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Some conservatives, and some conservative evangelicals, act as though “environmentalism” is by definition “liberal” or even just downright silly. Witness a lot of the evangelical rhetoric across social media on Earth Day a while back: mostly Al Gore jokes and wisecracks about cutting down trees or eating endangered species as a means of celebration.
Do some environmentalists reject the dignity of humanity? Yes. Do some replace the reverence for creation with that due the Creator? Of course. This happens in the same way some do the same thing with reverence for economic profit or any other finite thing.
There’s nothing conservative though, and nothing “evangelical,” about dismissing the conservation of the natural environment. And the accelerating Gulf crisis reminds us something of what’s at stake.
The incoming tsunami of oil isn’t just about the beaches, although that will be environmentally and economically catastrophic. Just as problematic is the creeping of the oil into the inland estuaries and marshes and waterways. The crisis could potentially destroy the eco-systems of birds, shrimp, oysters, and other lifeforms.
Does God care about baby shrimp? I would argue, yes; God cares for the sparrow that falls to the ground (Matt. 10:29). But, even if you disagree with me on that, consider how God loves those who are “of more value than many sparrows” (Matt. 10:30).
Shrimpers here in Biloxi are mourning the potential loss of more than just an industry but a way of life handed down, at least to some of them, from multiple generations before them. If shrimping collapses, so does tourism, apart from the in and out predation of the casinos dotting the shoreline.
Just as significant, though, are the ways the balance of ecology affects people in ways we never consider or notice, until it’s threatened. God gave his image-bearing humanity dominion over the natural creation (Gen. 1:28). But this isn’t a pharaoh-like dominion; it’s a Christ-like dominion. Humans aren’t made of ether; we’re made of Spirit-enlivened mud. We come from the earth, and we must receive from the earth what we need to survive, in the form of light from the sun, oxygen from plants, and food from the ground.
God knows that we need the natural creation (what we so reductionistically call an “environment”). He exults in it throughout the Psalms and in his speech to Job about his mysterious ways. Jesus continually retreats into the silent places of the mountains and the hills and the deserts, sometimes in the fellowship of only the wild beasts (Mark 1:13). We are built to recognize God in the creation (Rom. 1:18-21), and we need more than just what we can pave over and build in order to flourish.
This is why the Scriptures speak of eternal life in the metaphor of a river that causes the waters to teem with life, with many kind of fish, and vegetation thriving on the banks (Ezek. 47:9-12). This is why one aspect of Jesus’ kingship is to make the waters teem with fish, right in the presence of his commercial fishermen disciples (John 21:3-8), And this is why the Scriptures consider it an apocalypse when the waters are poisoned, and the sea-life is gone (Rev. 8:8-9).
We need the creation around us, including the waters and all they contain, because we are not gods. We are creatures who thrive when we live as we were made to live. We exercise dominion over the creation not only when we use it, but also when we conserve it for the generations who will come after.
So pray for the Gulf Coast, that the oil wouldn’t devastate a people and a land already devastated by so much. As you do, remember: real conservatives protect what God loves.
[Source: RussellMoore.com. Thank you Dr. Moore!]]]>
I would argue that the bibibical teaching that man is to have dominion over nature, is in fact at the very root of anthropegenic enviromental degradation.Suppose that a transcendant deity would have given man the implicit command to respect and coexist with nature, as oppossed to essentialy governing over nature,and being her caregiver ? Time and time again believers, ''and non believers in many cases''have interpreted the supposed command from deity to be dominate over nature as permission , to go as far as destroying her in an attempt to improve upon,or make nature better.Many modern ''believers'' gleefully interpret a small number of bibical scriptures as explicit evidence that almost any amount of enviromental degradation is approved by deity,if not even desired by that deity.The truth that is in plain sight for those who choose to see it is that man when he tries to dominate and or make nature better,is not only acting out of hubris,selfishness,fear and ignorance,but he is destroying the very source of his own being,freedom and potential happiness.As far as mans duty to be natures caregiver;that is a naturaly preverse concept proven to be so by the fact that it is we who are dependent upon nature even for our very existance ! If we would learn or re-learn what it means to coixist with nature we would find before long that nature is her own caregiver,and again ours also.
Jamesofthecommons: thank you for your comment. Ok, i'm going to get a little preachy-so my apologies up front.
Scripture teaches us that our Creator has given us, from ancient times, the mandate to have dominion over His creation- meaning: not domination, usurping, and abusing- but responsibility, caretaking and 'husbandmanship'. He has given this planet to us as our realm of influence and activity- I don't see how this understanding of 'dominion' or 'realm of authority and influence' is contradictory to living in balance and dependence on GOD's good creation. It is our modern misinterpretations of authority and dominion that have led us to so foolishly disregard the realities of our Biblical mandate to be wise cultivators of creation-
At the core of Christian belief is the foundation that we are both a part of the created order and set a part as unique within it- problems arise when we focus on either identity exclusively.
I agree we are doing much damage to the earth because of our twisting of the wisdom and words of GOD- but let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater- now is our time to go back to the words of GOD and step again into our role as protectors and wise redeemers/cultivators of all GOD has given us. Again this mandate for creation-care is essential to Christian faith and practice.
Jamesofthecommons: thank you for your comment. Ok, i'm going to get a little preachy-so my apologies up front.
Scripture teaches us that our Creator has given us, from ancient times, the mandate to have dominion over His creation- meaning: not domination, usurping, and abusing- but responsibility, caretaking and 'husbandmanship'. He has given this planet to us as our realm of influence and activity- I don't see how this understanding of 'dominion' or 'realm of authority and influence' is contradictory to living in balance and dependence on GOD's good creation. It is our modern misinterpretations of authority and dominion that have led us to so foolishly disregard the realities of our Biblical mandate to be wise cultivators of creation-
At the core of Christian belief is the foundation that we are both a part of the created order and set a part as unique within it- problems arise when we focus on either identity exclusively.
I agree we are doing much damage to the earth because of our twisting of the wisdom and words of GOD- but let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater- now is our time to go back to the words of GOD and step again into our role as protectors and wise redeemers/cultivators of all GOD has given us. Again this mandate for creation-care is essential to Christian faith and practice.