Today, however, that sacred relationship is at risk. As the country’s national monuments and public lands lose their protections and society grows more disconnected from the natural world, the role of churches in guiding communities back to their calling as stewards of creation has never been more urgent.
Our planet is showing signs of stress. In the U.S., one football field of natural land disappears every 30 seconds; and one in four animal species and one in three plant species are at risk. Each forest cleared, river polluted or habitat destroyed represents not only an environmental loss but the diminishment of something God called “good” in Genesis. These challenges are not just scientific, they are profoundly spiritual.
At the same time, modern life has distanced us from the natural systems that sustain us. Clean water, food and energy are often taken for granted. Faith calls us to humility, gratitude and responsibility. We cannot afford to treat creation as disposable when it is, in fact, a gift — as well as essential to our survival.
Scripture is clear: “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15). Caring for creation is not optional; it is a commandment. Protecting public lands, wildlife and natural resources is an act of worship and obedience.
The faith community successfully advocated for the expansion of the San Gabriel Mountains and the Berryessa Snow Mountain national monuments, and for the designation of the Chuckwalla National Monument in California and the Castner Range National Monument in Texas — protecting a total of more than 720,000 acres of God’s creation.
Yet many churches remain silent, sometimes out of fear that creation care is political. But stewardship of God’s creation by protecting our shared public lands is not partisan, it is a matter of faith. Congregations that speak with courage and clarity can help ensure clean water, clean air and healthy ecosystems for all communities.
Churches can lead by example. Start small: organize a hike, a fishing trip or a park cleanup. Lift up creation care as a biblical mandate. Use resources like Hispanic Access Foundation’s Public Lands Toolkit to learn how to advocate effectively for public land conservation in your community.
Nature has always been central to spiritual practice. Jesus withdrew into the wilderness to pray (Luke 6:12, NIV). He preached outdoors, on mountainsides, lakeshores and deserts. Nearly every parable He shared drew imagery from the natural world. Today, we know that time in nature restores the body and nourishes the spirit.
If Jesus, in His divinity, needed the quiet of nature, how much more do we — in our humanity — need it? Conservation is an expression of justice and love for future generations. Protecting creation ensures that our children and grandchildren inherit a world where they can thrive and encounter God in the beauty of Earth.
Faith has always been a moral compass in times of crisis. Today, the crisis is ecological, and the call is clear: protect God’s creation. By embracing our role as stewards, people of faith can inspire communities to honor God not only with words and worship, but with action — caring for the Earth He entrusted to us.