Let me be clear from the beginning of this post so as not to be taken the wrong way. I believe that environmental preservation, conservation, and responsibility are all good measures if kept in their proper perspectives. I’m no “tree-hugger,” but I do try to be involved in responsible use and care of our natural resources. When I hunt, I do it not only for enjoyment but we also consume the meat. I am slowly replacing the light bulbs in our home with the “curly ones.” And I have a water system hopefully to be installed soon so as to not continually buy plastic water bottles (among other reasons). So I am certainly not anti-environment!

The reason I am not anti-environment is rooted in biblical truth. While I truly believe God supplied the earth with many natural resources, plant life, and animal life for our enjoyment, comfort, and benefit, I also believe that He calls us to manage these resources well by not being wasteful, neglectful, or indifferent. From the beginning of time, God supplied us with this wonderful environment called Earth, and He commissioned us to be caretakers of it, not destructive, littering, wasteful, unappreciative consumers! All of this eco-responsible theology is rooted in the opening chapters of Genesis. (1:28-30, 2:15-20)

Therefore there is some good to be found and observed in the current cultural “green” fascination. However, as believers we must be careful to maintain a biblical perspective on creation as well as any other issue and not get caught up in a popular movement that essentially distracts us from our main calling. In recent days, there seems to be a growing influence of “green” concerns among evangelicals that give the appearance once again of being swept up in the latest trend or fad. For example, a “Green” Bible (www.greenletterbible.com) has recently been published with such noted figures as Brian McLaren and N.T. Wright. The danger here is that environmental causes can become THE causes for evangelicals due to cultural influence, and that is nothing short of veering off track!

To be fair, there are moderate voices among evangelicals that approach this issue with biblical balance. I was pleased to find such an approach with a document produced by Jonathan Merritt for the Southern Baptist Convention. (I cringed a little when I read some of Merritt’s thoughts on homosexuality, but this document appears to be a good perspective on responsible care of creation without losing primary focus.) To read the document, log on to www.baptistcreationcare.org.

I would simply caution my fellow “green” evangelicals:

1. Be aware of the leftist, unbiblical slant of the cultural “green” initiatives. Their philosophy is not guided by belief in a Creator but rather by worship of the creation (Rom 1:25). Therefore, the evidence that they cite will not be unbiased. They have an agenda, and they find company in the field of science. Let us make sure we base our actions on accurate facts and biblical truth.
2. Keep a proper perspective. God’s primary calling upon us as believers is to glorify Him through godly living and Gospel living. We are to enjoy God in everything and enjoy everything in God, and we are to share this joy with others worldwide! Now this would certainly include environmental care along the way, but at the same time, it is nowhere near the list of top concerns and priorities. Go as “green” as you want, but do so to the glory of God, and don’t let your “greeness” cloud out your pursuit of godliness!
3. Give your life for the things that will last! Don’t waste your life on trying to preserve the earth because the earth is passing away! (Luke 21:33) Now that is not an excuse for us to not be good stewards! But neither is good stewardship a call for us to overly invest our energies, time, and resources into a cause that is not lasting. There is a world of difference in being a good steward of God’s creation and being a zealot for the environment! Don’t lay up your treasure in a place that is destined for destruction! God’s plan is for a New Heaven and a New Earth (Rev 21:1-8)! Lay up your treasure in heaven through Gospel living and Gospel giving! In fact, creation itself awaits this renewal! Paul says the whole creation groans to be set free from its bondage (Rom 8:21-22)! Creation itself is existing for Gospel ends! Make sure you are not laboring against the desire of creation itself in your effort to “save” creation! The best way for us to “save” creation is to extend and expand the Gospel to the ends of the earth! When this gospel reaches the ends of the earth, then the end will come - then creation will be renewed! (Mat 24:14)

None of this is meant to minimize the glory of God in the present creation (Psalm 19:1-6). The fact that this universe is God’s creation is exactly the basis for our stewardship of it. The point is that the ultimate purpose of creation is to glorify God. Our ultimate purpose, as part of God’s creation, is to do the same! We are not here to “save” the planet! We are on this planet to glorify God and “save” as many as we can (Jude 23) from the coming wrath of God upon all unbelievers.