One of the problems with much of today’s environmental crowd is that they believe that man is just another creature on this earth, another part of the evolutionary chain. The truth is that man is not just another animal species in nature, but a unique creature made in the image of God, crowned with glory and majesty! In Genesis 1:26-28 we read, “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. And God blessed them; and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it. Then God said, ‘Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to everything that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food;’ and it was so.” This verse tells us several things:
1.God created everything that is on this earth, the plants, animals,fish in the sea, the planets and man. But man is different than all of creation. Man is the pinnacle of creation, the head of all creation. Only one of God’s creation is made in His image, mankind.
2.All animal life is under man’s rulership and meant for his use.
3.Mankind was told to fill the earth and subdue it. (Heb. Kabash - bring it into subjection)
4.In Psalm 8:4-8 we read, “What is man, that You take thought of him? And the son of man, that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than the angels, And crown him with glory and majesty! You have make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, and whatever passes through the paths of the seas.”
B.Another difference between today’s environmentalists and those who believe in creation care is their view on killing animals. Environmentalists feel we as humans have no right to kill animals and eat them. Environmentalists fee we need to live in harmony with nature and therefore we are encouraged to become vegetarians. Yet God’s word tells us clearly that animals were also meant to be eaten as food for man.
1.As we see in the verses we just read, all vegetation was given for man’s use, primarily, as a food-source for himself and animal life.
2.In Genesis 9:3 we read that animals were also meant to be a food source for man. “Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant.” In Romans 14:2-3
we also read, “One man has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. Let not him who eats regard with contempt him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats, for God has accepted him.”
3.But in 1 Timothy 4:1-5 we read, “Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”
4.So we see that God’s Word teaches that man is not only the pinnacle of creation, but that all of creation is to be subdued by him, that would include the killing of animals for food and also for clothing. Man is more than just an evolutionary part of nature as some environmentalists would have us to believe.
C.The third difference between environmentalists and those who believe in creation care is what impact man is having on the environment. Most environmentalists believe that man is the cause of all of our environmental problems. They believe that if man would stop interfering with nature everything would be beautiful and the world would take care of itself. Yet if we read in Genesis 3:17-18 that the earth is cursed, and that it will bring forth thorns and thistles. When Adam sinned the earth was cursed, before Adam sinned the earth was beautiful and living in harmony, but since sin the earth is cursed. Even if man was removed from the earth the earth would not get better!
1.We read in Hebrews 1:11-12 regarding the earth, “It will grow old like a garment, like an old coat you will fold them up and they will be changed.” The earth is wearing out and getting old.
2.Even if mankind were taken off this earth we would still have storms, earthquakes, tornadoes, volcanoes, weeds, thorns and spiders, animals that kill each other, poison plants, snakes and spiders. We would still have electric storms that would burn down thousands of acres of forest. We would still have soil erosion and desserts. Mankind is not the cause of all of natures problems.
3.This is really what is at the heart of all the global warming hype today. There is a lot of controversy about whether the earth is really warming or not. This global warming theory is based on some
research that says the earth temperature has increased ½ degree over the last 100 years. What is at the heart of all the excitement is the belief that man is causing this global warming. But there are many scientist who believe that even if the temperature is warming up mankind has nothing to do with it.
4.As Christians we understand that the earth is cursed. Since God drove Adam and Eve out of the garden of Eden, there is no place on earth that will ever be a paradise, until Jesus returns and makes all things right.
5.We read in Romans 8:20-22, that the whole creation was subjected to ‘futility’ destruction and will be delivered from the bondage of corruption. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs waiting to be delivered.”
So what is our responsibility to our environment?
A.In Gen 2:15 we read that God commanded Adam to take care of the garden. Adam’s work was to care for the garden, caring for the environment was his job. The Hebrew word “to take care” also means to guard and protect. Adam was to be the protector of the garden.
