Humanity’s Place In Creation Demands Faithful Stewardship
(ANALYSIS) The summer is all about going out and enjoying the warm weather. For those of us who call the a city like New York home, the summer is a much-needed respite from this year’s cold winter. Out-of-town weekend trips that include barefoot walks along the beach and hikes in the woods are some of the things people enjoy most this time of year.
It is also a chance for urban dwellers to connect with nature and enjoy all that God has created. This takes me to Christine Webb's book “The Arrogant Ape” (you can read a recent review published on our website here). Her book asks a very provocative question: Have human beings become so convinced of our own superiority that we have forgotten our place within creation?
It is a challenge Christians should not dismiss. The book forces believers to confront an uncomfortable truth: Christians have often failed to be the caretakers God intended us to be.
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From polluted rivers to disappearing forests, the modern world bears the scars of human greed. Christians cannot simply point fingers at secular culture or blame industrialization while ignoring our own failures. If we believe the world is God's creation, then neglecting it goes beyond environmental policies.
Ironically, the strongest argument for protecting the planet is not found in denying humanity's unique place in creation, as Webb suggests, but in affirming it. Christians should be among the loudest voices opposing needless cruelty toward animals, irresponsible pollution and the destruction of habitats.
Throughout “The Arrogant Ape,” Webb argues that the biblical idea of human dominion has encouraged centuries of environmental exploitation. She sees Christianity's belief that humans occupy a special place in creation as a reason for ecological destruction. But these abuses do not represent the Bible's teaching. Instead, they represent a departure from it.
Genesis says human beings are created in the image of God and given dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:26-28). Yet the very next chapter defines what that dominion looks like: Adam is placed in the Garden of Eden "to work it and take care of it" (Genesis 2:15). The Hebrew words imply cultivation, protection, service and guardianship — not domination for selfish gain.
Dominion in this case is stewardship. The Bible, for example, reminds us that creation does not belong to humanity: “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1). We are not owners. Instead, we are caretakers.
Recognizing humanity’s unique status can produce arrogance, but this is where Scripture teaches precisely the opposite. Human uniqueness carries more responsibility, not more privilege. Being made in the image of God does not give us permission to abuse creation — but gives us the obligation to protect it.
Throughout Scripture, God’s concern is for humans, but it extends far beyond that. The Psalms celebrate mountains, oceans and wildlife as proclaiming God's glory. These passages reveal a God who values every aspect of His creation. Christians believe that biology alone cannot explain what makes human beings unique. Scripture teaches that only humans bear God's image, possess moral accountability and enter into covenant relationship with Him.
This distinction is not grounds for pride, but service. While Webb praises Indigenous traditions that grant personhood to rivers or forests, Christianity offers a different vision. Creation has immense value because God made it and declared it good. It reveals His glory.
Perhaps the greatest tragedy is that environmental debates are political and far too often framed as a choice between human flourishing and protecting nature. That’s a false choice. Human beings thrive when creation thrives. In that sense, environmental stewardship is inseparable from the command to love others. The problem has been that many Christians feel cautious about tying this duty to specific political party or secular movements that might conflict with their core faith values.
Pope Francis published a 2015 encyclical, titled “Laudato Si’,” the first in history dedicated entirely to the environment. In it, he frames climate change and ecological degradation as an urgent moral crises linked to human activity.
“If someone has not learned to stop and admire something beautiful, we should not be surprised if he or she treats everything as an object to be used and abused without scruple,” Francis wrote. “If we want to bring about deep change, we need to realize that certain mindsets really do influence our behavior.”
I agree with Webb that humans need to show humility. Christians should not fear a book like “The Arrogant Ape.” They should allow the critique to remind them of their vocation to care for the planet. Think about that the next time you take a walk along the beach or decide to hike in the woods.
Clemente Lisi serves as executive editor at Religion Unplugged.