Nearly fifty years ago, historian Lynn White, Jr., published in Science magazine an article that soon became famous, was reproduced hundreds of times in anthologies and course readings, and is still in use in college courses on environmental ethics, religion, and policy. In “The Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis,” White claimed, “By destroying pagan animism, Christianity made it possible to exploit nature in a mood of indifference to the feelings of natural objects” and that the Bible taught that “no item in the physical creation had any purpose save to serve man’s purposes.”

White’s understanding of Christian teaching on man’s place in creation, though superficial, naïve, and indeed badly mistaken, sadly became common coin for environmentalists the world over. It is part of why many environmentalists look away from Christianity to other religions, like Hinduism, Buddhism, and animism, for inspiration.

But only the Christian faith provides a consistent, comprehensive worldview foundation for responsible human stewardship of the earth. Religious worldviews that reduce humans to just another life form fail to provide the moral accountability that comes from recognizing that humans are different from animals, plants, rocks, dirt, and water. Those that—like Hinduism, Buddhism, and animism, not to mention atheism—don’t posit a personal, rational, just God lack any standard for righteousness and any judge to whom people must give account for their handling of the earth.

Yes, the Bible teaches that, having made man in His image (symbolized in Michelangelo’s famous painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel), God gave him dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:28). But dominion doesn’t equal abuse. Godly dominion means working to enhance the fruitfulness, safety, and beauty of the earth, to the glory of God and the benefit of our neighbors. It means using the things God has placed in the earth in ways that glorify Him and promote His priorities in the world (Matthew 25:14–30).

Most important, the Bible teaches that Jesus—whose incarnation was, among other things, a divine “Yes!” to the essential goodness of material reality—came not only to save individual sinners who trust in Him by paying the penalty for their sin (though that was His primary purpose—Matthew 20:28), but also to begin, and eventually to complete, the work of freeing creation itself from bondage to decay under God’s curse in response to man’s sin.

That’s the message of Romans 8:16–24:

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved.

The liberation of believers from bondage to sin is a precursor to the liberation of the whole earth from bondage to decay, and both will be completed at the time of “the redemption of our bodies,” that is, the resurrection.

Jesus’ incarnation, life, death, resurrection, and present reign (Matthew 28:18) will all culminate in a glorious renewal that the Bible calls “new heavens and new earth” (2 Peter 3:13).

This Christmas, let God’s “Yes!” to the essential goodness of material reality, expressed in Jesus’ incarnation, become your “Yes!” to godly dominion—to subduing and ruling it for the glory of God and the benefit of your neighbor.

Originally Published December 18, 2013.