In the infancy of Earth Day, back in the 70s, the focus was on “overpopulation.” It was feared that the earth did not have enough resources to support the three billion or so people who lived in the world back then so an early objective of Earth Day was to push for zero population growth. The idea of having children was booed by environmental advocates. Paul Erlich, author of The Population Bomb and an early champion of Earth Day made these radical statements:
“[T]he first task is population control at home. How do we go about it? Many of my colleagues feel that some sort of compulsory birth regulation would be necessary to achieve such control. One plan often mentioned involves the addition of temporary sterilants to water supplies or staple food. Doses of the antidote would be carefully rationed by the government to produce the desired population size.” [The Population Bomb, pp. 130-131]
Of course, abortion was also one of the big issues of the 70s and liberals used population control as another reason to support their argument to allow abortion. Thus, the left has also used Earth Day to defend their pro-abortion position. Liberals often defend their radical agendas by saying, “it's for the children.” In the case of abortion, that doesn't quite have the same effect so they instead said, “it's for the planet.”
And I can't resist mentioning the evolutionary connection to Earth Day. A few years back, I posted this Oakland Zoo quote about their Earth Day celebration:
Bring the whole family out to the Oakland Zoo… for Earth Day 2009 Festivities! This year, the theme is "We're All Connected." All of the world is connected in a beautiful web of life, including you!
Today, Earth Day is all about climate change and the environment. Consider this excerpt from a USA Today article about today’s event:
For the 55th year, the world is using the day to celebrate Mother Nature and the wonderful planet we live on.
"Earth Day really is a symbol of the environmental movement," Sarah Davies, the director of communications and media at EarthDay.org, told USA TODAY. "You know, it started back in 1970 under President Nixon, which is always kind of amazing to think about."
Earth Day has always been a day that acknowledges our planet, which provides for us, and ways we can protect and preserve its beauty.
Seriously? We’re supposed to “celebrate Mother Nature”? Our planet provides for us? Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for appreciating the Earth’s environment. But there’s a fine line between appreciation and adoration and I fear too many people blur the distinction.
Let me remind Christians about our role in the world and God’s plan for us. And let me be clear about Who we're celebrating!
First, we are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26). We’re different from the animals. When God made Adam, he wasn’t like the beasts or the birds; he was in the image of God. When God made Eve, Adam at last saw someone like himself. Upon seeing Eve he exclaimed, “This is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh” (Genesis 2:23). But some celebrants of earth day don’t draw the line between humans and animals
Another commandment God gave to Adam and Eve is to be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth” (Genesis 1:28). He gave this same command to Noah and his family after they left the Ark (Genesis 9:1). Procreation is a blessed event that God encourages within marriage.
Still another thing that bothers me about Earth Day is the misguided notion that it’s somehow noble to leave the environment untouched. Don’t get me wrong, I believe we should be good stewards over the environment; but don’t forget that God said, “Let them [men and women] have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth” (Genesis 1:26). God is our Provider, not “mother nature.” And He gave us the earth to be of service to us - not the other way around!
Finally, I’m a little uneasy with the whole “nature worship” that seems to go on this day. Romans 1:25 talks about how people, “worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator.” I remind you of the dreadful day of the Lord discussed in 2 Peter 3:10:
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
This earth and everything in it is going to pass away. While we’re here, don’t pollute, act responsibly, and let’s be good stewards over what God has given us. Beyond that, don’t get too caught up with this “Earth Day” craze. I believe it focuses on all the wrong things.
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