28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”… 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.
~Genesis 1:28, 2:15
I love these verses from Genesis because they are the very first things God asked of humanity. God asks humanity to have dominion over the earth, to till it and keep it. It’s one of those commandments that we do not keep very well because we tend to miss-understand the point. I think that much of our problem comes in with these words “subdue” and “have dominion.” The reality is, the book of Genesis is one of those books that has been passed through generations it a number of languages, primarily Hebrew until relatively recently when you think of the grander scope of time. When we dive into the Hebrew word behind these English words, we discover that it's not about control, but about stewardship. It’s about care-giving and nurturing something that God has given to us. So this commandment then is about caring for creation much in the same ways Jesus calls us to care for one another.
Each year on April 22, we celebrate Earth Day, marking the day where the modern environmental movement began in 1970 as an understanding of air and water pollution began to seep into public consciousness. It led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, global celebration and awareness of ways to care for creation in 1990, and continues to spark new ideas and initiatives today.[1]
There are lots of ways I intentionally seek to care for creation- conserving energy and recycling have been a long-standing tradition in my house. I have sought to use plastic free products, plant-based cleaners, and bamboo paper products through Grove Collaborative, who seeks to be carbon neutral and plastic free. Even my dog Lilo’s treats and waste bags come from there! She gets treats that are not only delicious but sustainable and upcycled, meaning they are made from the ugly fruits and vegetables humans generally don’t want to eat. I have been using reusable shopping bags and cloth napkins for ages, use washable cleaning rags when I can, and reusable containers instead of plastic zip-locks or plastic wrap. One of my biggest switches most recently has been my shampoo, conditioner, and deodorant. Instead of buying products in plastic containers, I by products from Grove… so they come in soap bars instead of liquid form. And after some time, they work just as well and are actually less expensive! And when I get brave enough, I will switch to plastic-free toothpaste and floss. As spring arrives and I seek to brighten up my home, I will choose plants with a purpose- plants that fight off bugs or plants that will thrive where we live or plants that flower so that our friends the bees can thrive.
The switch to an environmental and sustainable lifestyle is not as difficult as it sounds! There are a billion reasons to work towards it but the most important reason is that God calls us too. As Maltbie Babcock puts it, “this is my Father’s world,” and we have been asked to care for it.
So friends, how will you care for creation? Our state is eliminating plastic bags everywhere, paper bags in most places, Styrofoam food containers, and so much more begins on May 4, and it has been a long time since I have seen a plastic straw. But what more can we do at home or at the church?
Comment your thoughts below!
Blessings friends,
Pastor Nicole
[1] https://www.earthday.org/history/