Our ecological crisis has been blamed on Genesis 1:28 which gives mankind “dominion over the earth” (Lynn White)... so the environment can be exploited to our use!
But is that how Christians have understood the biblical mandate?
Calvin wrote about the rich theological reservoir for creation care:
".. The custody of the garden was given in charge to Adam, to show that we possess the things which God has committed to our hands, on the condition, that being content with a frugal and moderate use of them, we should take care of what shall remain. Let him who possesses a field, so partake of its yearly fruits, that he may not suffer the ground to be injured by his negligence; but let him endeavour to hand it down to posterity as he received it, or even better cultivated. Let him so feed on its fruits that he neither dissipates it by luxury, nor permits to be marred or ruined by neglect. Moreover, that this economy, and this diligence, with respect to those good things which God has given us to enjoy, may flourish among us; let every one regard himself as the steward of God in all things which he possesses. Then he will neither conduct himself dissolutely, nor corrupt by abuse those things which God requires to be preserved." (commentary on Genesis)
But is that how Christians have understood the biblical mandate?
Calvin wrote about the rich theological reservoir for creation care:
".. The custody of the garden was given in charge to Adam, to show that we possess the things which God has committed to our hands, on the condition, that being content with a frugal and moderate use of them, we should take care of what shall remain. Let him who possesses a field, so partake of its yearly fruits, that he may not suffer the ground to be injured by his negligence; but let him endeavour to hand it down to posterity as he received it, or even better cultivated. Let him so feed on its fruits that he neither dissipates it by luxury, nor permits to be marred or ruined by neglect. Moreover, that this economy, and this diligence, with respect to those good things which God has given us to enjoy, may flourish among us; let every one regard himself as the steward of God in all things which he possesses. Then he will neither conduct himself dissolutely, nor corrupt by abuse those things which God requires to be preserved." (commentary on Genesis)
Comments
But the life application can be very complex because we live in a world that has suffered the misuse of humans over many thousand years, with accumulative problems and wrong practises being passed down and we are trapped with too many issues together that affect one another, such that practical solution/measures are not simplistic.
Apart from thinking what we should and should not do with the earth entrusted to us, I am also pondering, how a Christian should position this environmental issue among so many other important aspects of life we ought to pay attention to. Being a Christian isn't easy at all... may God have mercy and grant us wisdom.