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Caring for the Earth as a Christian

ADigitalArtist

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
This is, in part, a question that arose from reading @InChrist's thread over here: This is not home

In my experience with Christians, there is a pretty significant variance in how to interpret passages which talk about husbandry of the Earth. (Such as over here: What Does the Bible Say About Stewardship Of Gods Creation? ) Some interpret it more about spiritual husbandry rather than just physical, or a mixture of both. And while some believe their Christianity leads them to being environmentally minded, others believe that their Christianity lessens the feeling of importance or urgency about environmental issues.

Because it's not 'home.' It's temporary and impermanent and to some degree not important. I've also seen this cause a general indolence towards political issues (in some cases to where political involvement is zero) due to lack of value placed on Earthly issues. Or even, alarmingly, looking to end their life here so they can quickly get to the next one.

Do you think in some cases Christian interpretation can cause a sort of callousness or ambivalence towards environmental or other political issues? If you identify as a politically involved and especially environmental Christian, what keeps your attention as it relates to your faith? What would you say to other Christians who are less environmental?
Those who don't consider themselves environmental Christians, how come? What would you say back?
Those who aren't Christians, do you have any experience working with environmental or non-environmental Christians you'd like to share?
 

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
Ronald Reagan's Secretary of the Interior, James Watt, notoriously said that the environment was not worth taking care of because Christ was about to return and would renew the earth to a pristine state.

I agree with the OP that the bible allows for a much greater environmental conscience than that.
 

InChrist

Free4ever
As one who believes that the earth was created by God, I consider it to belong to Him and not to us. He has given humans the responsibility to care for the earth. Therefore, though I believe the earth at present is temporal and there will be an eternal new heaven and earth this responsibility is to be taken seriously and humans will be held accountable. I have been thinking about the verse in Revelation 11:18 where it says that those... who destroy the earth will be destroyed. Whether, it is a believer or non-believer it seems that an underling motive to abusing the earth, rather than caring properly for it is greed and self-interest and forgetting that ...
The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it...Psalm 24:1
 

URAVIP2ME

Veteran Member
This is, in part, a question that arose from reading @InChrist's thread over here: This is not home
In my experience with Christians, there is a pretty significant variance in how to interpret passages which talk about husbandry of the Earth. (Such as over here: What Does the Bible Say About Stewardship Of Gods Creation? ) Some interpret it more about spiritual husbandry rather than just physical, or a mixture of both. And while some believe their Christianity leads them to being environmentally minded, others believe that their Christianity lessens the feeling of importance or urgency about environmental issues.
Because it's not 'home.' It's temporary and impermanent and to some degree not important. I've also seen this cause a general indolence towards political issues (in some cases to where political involvement is zero) due to lack of value placed on Earthly issues. Or even, alarmingly, looking to end their life here so they can quickly get to the next one.
Do you think in some cases Christian interpretation can cause a sort of callousness or ambivalence towards environmental or other political issues? If you identify as a politically involved and especially environmental Christian, what keeps your attention as it relates to your faith? What would you say to other Christians who are less environmental?
Those who don't consider themselves environmental Christians, how come? What would you say back?
Those who aren't Christians, do you have any experience working with environmental or non-environmental Christians you'd like to share?

However, I find Earth is ' HOME ' because the Earth abides forever as per Ecclesiastes 1:4 B.
Jesus promised ' Earth ' as HOME when he said the humble meek people would inherit the Earth.
Earth was Not a stepping stone for Adam. Earth was to be Adam's forever HOME.
Adam lost his forever HOME, but at Genesis 3:15 right away God promised a seed or Messiah for us.
Messiah would come and undo all the wrong made by Satan and Adam so that the majority of mankind could have Earth as a forever HOME. - Psalms 37:9-11,29.
Jesus resurrected people ( None to Heaven ) but resurrected all back HOME to healthy physical life on Earth.
Revelation 22:2 promises us a return of the Genesis ' tree of life ' back HOME to us here on Earth.
There will be 'healing' here on our earthy HOME for all of earth's nations.
Each person will have his own house (HOME) and own vineyard as per Isaiah 65:21.
Isaiah 35th chapter describes our earthly HOME as a coming beautiful paradisical Earth for us.
 

URAVIP2ME

Veteran Member
As one who believes that the earth was created by God, I consider it to belong to Him and not to us. He has given humans the responsibility to care for the earth. Therefore, though I believe the earth at present is temporal and there will be an eternal new heaven and earth this responsibility is to be taken seriously and humans will be held accountable. I have been thinking about the verse in Revelation 11:18 where it says that those... who destroy the earth will be destroyed. Whether, it is a believer or non-believer it seems that an underling motive to abusing the earth, rather than caring properly for it is greed and self-interest and forgetting that ...
The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it...Psalm 24:1
Any thoughts about Psalms 115:16 that the Earth God has given to the children of men _______
 

URAVIP2ME

Veteran Member
Ronald Reagan's Secretary of the Interior, James Watt, notoriously said that the environment was not worth taking care of because Christ was about to return and would renew the earth to a pristine state.
I agree with the OP that the bible allows for a much greater environmental conscience than that.
Sounds to me that Watt never read Genesis 1:28 that we are to take care of our earthly home.
God's purpose for us was to enjoy endless life forever on a beautiful paradisical earthly home like Eden was a sample.
So, our reward is our earthly home, or as Jesus said earth is an inheritance for humble meek people. Not for 'litter' people.
So, our earthly home is on the road to recovery as per Psalms 104:5 because it is Not earth that will be removed, rather wicked people (Psalms 92:7; Proverbs 2:21-22) will be removed.- Revelation 11:18 B.
The executional words from Jesus' mouth will destroy the wicked as per Isaiah 11:3-4; Revelation 19:14-16.
 

CLee421

Bible believing-Face painting-Musical Momma
This is, in part, a question that arose from reading @InChrist's thread over here: This is not home

In my experience with Christians, there is a pretty significant variance in how to interpret passages which talk about husbandry of the Earth. (Such as over here: What Does the Bible Say About Stewardship Of Gods Creation? ) Some interpret it more about spiritual husbandry rather than just physical, or a mixture of both. And while some believe their Christianity leads them to being environmentally minded, others believe that their Christianity lessens the feeling of importance or urgency about environmental issues.

Because it's not 'home.' It's temporary and impermanent and to some degree not important. I've also seen this cause a general indolence towards political issues (in some cases to where political involvement is zero) due to lack of value placed on Earthly issues. Or even, alarmingly, looking to end their life here so they can quickly get to the next one.

Do you think in some cases Christian interpretation can cause a sort of callousness or ambivalence towards environmental or other political issues? If you identify as a politically involved and especially environmental Christian, what keeps your attention as it relates to your faith? What would you say to other Christians who are less environmental?
Those who don't consider themselves environmental Christians, how come? What would you say back?
Those who aren't Christians, do you have any experience working with environmental or non-environmental Christians you'd like to share?

We are yes, living a spiritual life and look forward to that eternity.

But God said that we are supposed to care for creation. (Gen 2:15)

His love for animals and creation is echoed throughout scripture as well.
 

metis

aged ecumenical anthropologist
Either we take care of the environment or the environment will take care of us. We are to be custodians of the Earth, not the destroyers.
 

URAVIP2ME

Veteran Member
Either we take care of the environment or the environment will take care of us. We are to be custodians of the Earth, not the destroyers.

Seems to me, according to Revelation 11:18 B God will bring to ruin those ruining the environment.
That means only the custodians will remain -> Proverbs 2:21-22.
 
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