Environment: Are humans the number one problem?

The environment (or creation) needs humans. While this claim is uncontroversial for Christians, in some environmentalist circles this assertion attracts scorn.

Surely, humans are the environment’s number-one problem, the cause of widespread degradation and damage?

Some radical deep ecologists go further than this. Much further. They argue humans are a parasite to this world and the only solution to “save the planet” is for humans to voluntarily commit to our own extinction. Though it must be said that the great majority of environmentalists reject this extreme position.

What is the Christian response to this? Firstly, humility. We need to face up to the fact that the environmentalists have a point. Humans are indeed the cause of much (but not all) environmental degradation, and our stewardship of creation has often warranted a failing grade. But secondly, we must strongly affirm the goodness of environmental stewardship. Creation does indeed need us – because God has said so. And His word is final.

God’s ordaining

The first command given to Adam and Eve in the garden was to steward creation: to name, tend, keep it. And also, to have dominion and subdue it. When these actions are done in the manner God intended – and are mirrored upon His own loving, self-giving and gracious dominion of us – all the diverse species of creation can flourish under our stewardship and skilful gardening/ conservation work.

The cultural (or ecological) mandate in Genesis still applies today. Stewarding creation is not an optional extra. It is our command and duty. And this is true in spite of our sin, weaknesses and limitations. The Fall has made stewardship much harder and has meant that our actions upon creation are no longer by default beneficial. We do make mistakes and too often we sinfully exploit, degrade and pollute. But God knew all this, and He has not revoked the command and the privilege He has given us to steward His masterpiece.

God didn’t need to choose us. As Psalm 104 repeatedly shows, He is actively sustaining and caring for His creation moment by moment. Yet in His grace He ordained for us to be His stewards. An immense privilege, and an immense responsibility. When we perform this responsibility as God intends, three wonderful outcomes result.

The results of good stewardship

Firstly, well managed and healthy ecosystems benefit humanity in the form of pollination, flood control, water purification, soil formation, and pest control that nature does for us for free. Ecologists call these benefits ‘ecosystem services’. We also get to enjoy beautiful creatures and well-tended landscapes.

Secondly, the diverse creatures that surround us flourish under good stewardship and conservation. This is seen most evidently in traditional agricultural environments. When humans interact in a sensitive manner with the environment and farm with nature and not against it, a range of incredibly biodiverse habitats are created such as hay meadows and hedgerows. These valuable habitats only exist because of human management. When man and nature work together as God intended, beauty, diversity, and sustainability result.

Finally, we enhance and protect creation’s capacity to showcase the glory of God. The ultimate reason creation exists is to point to the Creator; to visually show us how wonderful He is. The heavens declare the glory of God. So too do the rivers, the mountains, the forests, and every species He has made. As we care for and protect all this beauty and as we nurture and create even more beautiful, biodiverse habitats, we enhance creation’s God-glorifying ability. And when we witness the beauty in creation our proper response is to worship the Creator. This is the ultimate reason why caring for creation matters and why we should be committed to be good stewards: because worship matters.