“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” Psalm 24:1a (ESV)
Notice, the above verse says the earth is the Lord’s… NOT “the earth is the Lord.” A vital distinction. Acknowledging the goodness of the creation and being good stewards of the creation are essential. If we believe the creation accounts in Genesis, that God created the heavens and the earth and called his creation good, then we would naturally want to take care of this earth that he created. To nurture it to it’s fullest creative potential, to cultivate its beauty and its life-giving capacity.
However, in today’s atmosphere, one must make the very crucial distinction that is oftentimes not very clear in the media, in our educational institutions, and in big business. (Yes, big business has finally discovered that it is popular and profitable to market “green”). That crucial distinction is that God created the earth so the earth is not God. He stands over and against that which he spoke into being.
As Christ-followers, let us take the lead in intelligent, informed environmentalism, and help people see the true motive for any environmentalist agenda must be the love of the God who creates. Too many people are, unknowingly in many instances, confusing creation with the Creator and making an idol out of the earth. Terms like Mother Earth and Gaia simply point us to a pagan past that ultimately, ironically, perpetuates the pain and destruction of that which we suppose we love and want to protect.
So, as Earth Day is celebrated, we Christians should probably help remind people from where the earth came and the One who desires we take care of it.
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