A disturbing environmental trend

I consider myself an environmentalist of sorts. I believe it is important that we properly take care of the earth that God has given to us and I find it upsetting when people take it for granted. And while I'm skeptical that the world is on the fast-track to becoming inhospitable within the next century because of global warming, I do think that our behavior affects the planet and that we ought to be much more active about our "green" efforts.

However, I've noticed a disturbing trend among environmentalists that I think Christians ought to be careful of: the idea that mankind is the enemy.

This theme often emerges in pop culture. Take the remake of The Day The Earth Stood Still where Keanu Reeves' character states, "If the earth dies, you die. If you die, the earth survives." In other words, you can't live without the earth, but, in fact, the earth needs to get rid of you if it has any chance at survival!

You can also find this belief among the scientific community. Take this quote from biologist Edward O. Wilson:

"If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos."

The obvious implication here is that human beings are bad for the earth - that human beings are in fact the worst thing that has ever happened to this planet. Additionally, Wilson makes the assertion that insects are more important, in a sense better, than humans.

But consider, on the other hand, Genesis chapter 1. This is the account of God's creation of the universe, and more specifically, the earth. With each passing day of creation (except, for some reason, the second) God looks at what he's made and declares it to be good.

On the sixth day, however, the last thing that God creates is humanity - the highest order of his creation. And it is not until humanity is present that God looks at his creation and says that it is very good.

While humanity did have a tremendously negative impact on creation by introducing it to sin (AKA: the fall), the answer to this problem is not to get rid of humanity. In fact, God decided against that route when he saved Noah and his family from the flood. Instead, God's plan is to ultimately restore humanity, and all of creation, to his original design through the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ.

So when the world, be it academia or pop culture, tells us that humanity is ultimately evil and bad for the earth, remember that this was not how God created us to be. Instead, God created us as the finishing touch on his once perfect creation and gave us the responsibility to take care of what he made. Although we have failed at our job, that does not mean he has given up on us - it just means we need a little more of his help.