Creation Care: The Taboo Topic Christians Should be Talking About

For three semesters I worked with a Christian study abroad program in New Zealand that focused on sustainability. It was truly one of a kind. While the college students and professors hailed from a diversity of Christian backgrounds some Catholic but mostly Protestant, a mix of Democrats , Republicans and Independents, and some staunch believers in six-day creationism while others embraced evolution one point they all agreed on was that Christians needed to take better care of the environment.

Which is pretty unusual, because caring for the environment doesnt generally get talked about in church. I remember a student sharing with me that she had only ever heard one sermon in her life addressing the topic of environmental care. It was pretty mild, from what she remembered, but still the pastor later admitted he received more negative feedback on that sermon than any other he has shared as a pastor. Considering the other controversial topics that have created conflict for the church in recent decades, including womens reproductive rights and the LGBTQ+ communities, why is creation care so hard for Christians to swallow?

One argument Christians make (which unfortanetly is similar to the argument used to subjugate women) is that according to the Genesis 1:28 humankind was told by God at the creation of the world to subdue the earth, and have dominion over every living thing upon it. Because of humanitys higher standing on this creation hierarchy, it is suggested that humans can do whatever they want both to the land and its creatures. Some interpret subdue more mildly to mean taming or organizing the earth in an agricultural sense, a garden-like type of beautifying act, while extreme interpretations can be more synonymous to exploit.

Another very depressing argument used against creation care by Christians is the end times argument. Christians like to point out that the end is near, and that when Christ makes his comeback this current heaven and earth will pass away, replaced with a brand-spanking-new heaven and earth (Revelation 21:1, paraphrased). The inherent logic to this argument is that it doesnt matter how bad we mess up this world and its inhabitants, because Jesus is coming back sometime soon and will fix it all. So why try?

Just to be clear, you dont have to be a Biblical scholar (Im not) to see that throughout the Bible God wants people to care for the earth. There are multiple rules given by God to the Israelite people instructing them to give their land a seventh year of rest (Leviticus 25), and when Israel is eventually sent into exile, one purported reason is because they did not follow those rules (Leviticus 26:33-35). Later, when Jesus comes on the scene, he tells his disciples to go and preach the good news to all of creation (Mark 16:15). Christianity is not only good news for people, it also promises hope for all of creation (Romans 8:20).

Even if you dont buy that God cares about the earth and other living non-human things, Christians cant debate the fact that Jesus cared for the poor. Unfortunately, the combination of climate changes increasingly harmful effects with pollution from unregulated billionaire industries means that those who are hurting the most are the most vulnerable of humanity, the poor. To ignore climate change, or to advocate for deregulation to fatten ones pocketbook, is to perpetuate great injustice. Lets start talking about this topic, because I cant think of any other excuses why we as Christians should continue ignoring environmental conservation.