Out on a Limb

Why Christians Shouldn’t be Environmentalist

Global Warming, Climate Change, Pollution and many other environmental concerns are all very important in our society today. Being GREEN is the new catch phrase and to not jump on the environmentalist bandwagon is to bring ridicule and even hatred. Carbon taxes are the new things for governments and corporations to implement. Recently I flew on a British Airways flight from London to Phoenix where I had the choice to pay a voluntary carbon tax to offset the greenhouse emissions from the flight. I was glad it was only voluntary but how much longer will it take for this to become a mandatory tax for everyone traveling anywhere. Being GREEN has even taken many so called Christian churches by storm where GREEN SINS are being warned against. One so called Christian group states “In this most critical moment in Earth's history, we are convinced that the central moral imperative of our time is the care for Earth as God's creation.” In this correct?? Environmentalism is the central moral issue of our time? Given this hype and paranoia of ruining our environment it is important for the Christian to examine what Scripture says about this topic. One good thing is that God is not silent and makes it completely clear what the followers of Christ should do about the environment.


Man is to dominate the Earth

It is clear from the beginning that God intended the creation to be for our use. We should utilize the resources and environment for our benefit. The creations was made for us. The stars, sun and moon were made by God to be lights so we could determine seasons and time. Every star in the universe is placed so we can use it to track the passing of time and has been used for navigation on the earth. The earth and universe was created for us to utilize.

Genesis 1:26-28 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." - 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. - 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

It is clear from this passage that man is to have dominion over the earth and subdue it. There are some who will say that we must conserve what is in the earth for the future and preserve our resources. However, this is no where to be found within scripture. God is clear that we are to use the resources of creation for our benefit. Everything is for us.

God Cursed the Earth

The Earth is cursed. God cursed it. When God had finished with creation He said that it was Good. Then sin came and He Cursed it.

Genesis 3:17-19 And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; - 18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. - 19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

The earth is cursed and has been trying to kill us ever since. The earth is not a paradise but instead has been hostile to humans from the beginning. Disease, wild beasts and natural disaster have wrecked havoc on the earth from the beginning. We are living on a cursed creation that has only been trying to kill us. Creation itself understands that it is cursed.

Romans 8:19-23 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. - 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope - 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. - 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. - 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Should Christians be involved in trying to preserve a cursed earth? God cursed it. Why preserve something that is cursed. Instead let us use it for our benefit. Let us dominate the earth and subdue it.

Creation will be destroyed by Fire

Going GREEN is useless. God tells us that the end of the earth will be by fire. Are we wanting to preserve the earth’s resources so we can let it burn? We should use the resources that God put on this cursed earth for our benefit.

2 Peter 3:5-13 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, - 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. - 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. - 8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. - 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. - 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. - 11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, - 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! - 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

The earth and heavens will melt away and be destroyed. They will be dissolved and be done away with. Are we to preserve the resources of this cursed earth for the coming destruction? Why? Let us use the resources we have today and await the coming of Christ and the new heavens and earth. Let us preach the Gospel of Christ so that those elect of God who are awaiting the gospel message will come to the knowledge of salvation through the death of Christ Jesus. Our only mission while on the cursed earth is to proclaim the gospel of Christ and await for the end to come. GREEN SINS, Hogwash!!! If you are a follower of Christ this earth is not your home. A Christian environmentalist is a contradiction. Now let’s go cut some trees and drive our big SUV’s and await the coming of Christ.