Christian theology thinks about God creating the world from nothing (ex nihilo). This understanding affirms that God is the origin of all creative activity. It also reminds us that we are neither God nor created from something that is outside of God. Instead, it reminds us that we have an intimate relationship with the God who created us and the universe in which we live.
Christian theology also affirms that our good God made a good creation. (We’ll leave sin and evil for later too! The main thing at the moment is to note that we do not regard sin and evil as “of God”. Good things come from the good God.)
Christians also understand that humans have been given a special place in creation. The first creation story in Genesis (1—2:4a) puts it this way (1:26 NRSV):
Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’
That word “dominion” has been a source of trouble for us in understanding what our role is in God’s good creation. We have not always been good stewards of God’s good creation. Stewardship is perhaps a better word to use for our role in creation because it does not tempt us to “lord it over” creation. Stewards are called to manage the resources of the household for the benefit of the household.
Finally, Christian theology says that God’s creative activity continues (creation continuo). When we recognise the good stewardship of the environment by someone, we are honouring something of the nature of who God is and who we are in God as part of God’s continuing good creation.
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