Faith and Stewardship: A Christian Approach to Ecology

 

Summary

In today's discussion, we explored the intersection of Christian theology and environmental stewardship, addressing the pressing question: Can Christian faith be green? With ecological crises such as pollution, deforestation, and climate change looming large, the role of Christianity in either exacerbating or alleviating these issues is under scrutiny. Historically, some, like Lynn White, have argued that Christian theology contributes to environmental degradation by promoting a view of human superiority over nature. White's interpretation of Genesis suggests that the biblical mandate for humans to "rule" and "have dominion" over the earth has led to a contemptuous attitude towards nature, treating it merely as a resource for human consumption.

However, this perspective is countered by individuals like Stuart Pimm and Joel Salatin, who embody a Christian-driven environmentalism. Pimm, a conservation ecologist, sees his faith as a call to stewardship, emphasizing that Christians have a responsibility to care for the world as a divine creation. Similarly, Salatin's farming practices at Polyface Farm reflect a commitment to sustainable agriculture, rooted in a biblical understanding of creation's intrinsic value.

Christian theology offers profound resources for environmental care, grounded in four key principles. First, the goodness of creation is affirmed in Genesis, where God repeatedly declares His creation "good," independent of human utility. This intrinsic value calls for a respect and preservation of nature as a reflection of God's glory. Second, the concept of stewardship is central, with humans tasked to cultivate and care for the earth, as seen in Genesis and God's covenant with Noah, which extends to all living creatures. Third, the fallenness of creation acknowledges that while nature is marred by sin, it is not beyond redemption. This understanding empowers Christians to combat environmental degradation as part of God's restorative work. Finally, the promise of creation's restoration, as depicted in Revelation, assures believers of God's ultimate plan to renew the earth, underscoring the importance of environmental stewardship as a reflection of divine commitment.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Goodness of Creation: The Bible teaches that creation is inherently good, reflecting God's glory and beauty. This intrinsic value calls for a respect and preservation of nature, not merely for human benefit but as a testament to God's creative work. Recognizing this goodness challenges us to see nature as a partner in worship, praising God by being itself. [14:23]

2. Stewardship of Creation: Christians are called to be stewards of the earth, cultivating and caring for it as a gardener tends to a garden. This stewardship is not about exploitation but about nurturing and liberating creation to fulfill its purpose in praising God. This responsibility is rooted in the biblical narrative, where God establishes a covenant with all living creatures. [17:56]

3. Fallenness of Creation: The concept of the fall acknowledges that creation is not as it should be due to human sin. This understanding empowers Christians to engage in restorative actions, combating environmental degradation as part of God's redemptive plan. It provides a moral and theological basis for addressing ecological crises. [25:30]

4. Restoration of Creation: The Christian hope is rooted in the promise of creation's ultimate restoration, where God will renew the earth, eliminating disease and death. This eschatological vision motivates believers to care for the environment, reflecting God's commitment to His creation. It assures us that our efforts in environmental stewardship align with God's eternal purposes. [30:16]

5. Christian Environmentalism in Action: Examples like Stuart Pimm and Joel Salatin demonstrate how Christian theology can inspire passionate environmentalism. Their work shows that faith can drive sustainable practices and conservation efforts, challenging the notion that Christianity is inherently detrimental to ecological well-being. [08:33]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:17] - Introduction to Ecological Concerns
- [01:12] - Christianity: Problem or Solution?
- [02:25] - Lynn White's Critique
- [03:39] - Genesis and Human Dominion
- [05:06] - Impact of White's Essay
- [06:02] - Stuart Pimm: A Christian Environmentalist
- [07:55] - Christian Obligation to Stewardship
- [09:00] - Joel Salatin and Polyface Farm
- [10:21] - Sustainable Farming Practices
- [12:22] - Forgiveness Farming
- [13:14] - Christian Resources for Environmentalism
- [14:23] - The Goodness of Creation
- [17:56] - Stewardship and Covenant
- [25:30] - Fallenness and Restoration of Creation
- [30:16] - Hope in Creation's Renewal

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Genesis 1:26-31 - This passage discusses the creation of humanity and their dominion over the earth.
2. Psalm 19:1-4 - This passage highlights how creation declares the glory of God.
3. Revelation 21:1-5 - This passage describes the promise of a new heaven and a new earth.

