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| Western Colorado |
By
Ada Brownell
The need to care for the earth has
awakened in America and now is taught from kindergarten through college. Along
with that awakening comes resentment against Genesis 1:28 where God said to
Adam and Eve, “Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it, and have
dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every
living thing.”
What is God’s and the Christian’s
view?
The Bible not only speaks of
dominion, but also of responsibility, respect and stewardship of nature. Dominion
can be interpreted to mean “loving care, such as parental authority.”
Christians often
take the lead when it comes to preserving human life, especially the lives of
the unborn, but are not noted for being tree and mouse lovers. But most
understand we endanger ourselves when we endanger the ecosphere.
Albert
Schweitzer, a theologian/philosopher of the last century, said reverence for
life is connected with the individual’s will to live.
“If I am a
thinking being, I must regard other life than my own with equal reverence,”
Schweitzer said.”[1]
The Bible teaches
us to respect life. After all, our Heavenly Father—not Mother Nature—created
all the ecosystems in the beginning. He gave us guidance in Old Testament laws
about how to care for the environment. However, just as nature has natural
systems which need to stay in a state of equilibrium
and disturbing one element could affect the whole earth, our beliefs about the
environment also need balance.
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| My adopted grandson |
In Deuteronomy
15-20, we are warned not to worship nature. Making idols of any animal, bird,
creature or fish is forbidden. “When you look up to the sky and see the sun,
the moon and the stars—all the heavenly array—do not be enticed into bowing
down to them.” The Lord condemns such worship as an “abomination.”[2]
Likewise in
Isaiah 1:29, the prophet says “You will be ashamed because of the sacred oaks
in which you have delighted.” God’s
people knew that meant not to worship them.
Here are some of
the biblical views of ecology:
·
The land
is to rest every seven years. “For six years sow your fields, and for six
years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. But in the seventh year the land is to have a
Sabbath of rest.” (Leviticus 25:3-4).
·
Don’t cut
down trees unnecessarily. “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. However, you may
cut down trees that you know are not fruit trees and use them to build siege
works until the city at war with you falls” (Deuteronomy 20:19-20).
·
Be
compassionate to animals. “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the
grain” (Deuteronomy 25:4). “If you see the donkey of someone who hates you
fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help him with
it” (Exodus 23:5 “A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal” (Proverbs
12:10).
·
Respect
birds. “What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not
a single sparrow can fall to the
ground without your Father knowing it” (Matthew 10:29NLT).
·
Respect
the earth and its Creator. “Where were you when I laid the earth’s
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| My granddaughter on the mountain that overlook Albuquerque |
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Turning
away from God affects the land. “Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites;
because the Lord has a charge to bring against you who live in the land. There
is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. Because of
this the land mourns, and all who live in it waste away, the beasts of the
field and the birds of the air and the fish of the sea are dying” (Hosea
4:1-3).
·
God
blesses the crops of the obedient. “’You
are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the
whole tithe into the storehouse that there may be food in my house. Test me in
this,’” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the
floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room
enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in
your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the Lord Almighty.
·
Nations
who support Israel: “Then all the
nations will call you blessed for yours will be a delightful land,’ says the
Lord Almighty” (Malachi 6:3-12). “For
thus said the Lord of hosts, after his glory sent me to
the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his
eye” (Zechariah 2:8).
In the beginning when God inspected
His work, He said, “It is good.”
Life, indeed, is
precious and good. God shows us through His Word to respect it and all of His
creation. No matter how careful we are to prevent pollution, sometimes environmental contamination occurs. We can mourn an oil spill, dumping of harmful chemicals, and sometimes help with cleanup. Nevertheless, we should
not worship the earth or our environment.
But when we have
a disaster, we can pray for those involved in cleanup and restoration; for wisdom for
those working in the technical aspect of the cleanup; and for those whose lives
and livelihoods are affected.
Ada
Brownell, a free lance writer and retired newspaper reporter, has written
numerous stories on the environment and with Dennis Darrow received the 1994 Colorado
Associated Press Editors and Reporters first-place environment award for a
series that appeared in The Pueblo Chieftain.
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