By Margaret Byfield
(7th in Seven-part series)
In the last article we discussed how we are to care for nature in alignment with God’s design. In this article we identify some of the devices used to draw mankind into worshiping the creation instead of the creator.
The increase of creation worship in modern society is happening subtly, permeating every aspect of our lives. Most of these practices go unnoticed. They are things we rarely question so they continue to gain roots deeper into our daily lives. The Bible forewarns us that this will take place.
“Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.” (Colossians 2:8)
There are six questions you can ask that help identify the entities and practices of creation worship, designed to draw you away from God.
1. Do they believe in the Genesis Account of Creation?
Modern science often rejects the Bible’s account of the world’s creation in seven literal days, a young earth, and a global flood that shaped the world we see today. As a result, many Christians, scientists, and biologists embrace the theory of evolution, an old-earth creation philosophy, or other contrary ideas. All of these demonstrate that they do not believe the Bible to be the inerrant Word of God.
The Bible is foretelling, and it contains wisdom far beyond man’s understanding. It reveals its mysteries to us over time, as if to continually remind us to trust the Word. For example, early cultures believed the earth was flat and dismissed scripture because it taught that the earth was a sphere. Isaiah declares:
“God is enthroned above the circle of the earth; its inhabitants are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like thin cloth and spreads them out like a tent to live in.” (Isaiah 40:22)
Once science caught up with God, the “flat earth” belief was soundly debunked.
Man should not reject the Bible because our limited understanding does not agree. There are approximately 1,800 prophecies, and about two-thirds of these have already come true. When God said He created the earth in seven days approximately 6,000 years ago, we have ample evidence to believe Him. Any cause that claims to know more than God should be questioned.
God also said He created each distinct species. We did not evolve, beginning as one type of flesh and becoming another.
“Not all flesh is the same flesh; there is one flesh for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish.” (1 Corinthians 15:39)
When examining the underlying beliefs of conservation groups, be mindful of statements that indicate they believe species have evolved or that the earth is millions of years old. This reveals they do not trust the Word of God. Can you trust their counsel as to what man must do to save creation?
2. Do They Assign Human Characteristics to Nature?
The Bible distinguishes the elements of creation in many ways. One of these is the distinction between those entities with breath and without breath. Humans and animals have breath, and plants do not.
29 God also said, “Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This will be food for you, 30 for all the wildlife of the earth, for every bird of the sky, and for every creature that crawls on the earth—everything having the breath of life in it—I have given every green plant for food.” (Genesis 1:29-30)
Conservationists, however, often describe the natural world and vegetation in it as being alive, using human terms like “healthy environments,” “living ecosystems,” or “mother nature.”
A landscape is not alive or dead because plants do not have breath, spirit, or blood. Nor do rocks.
Vegetation grows from a seed when certain elements are present, such as minerals from soil and moisture from water. But there is no blood that runs through the plant or breath that comes out of it. Plant growth occurs when the right combination of elements come together, but this does not make the vegetation alive with the breath of life as the Bible defines life.
This is an important observation when reading environmental material because when objects that are not alive are given human characteristics, they are unnaturally elevated in our thinking. It makes it easier to accept that they should be protected and that we should follow “sustainable” practices, such as only using “renewable” resources.
It becomes easier to believe that “mother earth” is a living organism that can be killed by man.
3. Do They Give Human Characteristics to Animals?
When animals are given human characteristics, it becomes easier to accept that they should have equal rights to humans and that we should not kill them for food. This position is advocated by groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the United Nations.
Movies such as Disney’s “Bambi” were the first to project animals as having human characteristics. Bambi, Flower and Thumper all talked and expressed feelings. This is not the natural state of animals, but it helped to blur the Biblical distinction between humans and animals in impressionable young minds who are now adults. This set the table for animal rights activists to advocate we should not kill animals.
Today’s culture encourages us to spare animals by embracing trends like “Meatless Mondays” or going fully plant-based. The health industry has been swept into this movement, with anti-meat studies often funded by entities buying farmland and investing in meatless products. These same actors also back policies that drive beef producers out of business—forcing more people to rely on their alternatives.
Scripture teaches that eating animal products is good and morally right:
“Every creature that lives and moves will be food for you; as I gave the green plants, I have given you everything.” (Genesis 9:3)
Pay attention to how groups describe animals. Do they give them human characteristics and promote the idea that animals should have equal or superior rights to humans? If so, they are out of alignment with God’s design. They are elevating mankind’s morality over God’s wisdom.