#### Observation Questions
1. According to Genesis 1, what specific responsibilities are given to humans regarding the earth? How does this relate to the concept of dominion? [03:39]
2. In Psalm 19, how is the natural world described as participating in worship? What does this suggest about the intrinsic value of creation? [14:52]
3. How does Revelation 21 depict the future of creation? What does this imply about God's commitment to the material world? [30:16]
4. What examples from the sermon illustrate how Christian theology can inspire environmental stewardship? [08:33]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How might the concept of dominion in Genesis 1 be misunderstood, and what are the implications of this misunderstanding for environmental care? [03:39]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the role of Christians in addressing ecological crises, and how does this align with the biblical concept of stewardship? [17:56]
3. How does the promise of creation's restoration in Revelation 21 motivate Christians to engage in environmental stewardship today? [30:16]
4. In what ways do the examples of Stuart Pimm and Joel Salatin challenge the notion that Christianity is inherently detrimental to ecological well-being? [08:33]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your personal view of nature. How does recognizing the intrinsic goodness of creation change your perspective on environmental issues? [14:23]
2. Consider your daily habits. What practical steps can you take to embody the biblical principle of stewardship in your life? [17:56]
3. How can you contribute to the restoration of creation in your community, reflecting the hope of Revelation 21? [30:16]
4. Identify a local environmental issue. How can your faith inspire you to take action, similar to the examples of Stuart Pimm and Joel Salatin? [08:33]
5. Think about a time when you witnessed environmental degradation. How did it affect you, and what can you do to address similar issues in the future? [25:30]
6. How can your church community collectively engage in environmental stewardship, and what role can you play in this effort? [17:56]
7. Reflect on the sermon’s message about the fallenness of creation. How does this understanding empower you to participate in God’s redemptive work in the world? [25:30]

Devotional

Day 1: The Goodness of Creation
Creation is not merely a backdrop for human activity; it is a testament to God's creative work, inherently good and valuable in its own right. The Bible affirms this goodness in Genesis, where God repeatedly declares His creation "good," independent of human utility. This intrinsic value calls for a respect and preservation of nature as a reflection of God's glory. Recognizing this goodness challenges us to see nature as a partner in worship, praising God by being itself. As we engage with the world around us, we are invited to appreciate and protect it, not just for our benefit, but as a testament to the divine artistry and care that went into its formation. [14:23]

Psalm 104:24-25 (ESV): "O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great."

Reflection: How can you actively appreciate and protect a part of God's creation today, recognizing its intrinsic value beyond human use?


Day 2: Stewardship of Creation
Christians are called to be stewards of the earth, cultivating and caring for it as a gardener tends to a garden. This stewardship is not about exploitation but about nurturing and liberating creation to fulfill its purpose in praising God. The biblical narrative, particularly in Genesis and God's covenant with Noah, establishes this responsibility, extending it to all living creatures. As stewards, we are entrusted with the care of the earth, ensuring that it thrives and continues to reflect God's glory. This role challenges us to consider how our actions impact the environment and to seek ways to nurture and protect it for future generations. [17:56]

Genesis 2:15 (ESV): "The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it."

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take this week to nurture and care for the environment in your daily life?


Day 3: Fallenness of Creation
The concept of the fall acknowledges that creation is not as it should be due to human sin. This understanding empowers Christians to engage in restorative actions, combating environmental degradation as part of God's redemptive plan. Recognizing the fallenness of creation provides a moral and theological basis for addressing ecological crises, reminding us that while nature is marred by sin, it is not beyond redemption. As we work towards restoration, we participate in God's ongoing work of healing and renewal, bringing hope and transformation to a world in need. [25:30]

Romans 8:20-21 (ESV): "For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God."

Reflection: In what ways can you contribute to the restoration of creation, addressing environmental issues as part of God's redemptive work?


Day 4: Restoration of Creation
The Christian hope is rooted in the promise of creation's ultimate restoration, where God will renew the earth, eliminating disease and death. This eschatological vision motivates believers to care for the environment, reflecting God's commitment to His creation. It assures us that our efforts in environmental stewardship align with God's eternal purposes. As we look forward to this promised renewal, we are encouraged to live in a way that anticipates and participates in the restoration of all things, embodying the hope and transformation that God promises. [30:16]

Isaiah 65:17-18 (ESV): "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness."

Reflection: How does the promise of creation's restoration inspire you to live differently today, in anticipation of God's renewal of the earth?


