Should Christians be Good Caretakers of God's Creation?

I do believe we were given dominion over the earth and its resources by God. It says so in Genesis 1:26-30. I believe He is expecting to use what we need wisely, not wastefully.

love,

Sopranette

 

I believe we are to be good stewards of what God has given us. I also believe this must be balanced with common sense. We should not elevate the creation above the creator.

 

I'm glad you started this thread BaptistBeliever! I believe it is an important topic and one we ALL need to be taking carefully to heart. Other posters have stated that we are steward's of Gods resources, etc. and I personally support that.

I have been pretty religious the last few years about recycling/environment, but during the annual 'New Year's' resolution period this year, made the decision to a) decide, b) commit, and c) take increased action on my own personal footprint.
I did so in the hopes that I would tread far more reverently on the face of this earth this year. The ultimate reason for doing this is twofold; not just to protect our resources, but to please God. Our goal as Christians should be to set this example to others - to live in harmony with our world as our Lord created it - not to just use it for our own egotistical purposes, nor squander or ignore the bleeding going on around us.

It would be nice to hear from others what we are each doing in our own small way to affect a difference in our world.

 

I voted yes. As a Christian citizen and neighbor to my fellow man, I should to everything I can to keep our world clean and safe. Pastors should teach their people this responsibility. But churches should not be distracted from its higher mission of preaching the gospel and worshipping God by getting involved in political movements like environmentalism.

 

Environmental issues should be neither higher than or equal to man.

 

Whats usually lacking is common sense.

I agree, as long as we as humans can manage it without worshipping the created.

absolutely,
Christ did not die for flowers, and trees, and animals, etc. He died for man.

 

What do you mean by the words "higher" or "equal?"

 

When we're more worried about saving the whales than saving unborn babies, we've elevated creation over man. When coyotes are allowed to roam neighborhoods in California and attack children, again, things are way off balance. When people have worked hard to buy property, then are told they can't build a home there because a certain species of rat lived there first, well, there's another example.

Even Rush Limbaugh has to turn off his security lights at night because certain environmentalists have made it illegal to have lights on outside after a certain time due to a species of frogs. I guess the light hinders the frogs mating process.

 

I fail to see how a Christian can not be a good steward of creation. Of all people they are the ones who truly care for creation because they see as it is- the work of the Almighty not the spontaneous conglomeration of happenstance. We worship the creator and not the creation therefore we love the work of His hands because it manifests to us His greatness.

 

God created the animals lower than man and that is where they should be kept.

As abcgrad stated, I can not see me joining in a "save the whales" campaign while millions of babies are being murdered in the womb every day.

That is putting animals 'higher' than man.

 

Evil, wicked, greedy men want to exploit the earth for personal gain without regard to future generations. Stalin, Hitler, Mao, Kim Jong Il, et, al are and were in it for themselves. Disrespect for God's creation is a result of man's sin and will continue to be until all things are renewed by God. You plant corn to eat and save some for replanting. You plant trees for many uses and harvest them just like corn. Everything that God has given us is renewable. The air, the sea and the rivers are under his control and He will not let it be destroyed by any man. In fact God Himself will renew all of it, Heaven and Earth. This renewal will come as a result of fallen men and Angels who have sinned, not because they drive an SUV.

It took a God who loved His creation so much that He sent His only Son to die so men could live forever. Not because man polluted a river or deposited toxic waste, but for his sin and rebellion against God. If your heart is right with God then you will want what He wants, the Salvation of your kindred, not another tree hugger.

 

Amen sister, amen.

 

I believe it's insane to destroy where we live. If we do where shall we live? Someday Christ will destroy those who destroy the earth.
Rev 11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
Polluting the earth is nothing short of destroying it.
MB

 

The earth is not more important then man, Chrit died for man, not the earth.
Everyone creates polution in some way. Do you throw out trash at all? What about your contribution to methane gas? Drive a car? Have a pet(more methane)?
So if polluting is destroying the earth (in context with the given verse), then we're all going to be destroyed, and not going to heaven.
Yet the given verse contrasts the destroyers with the saints. Now why is that?
It means that the meaning of the verse goes much deeper then simply those who pollute.

 

I didn't make the claim that I haven't left my foot print. Of course we all do, but do I care? Yes I do. Do I throw out trash? yes I do but I recycle as much as I can. Do I drive? No I'm legally blind and that would no doubt make me a destroyer LOL. However I am driven to where I need to go. Why do we use fossil fules? when we could just as easily run our cars on Hydrogen with practically no pollution at all. We can even make our own hydrogen and wouldn't have to buy it from the Arabs. Ever wonder why we don't?. Because people don't care. People would rather pollute the earth and be dependant on oil paying $4.00 per gallon for it than drive for free. They say this will wreck the economy. Have you looked at our economy lately?.
There are better ways to live. However no matter what we do we will still pollute the earth some. We could all stand up and demand Hydrogen cars and we would get them if we did. The auto makers claim they need to experiment first, which is a lie. They've had engines running on Hydrogen for decades they just don't want the public to survive with out giving them all our money for fuel. They keep making excuses like "Hydrogen in dangerous". So is gasoline. In fact gasoline is even more dangerous.
With the price of oil doubling every year how long can you stay a float?

Of course the verse mentioned by me goes deeper than just pollution but you can't deny that pollution is part of it.

The verse is about rewarding the saints and the Judgement coming on those that have rejected Christ
MB

 

We should be responsible citizens in our private lives.

Social issues have no place in the pulpit. Preach the Word.

 

I realize my opinion isn't nearly as valid or useful as say, Norman Vincent Peale's, or Billy Graham's. I just prefer to rely on scripture to determine what kind of message should be preached from the pulpit. I do not mean to state that we should not be responsible citizens in our private lives, in fact, I did state that I do believe that. But I stand with Paul with regards to the message we preach, the doctrine we adhere to, and that message is Christ. Christ alone, not abortion, nor animal rights, nor environmental issues. We should preach Christ alone from all of scripture.

1Co 2:2 For I decided to be concerned about nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.