Grace & Mercy Magazine Godscreations

Global Stewardship: The Christian Mandate

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. (Hebrews 1:1, 2 NIV)

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross . . . This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. (Colossians 1:15-20, 23 NIV)

Stewardship begins with the understanding that God in Jesus Christ has created and now sustains the world, and that humans, who were created in God’s image, have been charged to serve and keep the creation. At the same time we are creatures, shaped by the same processes and embedded in the same systems of physical, chemical, and biological interconnections which sustain other creatures. Although it is appropriate to use the creation to meet our needs, Scripture teaches that the chief purpose of creation is to glorify God.

Stewardly care is therefore a trust from God. This care includes all creation and the human culture built from it. Stewardship especially implies promoting just relationships among humans, and between humans and the rest of creation. This concern for justice is crucial for the developing world, where unjust relationships often leave people without land, food or health.

A Biblical ethic for stewardship includes, among others, the following conserving elements:

1) Sufficiency – we need to be grateful to God for earth’s bounty and also be content with what he has provided.

2) Justice – we must ensure that all human kind – future as well as present – enjoy the gifts of creation and are not impoverished by unjust or unwise use of those gifts.

3) Fruitfulness – while using the fruit of creation, we should never destroy creation’s ability to be replenished.

4) Restoration/Sabbath – we should provide for the restoration of the ecosystems we have used or misused.

There are many ways in which stewardship has been practiced around the world; human creativity often enhances the fruitfulness of the earth and eases human suffering. It is also evident; however, we have not always been faithful to our stewardly calling. The creation has been degraded by our misuse of the environment and our failure to treat all people justly. It is good news for humans and all of creation that God in Christ continues to care for his creation and is reconciling all things to him. The atoning work of Christ on the cross has opened the door to reconciliation with God, and we are privileged to be ministers of that reconciliation. Stewardly care, therefore, involves participating with Christ in sharing this good news and in bringing healing to both human and non-human creation, foreshadowing that future time when the Kingdom of God will come in its fullness, and all creation is whole.

Global stewardship today entails addressing the intricate relationships between environmental degradation, resource consumption, population growth and the means of production of goods and their use. Because small, local or regional activities, when multiplied, potentially impact the biosphere, most human activities relate to global stewardship. Christians are glad to unite with all those who share a concern for creation in bringing stewardly care to human culture and the natural systems on which we depend. In particular, those people and institutions which are explicitly Christian have a special responsibility to promote learning, research and living – our spiritual service – that will lead to faithful stewardly care of the creation, as they honor God who has entrusted the gift of creation to humankind.

¹ “Global Stewardship: The Christian Mandate” was a group effort principally authored by Dick Wright (GordonCollege) and John Wood (The King’s UniversityCollege). It was produced during the Global Stewardship Initiative (GSI) program and signed by members of the GSI. It was formally endorsed by the Coalition of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) board of directors at its 1997 Annual President’s Conference.