By Cade Shadowlight
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Last time (article link), I laid out why common sense Earth stewardship beats ideological environmentalism hands down. Unlike environmentalism that pushes regulations or climate alarmism, biblical Earth stewardship respects human needs and God’s sovereignty. Let’s dig into scripture—it contains God’s playbook for tending His creation.
I highly recommend you look these verses up yourself and read the exact quotes in full context. Here, I'll give you my brief notes on each.
- Genesis 1:28 - We are to subdue the Earth, and rule over it. Human lives first, but not only. Good rulers don't destroy their kingdoms.
- Genesis 1:31 - God calls His creation “good.” Nature is important, and has value on its own merits, not just for its usefulness to us.
- Genesis 2:15 - The big command from God for Earth Stewardship. Mankind is installed by God as the caretakers for His creation - "to work it and watch over it" - to cultivate it for our use and guard it with care (the word is shâmar in Hebrew).
- Leviticus 25:2-7 - The seven year cycle mirrors the seven day creation week. Six days of work, one day of rest for us. Six years of work, one year of rest for the land. This resting of fields is an important concept in sustainable agriculture, and helps maintain healthy soils.
- Deuteronomy 20:19 - Trees provide food, produce oxygen, and offer many benefits. God forbids their destruction as a war tactic, underscoring their value.
- Job 12:7 - Says to ask the beasts, they’ll teach you. Nature teaches us resilience and balance, like how ecosystems recover from hardship.
- Isaiah 24:4-6 - Mankind can, and will, bring destruction upon the Earth, and suffer ourselves for it, as our numbers decrease, and "few people are left."
- Psalm 24:1 - The Earth and all of creation still belongs to God, not us. Some Christians believe God gave us the Earth. He did not. He made us caretakers over His creation, not owners.
- Proverbs 12:10 - It is regarded as righteous to care for animals, wicked if one doesn't.
- Romans 8:19-22 - Creation, nature, is a reflection of coming glory.
- Colossians 1:16-17 - God as the Creator of all things, including the Earth and nature. Shall we destroy what God created?
- Revelation 11:18 - A promise to reward the servants and "destroy those who destroy the Earth."
Most of these aren’t direct ‘plant trees’ commands, yet they reveal creation tied to God’s purpose, as seen in Genesis 2:15 and Psalm 24:1, with humans as guardians and caretakers. It’s about balance: both humans and nature are important. Let’s live out this balance by supporting practices like sustainable farming, energy efficiency, and church-led community gardens—efforts that honor God’s creation without embracing secular agendas.
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My favorite and most often used bible is the American Patriot’s Bible, The Word of God and the Shaping of America (Amazon link). The NKJV translation is literal, accurate, and easy to read for modern folks. This study bible weaves U.S. history with biblical events, offering articles and notes that highlight God’s role in our nation’s founding and ongoing story. I personally rely on it for my studies—click the link or photo to explore it for yours!