Caring for the Earth is a Christian duty

I may not fit the conventional definition of a Christian, but I love Jesus — and I strive to live by his teachings.

More than 20 years ago I wrote a song to him called “I Want To Be Like You.” This is the first verse:

Let me be a hollow reed, Lord,

Fill me with Your endless grace.

Let me be Your sweet compassion,

Hold the world in Your divine embrace.

That’s the heart of my faith journey — to walk in his ways, to love what he loves, and to care for what he created.

That’s why I’m writing this — not as an activist or a politician, but as someone who seeks to follow Jesus.

I know the words “climate change” can trigger discomfort or suspicion for many Christians. It’s easy to associate environmental concern with liberalism or government overreach. I understand — I’ve had questions too. But it’s time to look again, not through the lens of politics, but through the lens of our faithfulness to Jesus.

In Genesis 2:15, God placed Adam in the garden “to work it and take care of it.” That wasn’t a suggestion, it was humanity’s first assignment. Stewardship isn’t a side project just for environmentalists; it’s a sacred calling.

Today’s reality is undeniable: rising temperatures, worsening droughts, destructive storms, devastating floods, horrific fires, and the vast majority of climate scientists say human activity is driving these changes. Some people seek selective evidence to cast doubt on the science, but the growing suffering — especially among the poor — is undeniable. Jesus said, “Whatever you did for the least of these … you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). Ignoring this crisis is un-Christlike.

This isn’t about being “woke.” It’s about being awake — to what is happening to God’s creation, to the suffering of others, and to our responsibility as followers of Jesus.

I understand why some Christians might hesitate. No one wants to be manipulated into endorsing a radical agenda. But taking care of God’s creation and the poor doesn’t make you a radical or even a liberal — it makes you faithful. Rejecting the scientific consensus because it’s politically convenient risks discarding wisdom God has made available. Proverbs 18:13 warns, “To answer before listening — that is folly and shame.”

Here’s the good news: We already have what we need to start. We don’t have to abandon our political convictions or wear a different label to honor God’s creation. We can act right where we are — supporting clean energy because it protects what he has made, not because it’s fashionable. We can vote for leaders — left, right, or independent — who see stewardship as sacred and the well-being of the poor and future generations as a holy trust.

This is not a burden — it’s a privilege. Every step to protect the earth is an act of worship. Every voice raised for the vulnerable is a reflection of God’s heart. And every choice to care says to Jesus: I want to be like you.

I once thought this issue was someone else’s problem. But I realized that my silence amounted to turning away from what Jesus calls us to do. Defending God’s creation isn’t a distraction from the gospel — it’s an expression of it.

Jesus didn’t call us to worship country — yes, I love America — or party, or even our comfort. We were called to follow him. And following him means caring deeply about what he has made, about the people who depend on a healthy world, and about our sacred responsibility to act accordingly.

Let’s step outside partisan lines and back into the heart of our faith.

Let’s be his hands. His compassion.

Let’s hold the world in his divine embrace.

Let’s be like him.

Jonas Magram lives in Fairfield.