What’s a question you’re asked often? For me, it’s: “How did you begin working with environmental organizations?” So far, I’ve yet to tire of answering it. The answer is part of my testimonial of how my Heavenly Father, who made the heavens and the Earth, is working through me to my part in promoting Environmental Care.
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A Christian Business Owner Journey into Environmental Care
Before starting BairStories, I was a Freelance Creative Strategist and musician navigating the post-pandemic world while preparing to release my next music project. Unfortunately, all my client work occupied my music web domain, forcing me to rethink how I would present my client work.
That’s when the Holy Spirit disrupted my plans. He redirected me toward environmental stewardship.
The deeper I explored this topic, the more frustrated I became by Jesus's exclusion from conversations about environmental justice.
On one hand, the Western Church in America is largely silent on this issue. On the other hand, environmental groups and climate activists are loud, often saying things like, “Climate change and social issues are problems we need to solve.”
But when I read the Bible, I see a Creator who cares about His Creation and already has a plan to redeem humanity and the land.
Meditating on this truth, I was inspired to be another presence of God working toward a just and sustainable world.
I also recognized that my skills in Emotional Storytelling filled a crucial gap in the communication of many environmental organizations. Many rely heavily on data and facts but struggle to connect emotionally. Stories bridge that gap [4].
Throughout the rest of the article, I will use the term creation interchangeably with the Earth, land, and environment. When I say Creation, I’m talking about those things.
4 Reasons Christians Should On Environmental Care
The Earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the LORD, for he laid its foundation on the seas and established it on the rivers. Psalm 24:1
The longer I work with environmental organizations, the more I see the biblical case for stewardship. Through the insightful writings of educators on this topic, I’ve learned the following:
- Caring for the Earth brings glory to God [1]. God created the natural world and called it good (*Genesis 1:31).*Creation testifies to His greatness (Psalm 19:1), and we honor Him when we care for it.
- Creation helps people [1]. A healthy environment benefits human life, while a damaged one can contribute to human suffering. (Isaiah 24:5-6)
- Environmental issues are ethical issues. Stewardship is about acting in love, humility, and self-sacrifice for the good of others.
- Finally, God instructs humans to care. One of the first callings in the Bible is to tend and keep the garden (Genesis 2:15) [9].
Environmental Issues Are Social Justice Issues
Environmental justice isn’t just about conservation—it’s about fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, income, or background, in shaping environmental policies [2].
Christians are called to love our neighbors—including future generations—by making responsible choices today (Proverbs 13:22).
Environmental issues often have direct consequences on people and worsen problems, especially for marginalized communities who suffer the most through:
- polluted drinking water
- increased health risks from activities like coal mining
- and desertification, leading to poverty and hunger.
Since humans are interconnected with Creation, caring for it produces positive community results. Simply put, neglecting God’s Earth is neglecting God’s people, who either thrive or suffer depending on the health of the land they inhabit.
The Needed Misconception I Had to Overcome
If the Earth belongs to God, as Scripture says, then we are not owners—we are stewards. Thus, how we treat someone else’s property matters.
Viewing things through this lens makes this topic relational. It has also helped me overcome one of my misconceptions. Previously, I lived with an unspoken belief that caring for the environment wasn’t that important. I mean, it was, but it was much lower on the to-do list.
Additionally, sin has polluted and vandalized more than just humanity—it has corrupted the land and its creatures.
To quote Christians for Social Action
“…human sin shows up and spoils things, affecting the relationship not just between people but also between and Creation. Mosaic law gives commandments regarding land use and other agrarian practices (Exodus 23, Leviticus 25).
The Prophets speak of the land mourning, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea perishing (Hosea 4) because of human sin. Conversely, the Prophets depict hope by painting images of animals co-existing peacefully (Isaiah 5, 11), trees and vines bearing fruit, and vats overflowing with wine and oil (Joel 2).”
What Some People Get Wrong About Creation Care
- “Environmental care is just a liberal issue.” [1] While earth care has political aspects, stewardship is biblical. As followers of Christ (Messiah) Jesus, our treatment of the Earth reflects our values and obedience to God.
- “Individual actions don’t matter.” [2] Small actions, multiplied, create a collective impact. Many social and environmental changes started with individuals making ethical choices.
- “Environmentalism replaces the gospel.” [4] Nope! We do both, share the Gospel (Good News of the Kingdom of God), and tend to God’s Creation.
How Does Your Faith Call You to Care for Creation?
I invite you to reflect on the question pose in that header above. For me, environmental storytelling is more than a profession—it’s an act of worship. The same can be said of stewarding BairStories, our storytelling agency that works with environmental organizations.
If you’ve been wrestling with the idea of environmental care, I encourage you to dig deeper.
See where the Holy Spirit is leading you. Maybe, like me, you’ll find He’s already been speaking to you about this in ways you hadn’t noticed before.
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References
OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Ellict, Notebook LM, and Grammarly were used for research, revisions, and feedback. Check out our AI Ethical Use Statement.
- Creation Care — Blessed Earth
- Environmental Justice for Sustainable Development: A Biblical Perspective, Makamure Clemence, 2015
- Environmental Justice - Christians for Social Action
- Why Should Christians Care About the Environment?, Geneva College,
- Environmental Justice in Faith Communities | The Climate Reality Project, Rachel Lea Scott, 2023
- The Christian's Role in Social and Environmental Justice | National Catholic Reporter, Samantha Panchevre, 2020