What Does the Bible Say? Creation Care

All of my upbringing and training have made me an enthusiastic, dedicated student and teacher of the Bible. While I accept the need for a critical understanding of issues of Bible background, I am sincerely convinced that True Truth can be found in Scripture. I fully accept the inspiration and authority of all 66 books in the Bible. While I see the need to exegete the culture and consider the contributions of the Great Tradition of the church as well as the knowledge and tools provided by academic expositors and commentators, I'm convinced that God provided a written self-revelation so that it could be understood by anyone with "ears to hear." 

One of the first principles I was taught is that the sum total of what the Bible has to say about a topic is the truth of that topic. I love starting in Genesis and working my way through Scripture, looking for a pattern of truth that tells God's story. When today's Christ-followers tend to debate the various sides of any idea - usually from a political, philosophical, scientific, or cultural perspective - I still believe that the best question to ask is, "What does the Bible say?"

Recently the Roman Bishop expressed an opinion about creation care, and climate change specifically. Immediately there was a wave of reaction representing the two typical sides on this (or really any) issue. In that context I posted a simple question: Is creation care a theological issue? And I didn't really get an answer. And so I pose the question again. Or to put it differently, what does the Bible say about creation care? Does it say anything at all? And if so, because we are committed to the authority of Scripture, what should we do about it? Let's jump in and see.

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number;fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (Genesis 1:28)

When God originally created "the heavens and the earth," his final and supreme act of creation was humanity as male and female. They were to uniquely reflect "the image and likeness" of God in creation, and they were given responsibility for the rest of creation. They were placed "over" the rest of creation, with authority as rulers, authorized to care for creation, almost as co-creators. The assignment to "name" the animals (Gen. 2:19-20) was a clear demonstration of human dominion in creation. 

The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." (Genesis 2:15).

God's specific assignment as it pertained to the rest of creation is here made clear. Human beings were to "work," or literally serve the Garden, the center of God's creation. They were also to "take care of it," or to keep watch over it, guard it and preserve it. Yes, it's true. Those first human beings, living in Paradise under the rule of the Creator, were to serve the rest of creation in such as a way as to see it flourish and prosper and become all it was capable of becoming. They were to be preservationists, to guard and protect every aspect of God's good creation.

Unfortunately, that was not the end of the story. Human rebellion against God brought sin, destruction, corruption and death into creation - a curse. "Cursed is the ground because of you" (Genesis 3:17.) The fertility of the soil was affected. Hostility and death entered into relationships within creation. After the flood, God even gave humans permission to eat some of the animals (Genesis 9:3). Everything had changed. But that did not alter the Creator's thoughts about creation and the role of human beings within it.

God gave specific instructions for the sustainable farming of the land. 

When you enter the land and plant any kind of fruit tree, regard its fruit as forbidden. For three years you are to consider it forbidden; it must not be eaten. In the fourth year all its fruit will be holy, an offering of praise to the Lord. But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit. In this way your harvest will be increased. I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 19:23-25)

During times of war the fruit trees were to be protected.

When you lay siege to a city for a long time, fighting against it to capture it, do not destroy its trees by putting an ax to them, because you can eat their fruit. Do not cut them down. Are the trees people, that you should besiege them? (Deuteronomy 20:19). 

Instructions were given concerning preserving the life cycle of birds.

If you come across a bird’s nest beside the road, either in a tree or on the ground, and the mother is sitting on the young or on the eggs, do not take the mother with the young. You may take the young, but be sure to let the mother go, so that it may go well with you and you may have a long life. (Deuteronomy 22:6-7). 

Old Testament poets and prophets foresaw the eventual restoration of creation in terms that included all God had made.

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
Let all creation rejoice before the Lord (Psalm 96:11-13).

The Lord was known for his personal care of all creation.

The trees of the Lord are well watered,
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
There the birds make their nests;
the stork has its home in the junipers.
The high mountains belong to the wild goats;
the crags are a refuge for the hyrax. (Psalm 104:16-18). 

All creation is to praise the Lord - to reveal his glory.

Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding,
you mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
wild animals and all cattle,
small creatures and flying birds (Psalm 148:7-10).

The wisdom of guarding a fig tree seemed obvious.

The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit (Proverbs 27:18).

A mark of God's favor and restoration is new life coming into creation.

You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
and instead of briers the myrtle) will grow. (Isaiah 55:12-13).

According to the apostle Paul, the glory of God can still be detected in creation. Although imperfect, an important "natural revelation" is available for those who are open to it.

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. (Romans 1:20). 

Paul also taught that, although creation has been frustrated by the corruption that came into the world through human sin, creation is also waiting for God's full plan of redemption for humanity, culminating in the resurrection.

For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8:20-23). 

Further, Paul taught that Christ is both the instrument and the end of God's creation.

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth. (Colossians 1:15-16). 

Indeed, in the end all things in creation are to find their fulfillment in Christ.

With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. (Ephesians 1:8-10). 

Even now, Jesus is the Ruler of of God's creation.

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. (Revelation 3:14)

While images of the end of the age in the book of Revelation are symbolic and cryptic, there are some interesting descriptions of judgment relevant to creation.

Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God. (Revelation 7:3).

We give thanks) to you, Lord God Almighty,
the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
and have begun to reign.
The nations were angry,
and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,
and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your people who revere your name,
both great and small—
and for destroying those who destroy the earth. (Revelation 11:17-18).

There seems to be a specific kind of judgment awaiting those who have contributed to the destruction of the earth. 

At the end of it all we see the curse reversed, Paradise restored, creation healed.

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life,bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. (Revelation 22:1-3).

I should say a word about the descriptions of judgment that picture creation returning to a state of chaos - of being "without form and void." (Cf. Jeremiah 4:23) This return to primeval chaos is a common symbol of judgment. Peter even refers to the elements of creation melting in the heat of God's judgment (2 Peter 3:12). However, God's judgment is not the last word. The healing and restoration of all things is the last word. The specific language of "a new heaven and a new earth" refers to a renewed heaven and a renewed earth - God's creation with sin and the effects of sin removed. Taking descriptions of judgment as an excuse for the misuse and a bad stewardship of creation is based on a false reading of Scripture.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:3-5).