While the Bible doesn’t mention climate change directly, it speaks about taking care of God’s creation. Scripture encourages stewardship of the Earth, calling humans to respect nature. We’re reminded that caring for the environment honors God, as we’re entrusted with protecting His creation.
Also Read: What Does The Bible Say About Stewardship
What Does The Bible Say About Climate Change
Genesis 1:28
“God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’”
This verse reminds us of the responsibility given to humanity to care for the earth and its creatures. As stewards of God’s creation, we are called to be mindful of the impact of our actions on the environment, including climate change.
Leviticus 25:23
“The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you reside in my land as foreigners and strangers.”
This verse emphasizes that the earth is not our own, but belongs to God. It serves as a reminder that we are temporary residents on this planet and have a duty to take care of it for future generations.
Psalm 24:1
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”
This verse further reaffirms God’s ownership of the earth. It reminds us that we are mere caretakers of His creation and should act in a way that honors and protects it.
Psalm 104:24
“How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.”
Here, the psalmist recognizes the vastness and intricacy of God’s creation. It emphasizes the divine wisdom behind the natural world and encourages us to value and preserve it.
Proverbs 12:10
“The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.”
This verse reminds us of the interconnectedness of all living creatures. Our treatment of animals and the natural environment reflects our righteousness or wickedness before God.
Isaiah 24:4-5
“The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers, the heavens languish with the earth. The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes, and broken the everlasting covenant.”
This passage depicts the consequences of human disobedience to God’s laws, which includes the degradation of the earth and its resources.
Jeremiah 2:7
“I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable.”
God’s disappointment with His people’s mistreatment of the land is expressed in this verse. It serves as a warning against neglecting our responsibility to preserve the earth’s fertility and abundance.
Ezekiel 34:18-19
“Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?”
In this passage, Ezekiel rebukes the Israelites for their thoughtless destruction of God’s provision. It reminds us to be mindful of our actions and the impact they have on the environment.
Matthew 5:13
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”
This verse calls believers to be agents of preservation and positive change in the world. It urges us to fulfill our role in protecting and healing the earth.
Matthew 6:26
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
Jesus uses this verse to remind his followers of God’s provision and care for all of His creation. It prompts us to trust in God’s provision while also taking responsibility for our impact on the natural world.
Matthew 10:29
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.”
Here, Jesus assures us of God’s meticulous care for even the smallest creatures. It encourages us to value and protect all forms of life.
Luke 12:6
“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.”
This verse reiterates God’s attentive and nurturing nature towards His creation. It reminds us to consider all living beings, including animals, when making choices that affect the environment.
Luke 12:27-28
“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!”
Jesus uses the example of flowers to illustrate God’s attention to detail in the natural world. It encourages us to appreciate the beauty and fragility of nature and be good stewards of it.
Romans 8:19-22
“For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.”
This passage highlights the interconnectedness of humanity and the natural world, both groaning under the effects of sin and longing for restoration. It encourages us to work towards healing the earth as part of our Christian responsibility.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.”
In this verse, Paul reminds believers that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. It reminds us to cherish and honor not only our physical bodies but also the world around us as part of God’s sacred creation.
Colossians 1:15-17
“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
This passage emphasizes the supremacy of Christ as the Creator and sustainer of all things. It reminds us that everything in the natural world has been made through and for Him.
Revelation 11:18
“The nations were angry, and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both great and small—and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”
This verse warns of God’s judgment against those who harm the earth. It serves as a sobering reminder of our responsibility to preserve and care for the environment.
Revelation 21:1-2
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”
This verse glimpses the future restoration and renewal of all creation, where heaven and earth will become one. It inspires hope and compels us to work towards the preservation and healing of the environment in anticipation of this glorious future.
Psalm 115:16
“The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to mankind.”
This verse emphasizes God’s gift of the earth to humanity. It underscores our role as caretakers and our responsibility to preserve its beauty and welfare.
Psalm 148:7-10
“Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds.”
This psalm calls for all elements of creation to praise the Lord. It acknowledges the beauty and diversity of God’s creation, including the creatures and natural phenomena that make up our planet.
Psalm 65:9-10
“You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it. You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops.”
Here, the psalmist expresses gratitude for God’s provision and sustenance of the land. It reminds us of His care for the environment and our responsibility to be good stewards of the earth’s resources.
Isaiah 42:5
“This is what God the Lord says— the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it.”
This verse acknowledges God’s supreme authority as the Creator of the earth and all living beings. It prompts us to honor and protect His creation as an expression of reverence towards Him.
Jeremiah 9:10
“I will weep and wail for the mountains and take up a lament concerning the wilderness grasslands. They are desolate and untraveled, and the lowing of cattle is not heard. The birds have all fled and the animals are gone.”
This passage mourns the desolation of the land due to the consequences of human actions. It serves as a reminder of the devastating impact that neglect and misuse of the environment can have on ecosystems and wildlife.
Revelation 22:2
“Down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.”
In the final chapter of the Bible, this verse portrays the tree of life with its healing leaves. It points to the restoration and renewal of all creation, where the natural world will be healed and flourish as intended by God.
In summary, these Bible verses highlight that caring for the environment and addressing climate change is not only an ethical responsibility but also a deeply spiritual one. As Christians, we are called to actively protect and preserve the earth as stewards of God’s creation. The verses speak of God’s ownership of the earth, His provision for all living beings, and the interconnectedness of humanity and the natural world. They underscore the need to be mindful of our actions, recognizing that neglect and misuse of the environment have severe consequences. Ultimately, the Bible offers a vision of hope and restoration, reminding us of the future renewal of all creation where the earth will be healed and brought into its full glory.