We now turn our attention to a topic that is—in my opinion—largely under-appreciated and subsequently misunderstood. It is the topic of creation care. What is creation care? How does it relate to the Christian? In what ways can the Christian care for creation?
In their book, Creation Care, Douglas and Jonathan Moo make the argument that, “there are at least three good reasons why Christians should, indeed, be involved in “creation care”: the need to address current challenges facing creation, the need to serve as witnesses to God’s kingdom in our time (and to respond to false accusations about Christians and creation), and above all (and the focus of this book), the witness of Scripture to the importance of our vocation as “keepers” of God’s creation.”[1]
At the same time, John Frame, in Nature’s Case for God, points out that, “Although natural theology bas been an important discipline historically, as in the writings of Thomas Aquinas, its prestige more recently has fallen considerably.”[2] However, Frame goes on to argue that nature can be understood in a biblical way, and that we “can learn of God from nature on the basis of what Scripture says.”[3]
And so, Frame makes the point that “only a clear revelation” of what Paul stresses in Romans 1 will leave us without excuse.[4] In essence, Frame argues from Scripture that God can be known clearly in the natural world, and thus it’s important to study creation to grown in our knowledge of God.
Thus, Frame takes any examination of creation care to another level by seeking to first to understand the clear things revealed from Scripture in creation.
It’s interesting that Jeff Myers points out in his book, Understanding the Culture, that “People with a distinctly anti-Christian worldview are dominating the conversation about environmental issues, which many Christians shy away from. A few even justify inaction by saying, ‘It’s all going to burn anyway. Just get people saved.’”[5]
What should Christian’s do? Do we have a responsibility to care for creation? Does the Bible command that we should? If so, how should we proceed?
That’s just what we’re going to examine in this chapter. We’ll begin first with a biblical vision for creation care, followed by a theology of creation, and then ideas to care for creation.
A Bible Vision for Creation Care
“The careful (value), creative (thoughtful), and compassionate (justice) stewardship of God’s creation, in order to honor that which was made to honor God.”
“The careful (value)…
To care for something means to value that thing. I care for my life, so I eat. I care for energy, so I sleep. I care for my marriage, so I serve my wife. I care for my care, so I change the oil. And on and on.
We get this. We all care for the things we value.
And so, that’s the first principle in a biblical vision for creation care: value. The question is, “Why should I care about creation?” The answer, “Because God does.”
In just the opening two chapters of the Bible, God uses the word, good, twelve times. It’s interesting that nine out of the twelve times the good references some aspect of what God had just created. For the data folks, that’s 75%.
What we can surmise is obvious. God cares about His creation.
creative (thoughtful), and…
To be creative is to use one’s imagination. We understand this idea practically, and so philosophically we need to understand that being creative with creation means to be thoughtful. To applies one’s imagination to the matter.
To understand this, we think back to value. If it’s baseball that I value, I will use my full mental faculties to imagine ways to advance my skill (if I’m still playing), understand the game (if I’m entertained), or know the latest stats (if I’m looking for break-room fodder).
This biblical idea springs from God’s creativity in creating. He could have made our world bland, but He didn’t. He could have made our world simple, but He didn’t. He could have made our world without smell or taste, but He didn’t. His creativity is everywhere.
Thus, our creativity should be applied everywhere in this world as well.
compassionate (justice)…
The creation can’t speak for itself. Birds don’t hire attorneys, and trees don’t solicit volunteers for a protest or form a lobby group. Creation is defenseless (outside of their given and hardwired desire to survive).
Thus, the idea of compassion. The meaning of this word is to care for something or someone that cannot care for themselves. It’s the rendering of justice. Speaking up and offering a voice.
God spoke creation into existence and thus our voice (when not to the detriment of humanity) must have our voice speaking on its behalf.
stewardship of God’s creation…
Stewardship is caring for what is within or under one’s authority or sphere of influence. To steward implies care, and thus as Christians we are to care for the things within our jurisdiction. That means, our houses, our waste, our energy use, our purchases, our everything.
God doesn’t turn His eye or hide is face from the things in which He is responsively, and neither does the Christian.
to honor…
To honor simply means to ascribe dignity and weight to something. It’s like value, but it nuances a bit. Webster notes that honor is “an evidence or symbol of distinction.”[6] It places creation on a higher plane than say my painting of creation.
Why?
Because God made it. It’s from Him, and that elevates His workmanship over mine.
that which was made to honor God.”
Creation’s intent was not to be elevated above humanity or God. It is never to be worshipped, but to serve as an means of honor to God.
When we honor creation, we honor God. When we dishonor creation, we dishonor God. When we elevate creation, we idolize creation and will quickly find ourselves in judgment.
In short, God’s creation is a window to see its Creation, not a portrait to be admired for its intrinsic qualities alone.
[1] Douglas J Moo and Jonathan A Moo, Creation Care: A Biblical Theology of the Natural World (Biblical Theology for Life), ed. Jonathan Lunde (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2018), 26–27.
[2] John M. Frame, Nature’s Case for God: A Brief Biblical Argument (Bellingham, Washington: Lexham Press, 2018), 3.
[3] Frame, 9.
[4] Frame, 13.
[5] Myers, Understanding the Culture: A Survey of Social Engagement, 293.
[6] Inc Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary., Eleventh ed. (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2014).
— February 9, 2022