As a person who loves sunsets, flowers, birds, trees, the ocean, rivers, clouds, animals, and all kinds of nature, except fleas, ticks, ants, and roaches, I sometimes read and enjoy blogs with beautiful photos of nature. I enjoy learning about biology and other sciences as well. I believe that humans have a responsibility not to cover the earth in trash, pollute the water, and not abuse animals.
However, I feel sad when I read blogs that elevate the love of nature to a place that God says is wrong. The Bible tells us that it is a sin to make an idol out of anything including nature. Idolatry means putting something above God himself.
Many nature-lovers do not seem to understand that nature was created by GOD, not self-created by Mother Earth or Gaia or chance. And since they don’t know God, they wrongly put their adoration and trust in the Earth itself instead of the One who created it.
As we move into a new period in history that will be devoted to ‘saving the earth’ from ‘climate disasters’, I fear that many naive Christians and non-Christians will be led astray into a movement that encourages devotion to nature that God says is only to be given to Him.
There is nothing wrong with making renewable energy sources a more affordable option or driving electric vehicles or using energy efficient appliance. But there is something very wrong with thinking that humans are in charge of the fate of the world and the earth. God is sovereign over all.
We must fear God, not climate change, or running out of food, floods, storms, famines. Those things will happen eventually if people begin to worship the earth. But God is in control of how bad things get during our lifetimes.
If we want to ‘save the earth’, we must give God the honor that is due to him alone. We must begin to pray and submit ourselves to God and obey his commandments.
We should be thankful for God’s creation, but not worship it or ascribe spiritual powers to nature. We can enjoy and protect the land, water, and air, but must never forget that God made those things and controls them, not man or scientists.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hinder the truth in unrighteousness; 19because that which is known of God is manifest in them; for God manifested it unto them. 20For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse: 21because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23and changed the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.
24Wherefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts unto uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves: 25for that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Romans 1 ASV
Blue Skies and Green Pastures 
Good stuff Paula.
Thank you 😊
Hi Paula, check out the posts from Jacobwoodwards.wordpress.com. Amazing! I travel all over the world, looking at his blogs. 😛
Will do ! Thanks
Your blog is timely bc I was reading about how Frank Lloyd Wright, who’s work I admire, was a paganist. I didn’t know what that meant and it eludes to loving nature. That upset me bc I love nature! But upon researching, I understood that worshipping gods of nature like goddess of the sun is what’s meant. Or loving nature but not worshipping God who made creation and nature. So then I felt better that I can still love animals and nature. 😇
I’m glad you found out the difference so you could still enjoy God’s creation/nature! Satan is so sneaky . He corrupts the good things God gave us , or as C.S. Lewis said , the pleasures of life. God made good things for us to enjoy, but people turn them into idols .
Perfect summation…Placing ANYTHING above God…wrong. Give Him all the glory.
💕
Clarifying that there is only one true God, not false gods.
You are so right!
You’ll like this quote from Lewis: “God is not the soul of Nature, nor any part of Nature. He inhabits eternity: He dwells in a high and holy place: Heaven is His throne, not his vehicle, earth is His footstool, not His vesture. One day He will dismantle both and make a new heaven and earth. He is not to be identified even with the ‘divine spark’ in man. He is God and not man.” (C. S. Lewis)
❤️&🙏, c.a.
I do like it! I just finished reading The Screwtape Letters again. Hoping to blog about it .
Btw, I don’t think very many are afraid of “running out of … floods, storms and famines.” 😂
Oops 😅
This really spoke to me and challenged me.Not just idolising nature but other things in my
life. Will definnitely apply this to my daily routine/thoughts.
You’re not alone. I believe idolatry is a common and constant battle for humans . Have you read The Screwtape Letters?
I agree about people putting Nature in place of God. I do think that part of our duties are to care for the earth, too, like what Adam and Eve were instructed to do.
Came across another pagan religion website today. Their leader works in a college of theology . 🙄
Human are in this life to experience. Since the beginning of civilization, humans have always wanted to communicate. Hence the cave art drawings. Even without literature they tried to explain something about themselves. Remarkable.
Writers are the foundation of civilization. Religion, philosophy.
Science and discovery. Hugely important. God is interested in helping anyone. Starvation of humans. Starvation of animals. I could go on. Suffering on a massive scale. As individuals and collective we should strive to be the best possible. Without nature we are nothing. In the future there will be no politics of greed. The Bible is just a good philosophy. The concept of good and evil is created to guide our morals. If we destroy nature then we are finished.
God is not going help anyone.
If, it exists, there is no obligation whatsoever.
Keep away from evil.
Stay close to nature.
Nature will save you.
The smaller the footprint
Happier the earth.
Love nature
Before you love
A human.