By Margaret Byfield
(1st in Seven-part series)
Nature can be an inspiring place for worship, but the Bible warns that it should never become the object of worship.
Driven by a fear that we are in a climate and ecological crisis, people are being told they need to live sustainably, rely only on renewable resources, give up animal products, restore natural areas, and place large ecosystems under the control of governments and conservation groups.
But there is no biblical foundation for these practices. Genesis spells out the seven responsibilities we have over creation, and Romans reveals what happens when we get this relationship wrong.
The secular world has been working to rewire mankind’s thinking away from God’s design and toward protection of the environment—with frightening success. Christians need to have a solid biblical foundation to discern the practices that lead to creation idolatry. Our relationship with creation should be as God commands.
It all begins with this core truth:
“…the Earth belongs to the Lord.” (Exodus 9:29)
We are commanded to serve God and no other, including creation itself. God knew we could be easily disillusioned into worshiping creation because it physically provides our needs. Our instinct is to protect the Earth. But He has called us to live by faith.
Can we trust that God is in full command of the Earth and climate as He has clearly stated in Scripture? Or do we buy into the world’s philosophy that man must “save the Earth”? How we respond to this question may be one of the greatest tests of faith our generation faces.
Are we to be environmentalists, conservationists, or stewards of God’s creation—and what are the differences between these positions? Do you know with certainty whom you serve—the Creator or the creation?
God calls us to be stewards of His creation, and as we know Him to be a good, loving, and faithful God, He has also shown us how we are to do this in perfect alignment with His plan.
We begin this series by first answering the basic question: what is creation worship?
Creation Worship
Creation worship occurs when we elevate the creation over the Creator. Its roots are in paganism, where it is believed there is no God and the universe sustains all life, hence the term “mother earth.” There are many different forms of earth worship, but they all call for mankind to restrict populations and protect nature.
This is in direct conflict with God’s command:
“Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28)
“The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it.” (Genesis 2:15)
So how do Christians reconcile God’s Word with what the world tells us to be true? Should we be environmentalists that advocate for the protection of species and nature, or conservationists that believe nature has been harmed by man and that we must reconcile our sin by limiting our use of the resources?
The answer is we should be neither of these, but we should be “stewards” of God’s creation, which means we are responsible to manage all the resources of life for the glory of God, acknowledging God as provider.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines stewardship as “the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care.” In this case, creation is entrusted to us by God.
Stewardship does not give us permission to destroy resources indiscriminately, but it does require that we use the resources and make them flourish as God commands.
Additionally, caring for creation should not be viewed as an act of worship, as we are not to worship anything other than our living God.
One easy way to decide whether a cause is creation worship is to ask yourself whether the practice leads you to depend on man for the solution or to trust God. If it doesn’t lead to relying on God and trusting God’s plan, it will lead to an erosion of faith.
Every Christian today is being confronted by this question, whether consciously or unconsciously. The response we make is vital to our relationship with God. We must search God’s Word for the wisdom, knowledge, and understanding we need, and the strength to walk courageously and faithfully into God’s promise.
The Stewarding Creation article series will unpack how we are to do this by answering these critical questions:
- What are the Seven Roles Mankind is Given Over Creation?
- Does the Bible Direct Christians to “Save the Earth”
- Does God Require Us to Conserve Land and Live Sustainably?
- Should Man Own the Resources?
- How Should We Care for Creation?
- How to Identify Creation Worship in Modern Culture
Next week we will focus on the seven responsibilities God gave mankind to steward His creation in alignment with His design. If you want to get a head start and dig deeper into this topic, you can download the full Stewarding Creation guide here.
Note: All scripture references are from the Christian Standard Bible (CBS) translation.