B.Even after Adam sinned we read in Genesis 3:23, “Then the LORD God sent man out of the garden of Eden to till/cultivate the ground (Heb. Shamar - to keep, preserve, protect) Man’s rule and dominion over the earth is that of a steward or a caretaker, not a reckless exploiter.
C.Do you think this command has ever changed? NO. Do you think this command applies to us today? YES. We are to be the Earth’s caretakers and protectors. Part of our "rule" as image-bearers of God is to "work it and take care of His creation."
D.This means that since mankind is above all creation we have responsibility to care for God’s creation. We have the responsibility to take care of the garden or to take care of our environment. This is still a command to mankind today.
E.God has given dominion over all the earth and its life-forms to mankind. In Psalms 115:16 we read, “The heavens are the heavens of the LORD; But the earth He has given to the sons of men.”
Does God really care of we don’t take care of the environment?
A.“We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign. And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bondservants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to, destroy those who destroy the earth.” Revelation 11:17-18 Do you think that God cares about people who destroy His creation who deliberately destroy our environment by polluting our rivers, who destroy our forests, who pollute our air? Well according to this passage a day of judgment is coming for those who destroy the earth!
B.We need to be careful that we are not abusing our environment. We need to be more conscientious of our consumer mentality and our continual desire for more and the lifestyle that promotes destruction to our environment. We don’t need to become environmental terrorists or fanatics, but we should be more conscientious about our use of the environment and be more aware of what kind of ‘carbon footprint’ we are leaving. Man’s rule and dominion over the earth is that of a steward or a caretaker, not a reckless exploiter.
What are some ways we can fulfill our responsibility of ‘tending the garden’ and take care of the environment?
A.There are two ways to approach this, one is more passive and one is more intentional. On the passive side, we should just not do certain things that are harmful to our environment, such as do not litter.
B.We could be also be more intentional about caring for our environment by picking up other people’s litter, especially when at a park or camping. This is a camping rule I have always used, I was taught it as a Boy Scout. Whenever we went camping I always told my children we need to leave the campsite cleaner than when we arrived. If that means we pick up other people’s beer cans or trash then so be it.
C.Here are some other ways we could be intentional on caring for our environment:
1.Recycle: In case you have not noticed we have started collecting newspapers and paper products here at the church. To date we have recycled 5.5 tons, since we started October 2007. This means we have saved 3.31 cubic yards in landfill space. It may not be a lot but it is at least something. If you would like help us out you can bring your paper products and drop them off here at the church. You can pick a paper recycling box and put it at work. You will be surprised and have an opportunity to witness.
2.Garden: This is a great experience, for your children, eat healthier, separate your garbage and make a compost pile.
3.Before you throw your plastic connectors that you get when you buy six packs of Gatorade, or G-2 water or six pack of beer!!! Before you throw it away you could cut it up, so it does not end up entwined around some animal.
4.Plant trees: I have planted over 100 trees on my property since we have moved into my house. We have planted fruit trees, evergreen trees, oak trees maple and ash trees. I used to plant trees in Oregon. We used to plant up to a thousand trees a day. We were hired by the lumber companies to replenish the ones they cut down. A mature leafy tree produces as much clean oxygen in one season as ten people inhale in a year. Trees actually clean the carbon poison out of the air and can reduce noise pollution. Trees provide shade and protection for your house and can reduce your A/C bills in the summer.
D. I am interested in doing more things as an individual and as a church. I am open to ideas. If any of you feel inspired to take more action or have some suggestions please feel free to email me with your ideas. I feel this is an area that needs further development.
Summary
A.Christians need to take creation care more seriously. Yet we need to see the difference to the way we approach this to the way the environmentalists approach this. Humans were created in the image of God, we have been given authority over all creation, which includes the care of it. We are not the cause of all natures problems, although man in his greed and recklessness has surely contributed to many of our problems we have today.
B.God takes the care of His creation seriously and He will hold people accountable who destroy it. Let’s ask God to help us live more intentional in our efforts to ‘tend the garden.”
