How to Rescue the Earth Without Worshipping Nature: A Christian’s Call to Save Creation

Creation was meant to glorify God. The task of the Christian, writes Tony Campolo, is not to worship nature, but to join with nature in worshiping God. “Being concerned about the environment is a biblically mandated command, and acting to rescue creation … is a Christian obligation,” Campolo says. Using the Bible and other Christian writings, Campolo builds a case for Christian environmentalism. He calls upon Christians to work for a “peaceable kingdom” of ecological harmony. “What must be made clear is that each of us has a responsibility to do something about our polluted and trashed creation right now. In anticipation of His coming, we must go to work today and contribute to the work which He will complete on the day of His coming.” The consequences of Christian inaction are devastating. Few realize, for example, that more than half of all remedies in our pharmacies come from plants grown in tropical rain forests, rapidly being destroyed. So what can Christians who want to rescue the earth do? Plenty. Campolo outlines a practical way for churches and individuals to tackle environmental issues. He recommends taking an “environmental audit” to measure each church’s response to conservation. He suggests turning church camps into ecological camps. And rather than membership pledges that stress only personal morality, he proposes a new covenant that includes commitment to environmental responsibility. Campolo also identifies key Christian outreach organizations that work to preserve the environment.