Day 5: Christian Environmentalism in Action
Examples like Stuart Pimm and Joel Salatin demonstrate how Christian theology can inspire passionate environmentalism. Their work shows that faith can drive sustainable practices and conservation efforts, challenging the notion that Christianity is inherently detrimental to ecological well-being. By integrating their faith with their environmental efforts, they provide a model for how Christians can actively engage in caring for the earth. This approach encourages us to consider how our own faith can inform and inspire our actions towards sustainability and conservation, making a positive impact on the world around us. [08:33]

James 2:17-18 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

Reflection: How can your faith inspire you to take specific actions towards environmental sustainability and conservation in your community?

Quotes


The Bible teaches is the goodness of creation if you go back to the beginning Genesis 1 and we did here tonight you see God making things and when he makes something he's constantly saying and it was good so he made the light in the day it was good he made the the vegetation and it was good he made the land and it was good right he's making the bird and the fish and it was good they were good. [00:13:36]

The way a tree Praises God Is by just being a tree the Grandeur of a tree shows us something of the Grandeur of God that's what Psalm 19 is saying it says how can nature praise God is it just purly no it it is praising God by being itself and that means that for us to look at nature and to say I want to keep this the way it is is part of it's a good in itself. [00:15:13]

The second thing the Bible talks about though is the stewardship of creation and there are um when God puts us into the uh Garden in Genesis 2 to take care of it that's a very interesting image is it not what is a a gardener a gardener doesn't exploit the land a gardener cultivates it but perhaps the most astounding passage in the Bible for the purpose of environmental theology if there is such a thing is in Genesis 8. [00:17:47]

God comes to Mo to Noah and he says this he says never again will I curse the ground because of you as long as even though every inclination of human being's heart is evil from childhood as long as the Earth endures seed time and harvest cold and heat summer and winter day and night will never cease that's interesting but then he goes on and says I will establish my Covenant with you Noah and with every living creature on the earth. [00:18:22]

Steuart PIM is right when he says if I'm on God's side and I see human beings ruining the Earth and he's made a covenant with the Earth and a covenant with all the living things then I've got to get on God's side and I have got to defend the Earth from exploitation you talk about a how do I say a moral intellectual theological resource for caring for creation I don't think you can find it stronger than that. [00:20:12]

A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel loving animals being Humane toward animals being a steward of God's creation being on God's side of loving the Earth and keeping it from being exploited by human beings to maximize profits is a mark of righteousness according to the Bible. [00:22:08]

The fallenness of creation um one of the things that is important and a very important question if you're a secular person you may care about the environment very very deeply but you have a question um what's wrong with species Extinction what's wrong with it I mean you know that's how you got here some speci she got extinct and you didn't or you know your ancestors your far ancestors this is evolutionary theory. [00:23:59]

The Bible talks about the fact that for some reason it's a little mysterious for us to understand because we are Fallen because we human beings are not what we should be before God nature isn't what it's going to be nature is to some degree Fallen it's marred to some degree and what does that mean what that means is if we go out there and we see things that we think in nature seem to need repair like let's stop disease we can do it. [00:25:19]

Jesus Christ who says he's God can be mad at the plague and still not mad at himself because he knows this isn't the way it's supposed to be and the fact is that Jesus Christ came to die on the cross so that someday he could end the plague he could end evil he could end sin he could forgive us for our sins and someday end all evil so that someday he could end evil without ending us. [00:29:24]

We're told that at the end of The Book of Revelation the end of the book of the Bible we don't have individuals rising out of this material world to go to heaven forever we have Heaven coming down to heal this material world and the final resource that Christians have uh for a care for the environment is that God is so committed to this material creation that someday he is going to actually heal it it's going to have no more disease No More Death. [00:30:06]

Only the Bible says this world is permanent God is so absolutely committed to it he's going to heal it he's going to have his son die on the cross to heal it in fact the fact that God becomes human and takes on a material body in Jesus Christ is also unique there's no other religion in the world that says God loved matter so much he became part of it and he became part of it so that he could remake it and we could live in it forever. [00:31:01]

Our resources are the goodness of creation which the Bible teaches the stewardship of of creation and that Covenant that God makes with it the fallenness of creation and the final restoration of creation and that's enough to turn you into people who are passionate for caring for the environment and going to the mat in order to honor God's covenant with it. [00:31:23]

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Transcript
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