Should Christians be Concerned about Pollution?

A question like “Should Christians be concerned about environmental protection?” seems trivial, but many Christians waver in their view concerning this topic. With each generation, it seems to be debated concerning whether or not Christians should assume some of the responsibility for preserving the earth’s environment. The Bible states in Genesis 6:6, “So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them (humanity) and put them on the earth. It broke his heart” (NLT, 2008). This verse represents one of only several verses when God felt sorry. As a result of humanities misbehavior and mistreatment of all creation, God regretted ever creating them. From this perspective, it would be obvious to the average Bible believer, that Christians have a fundamental obligation to preserve and cultivate the earth.

There is no doubt that by nurturing the earth’s environment, humanity intrinsically fulfills one of the essential responsibilities given to mankind. According to Genesis 2:15, the Bible states that, “The LORD God took the man, and put him in the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.’” All text from Old Testament scripture like Genesis is translated from the Hebrew origin. Therefore, the word “Dress” comes from a Hebrew word “‛âbad (aw-bad'), root meaning to work (in any sense), and it is an implication of serving or tilling” (Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary, 1890, p. 84). “The word “Keep” derives from the Hebrew word shâmar (shaw-mar'), meaning to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. to guard; to protect, or attend to (anything)” (Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary, 1890, p. 116). “Not only does God own everything and know every creature, but He cares for and provides for the physical needs of His creatures. For example, Psalm 104 says that God pro...

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...ieved from http://eschooltoday.com/pollution/air-pollution/effects-of-air-pollution.html

Geneva College, (2013). Environmental Stewardship: Why Should Christians Care About The Environment?

Retrieved from http://www.geneva.edu/page/why_care

*Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1996. Thomas Nelson, Inc. 2008. Print.

*Moyers, B., (2005). Moyers on America: A Journalist and His Times. New York: Randleman House, Inc. 2005. Print.

*Strong, J., (1890). Strong’s Dictionary: Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary

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Vidal, J., (2013). The Guardian: More than 90% of people in European cities breathe dangerous air. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/oct/15/european-cities-dangerous-air-pollution

* Zondervan, NIV Study Bible. Full ref. ed. Kenneth L. Barker, gen. ed Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011. Print.