4. Do They Use Earth Worship Language?
One simple way to discern whether a cause, program, or company supports creation worship is to study their language. The use of “mother earth” is common and signals that their god is the creation, not God the Creator.
Many Christians may refer to “mother earth” without fully understanding its meaning and might disagree that they are worshiping the earth by doing so. Nevertheless, we are commanded not to follow those pursuing an unrighteous path, even if done innocently.
Other key words include “sustainability,” “save the earth,” and terms that give human characteristics to nature, such as “healthy ecosystems.” These concepts are rooted in the belief that man is generally bad for the environment and that solutions require humans to limit the use of natural resources and control human populations—concepts in direct conflict with God’s commands.
Also watch for references to environmental values such as “ecosystem and biodiversity values.” These terms are widely used in the earth worship culture and have been embedded into many aspects of society.
5. Do They Use Fear and Guilt to Motivate Change?
A recent headline from The Nature Conservancy, the world’s largest land trust, read:
“Urgent and Existential: Countries have a legal duty to protect people and ecosystems from the ‘urgent and existential’ threats posed by climate change, according to a landmark opinion from the International Court of Justice.” (The Nature Conservancy “Global Insights” newsletter, September 2025)
Many conservation causes rely on supporters believing there is some kind of crisis that requires their response, and it is always up to man to solve the problem, not God. This type of fearmongering is your first clue you should question the program.
The most frequently repeated command in the Bible is “do not fear.” A version of this phrase is stated over 300 times. Yet, when you read environmental literature, you have a clear sense that the sky is falling if mankind does not make immediate corrections. These changes often lead to restricting someone’s rights or lifestyle.
The environmental movement makes us first believe that our actions are destroying the earth and then convince us that the way to atone for this is through supporting their causes.
God’s system has a steward, a private landowner, that is responsible for an area he can properly manage while providing for his own household. God’s system does not have a national government determining who and how God’s resources will be used.
Fear and guilt are emotions that come from Satan, not God. It shouldn’t be any surprise that a cause driven by those emotions leads to injustice. Be suspicious of programs that use these emotions to gain your support.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love and sound judgement.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
6. Do They Rely on Man or God to Solve the Problem?
The Green Bible is marketed to environmentalists. It contains the complete text of the Old and New Testament in the New Revised Standard Version, a translation often used by progressive churches. Instead of having the words of Christ marked in red ink, The Green Bible has those passages they believe support protecting creation inked in green.
The foreward describes the earth as a “vulnerable, fragile planet,” that is dying. They claim that God “dreams” for mankind to change its destructive ways and save the earth. The future of earth is in man’s hands. It concludes by saying they can hear God saying: “Help me, Help me realize my dream.”
By characterizing the green god as weak and the earth as fragile, man then becomes the problem and the savior. Look for these themes in the conservation materials you read and hear, and seek to learn who they serve.
The living God we worship does not dream that man will save the earth, nor does it need our help saving the earth. Everything is in His control.
What God needs from us is our faith and trust in Him knowing He will fulfill all His promises even though we are imperfect. He loves and cares for us more than any other part of His creation.
15 “Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. 16 You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.” (Matthew 7:15–20)
How Do We Steward Creation in Alignment with God’s Design?
Our response to the fear-driven claims that the world is ending should always be to lean on God’s word and trust God’s promises. Yes, this world will end, but it does not end as a result of how man uses the natural resources. The end of this earth will be carried out by God through fire from heaven, not fire coming up from man.
A good steward of God’s creation:
- Recognizes man has dominion over the earth and all creatures.
- Knows we are to work the land in order for all creation to flourish.
- Watches over creation for the glory of God.
- Does not fear a climate crisis because our supernatural God is in full control.
- Understands that God, not creation, provides our needs and those of nature.
- Trust God’s Word over man’s understanding.
- Acknowledges that God is the savior of all creation, not man.
In the beginning, God gave us seven commands for stewarding creation. He has not taken any of these away, nor has he added to them. But just as the Scribes and Pharisees had done in Jesus’ days on earth, our modern culture has added many laws, restrictions, ideologies, and false gods we are being asked to comply with to save the earth.
These added objectives are impossible for society to carry out, and ultimately, they will turn nature into a wasteland and drive the masses into poverty.
What if instead of believing we are in a climate crisis, we trusted God, and trusted that if we steward creation His way we will see abundance, prosperity, beauty and His glory everywhere.
17 “Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stable position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.” (2 Peter 3:17–18)
If you want to 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.
