Nature and the Environment

[Fred B]

One topic that comes up a lot now that I don't see discussed that often from a biblical perspective is Nature and environmental issues.

I am writing a paper about these very issues and would like to include a Christian perspective as a major theme.

I'd like your opinions. What is Nature? How much control are humans granted over it? Are we allowed to deforest vast swaths of the planet, or genetically engineer our crops and disease out of the population? How far is too far, and how far can we go before we are playing God? How important is it for us to conserve the natural environment, or do we have total dominion over it? And how much does the Bible spend discussing these issues?

I understand Global Warming wasn't a big issue in the times the Bible was written, but I trust there is some insight there. Any answers would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Hekuran]

Hi,

Paul writes in Romans 8

The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.​

I grew up as a Christian being told that Jesus died on the cross for my sins, and that even if I were the only one to have ever sinned, he would have died just for me.

Paul does not have the same individualistic approach as my Sunday school teachers.

Right in the middle of Romans 8 – the most glorious account of our salvation – we learn that Jesus died on the cross for the whole of creation, and that the whole of creation is waiting to be released from bondage.

So that is where I would start with a biblical treatment of environmental issues: the environment matters because it is part of God's plan of salvation.