By Jacob Osborne, Lead Contributor
Introduction
Growing up as a boy in the rural Appalachian Mountains, few things were as culturally significant as outdoorsmanship. Big coming-of-age moments for us were bagging our first buck or catching our first largemouth bass.
As I’ve grown older and matured in my faith, however, I’ve come to not only enjoy the thrill of outdoor sportsmanship, but also to commune with God in the beauty of his creation. Prior to every hunt, I give thanks to God for my health and ability to freely use my parent’s land to find healthy meat for the Fall and Winter. This prayer, while surrounded by the silent serenity of the woods, always elevates my mood and makes me feel closer to God.
I’m not the only person to feel this either. Christians and non-Christians for centuries have retreated into nature to find peace and joy. Why is this? Because nature is God’s creation unmarred by human hands.
Biblical Evidence
In the Bible, God often uses nature as a form of communication. Jesus during the Sermon on the Mount says “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matt 6:26). God acknowledges He cares for all creation, and yet mankind is more valuable. Furthermore, this implies God is always at work in nature, constantly providing for every beast and plant of the field.
The glory of God is also reflected in the beauty of nature. The Psalmist says “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat (Psalm 19:1-6).” And again in Psalm 29:3, “The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over many waters.”
Christian Environmentalism
The Bible is clear that God is present in nature. As such, it is our duty as Christians to preserve and honor Creation. How can we do this? First, and most obviously, is to commune with God in nature. We don’t have to hike to some secluded waterfall or climb a mountain, but just praying and reading the Bible outdoors while listening to the birds chirping can be a fulfilling experience.
The second, and more controversial way, would be to support conservation efforts. God commanded us to be stewards of nature conservation (Genesis 9:2). The simplest way to do this would be by donation. Most states will donate money made from sale of fishing and hunting licenses to conservation organizations. Further, hunters and fishers contribute to the preservation of optimal ecosystems. But what if you don’t want to fish or hunt, or don’t have money to donate to organizations? Taking responsibility for your product consumption is another important conservation strategy. Here are a few strategies you could implement everyday:
- Buy meat, dairy, and produce from small farms. Large industry farms contaminate waterways with manure runoff, deplete soil, and deforest land to create confined grazing ranges
- Turn off and unplug electrical devices when not in use. This reduces overall energy waste and decreases the overall fossil fuel demand
- Reduce or eliminate reliance on non-recyclable materials. Recycle when possible or use biodegradable products
- Volunteer with local conservation groups and participate with cleanup events or political advocacy
God has and continues to use nature to speak to mankind. As Christians we should connect with our surroundings and seek to protect it by conservation. This isn’t just a suggestion, but rather a commandment directly from God.
Have another suggestion or related story? Leave a comment or tag us on social media with what you’re doing to help conserve our environment.
Faith, Food and Pharmacy 