We need the world to be capable of sustaining and furthering human life, and yet we are all becoming increasingly aware that human activity threatens the ability of creation to flourish and continue. There is clear evidence that as a result of climate change the poorest will suffer first. As Christians, we are called to love our neighbour as ourselves; therefore, we should be deeply concerned about the welfare of those who will pay the cost of climate change.
At the Evangelical Alliance we believe it is part of our commission as Christians to be good stewards of God’s creation. In Genesis, after God created the earth and everything in it, He declared it very good. He invited the people He had created to have “dominion” over it; they were to take responsibility for its care. As followers of Jesus, we should treat the earth with respect because God has entrusted us to take care of it.
God is not greedy, selfish or wasteful, and these characteristics should not be found in His followers as we enjoy His creation.
Christians are called to proclaim the good news of Jesus, but we are also called to witness in acts of mercy, self-control and justice. By caring for God’s creation, we can witness to the world that we believe in a creator God, who in turn cares deeply about those He created. We can share that He created the world to be enjoyed, not to be abused or made unsafe.
Christians can glorify God by once again owning the responsibility we have for our world. As we care for it, we can share with our peers about the God who created all things for us to enjoy, the God who gave humankind the responsibility to care for it. We can point others to the future hope of God’s kingdom, where the world we have damaged will be restored above and beyond its original goodness.
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” – Psalm 24:1
