Mother Nature? We’re The Parents Here

We often watch weather reports on our local TV station.  In nearly every broadcast, the meteorologist uses the term “Mother Nature”.  The context in which they say this implies that this mysterious “mother” force gives birth to and controls the weather.  I’m sure they don’t really mean this, being scientists, but the term really irks me.  

Origin of “Mother Nature”

The concept of nature as our mother goes back to Greek mythology and the goddess Gaia, originating in the 12th or 13th century B.C.  It has persisted through many centuries and cultures through today.  Many who profess to be atheists bow down to “Mother Nature”, since in their minds, that’s all there is.

What Scripture Says

But Scripture has another story.  Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth”.  Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”  Paul refers to the creation in Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

And we see Jesus, “the image of the invisible God”, exercising power over nature through his miracles.  Beyond the healings and creative miracles, he walked on water, calmed storms, raised the dead to life.  The Creator of the Universe controls nature, not a mythological mother.

Although we see God’s handiwork in nature, Paul writes in Romans 1:25, that people “…worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator…”  

God’s Design

Here’s the irony: since Paul’s day, scientific knowledge about the complexity of created things has exploded.  From the intricacies of atoms, molecules, and cells, the human body (fearfully and wonderfully made), to the wonders in the vast regions of space, there is an unmistakable design to all creation.  This design is “clearly seen”.  With even more evidence to support God’s handiwork today, many still refuse to believe in the creator God. Rather, they cling to the myth that everything evolved through natural processes over vast amounts of time.  

Check out this video interview with Eric Metaxas about his book, Is Atheism Dead?  A major section of his book deals with the creation and the miraculous nature of how everything fits together perfectly.  

The Christian’s role

So how do we, as believers and lovers of God, relate to nature, our environment?  

Rather than nature as our mother, we are the parent here!  God has given us dominion over the earth and he has called us to steward it (Genesis 1:26-28).  He also told the Israelites to take care of the land (Exodus 23:10-11).  God graciously provides us with everything we need, including sun and rain to grow food and raw materials to use for living life.  

As a bonus, He also provides incredible beauty in nature, which we must protect and preserve.  We experience that beauty with awe and wonder, and as Psalm 19 points out, we see the glory of God in his creation.

Earth: Our Temporary Home

There is a big difference between environmentalists who don’t believe in God as the creator, and those of us who do.  Since this earth is all there is for them, they are trying to make it last forever.  In a sense, it’s “worship of created things rather than the creator”. But we know that this creation is finite.  Peter writes that the earth and the universe we have now will be destroyed, and that God will create “new heavens and a new earth” (2 Peter 3:10-13).

In the meantime, we are called to take care of this beautiful creation that God has given us, living lives of holiness and godliness, and looking forward to the day when God renews all things.