It is obvious today that mankind is facing a crisis in earth’s history. During the 50s and 60s, the worldview was that things functioned from a naturalistic and materialistic base. The belief that “God is dead” produced a hope in science and technology to bring utopia to the earth. The 70s, however, brought about a paradigm shift in thinking. The “fruits” of technology had the potential for completely eradicating mankind. At this period in time, mankind developed the technology to destroy the entire earth with weapons of mass destruction. The 80s witnessed an acute awareness that a radical solution needed to be implemented. This solution was not to be limited geographically, but would affect the entire “global community.” Crises such as global warming and ozone depletion were impacting the community. To effect solutions there had to be the implementation of global solutions for the entire planet.

In the past two decades, the cry has been for a spiritual solution to global issues. Vice-President Al Gore has been outspoken about his belief in the only solution to ecological problems being “a spiritual response” that is common to all religions.1 Gore reiterated this previously at the 1990 Global Forum in Moscow. Evolution is believed to be the foundation of an ecumenical faith that will unite science and religion towards the salvation of the earth from ecological disaster.2 It is the worship of Mother Earth as the goddess Gaia that is the next step. Once mankind understands his relationship to Gaia, self-reflexive consciousness towards the Earth becomes the priority.

The next stage in this belief system is not to believe anything, rather to extend man’s consciousness to experience a god who will reunite man and nature all at the expense of self-consciousness. This idolization of nature is quite common of the occult. For instance, shamans believe that the spirit world is in direct connection with the earth itself. Eagle Man, a modern day shaman, affirms man’s “deeply spiritual relationship with Nature.” Once man returns to nature worship then the earth will be saved.3 It is this pagan ideology that is at the heart of the ecology movement.

What is happening in the world today is not only a return to pagan superstitions, but a push for a single global vision towards a central principle for organizing the global community in order to save the environment. The United Nations shares this agenda as is laid out in the 1992 “Earth Summit.” Agenda 21, the result of that summit, formed detailed plans for the institution of a global eco-regime. The “Earth Charter” is a global campaign involving individuals and organizations worldwide who work together drafting a statement of ethical principles similar to the UN Declaration on Human Rights. This charter is hoped to guide the conduct of people and nations towards each other and the Earth. The Benchmark Draft II (April 1999) of the Earth Charter states that “in order to build a sustainable global community, the nations of the world must renew their commitment to the United Nations and develop and implement the Earth Charter principles by negotiating for adoption a binding agreement based on the IUCN Draft International Covenant on Environment and Development. Adoption of the Covenant will provide an integrated legal framework for environmental and sustainable development law and policy.”

Christians should certainly be concerned about the environment. Creation is the handiwork of God. However, God is separate and distinct from His creation. He created all things, but God is not all things. It is because God created all things that Christians are responsible to care for the environment. The worship of nature is, of course, pagan idolatry (Rom. 1:18-32). The solution to the problem is not an eco-agenda, rather it is the entering into a relationship with Jesus Christ as God and Savior. Man must not fall into the folly of worshipping the creation rather than the Creator. Furthermore, the Christian mandate is not to save the earth, but to be active in preaching the gospel so that souls may be saved. Christ said that He was “not of this world” (Jn. 8:23). In fact, this world is “reserved unto fire against the day of judgment” (2 Pet. 3:7). The folly of adopting an earth-based salvation is to commit spiritual suicide. Christians need to be active about being good stewards of God’s creation, but also to take the advantage of explaining to a world that is perishing that the solution to man’s dilemma is to be found in Jesus Christ.

1 Al Gore, Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit (New York: Plume, 1993), p. 264.

2 Ibid., pp. 263-264.

3 Ed “Eagle Man” McGaa, Rainbow Tribe: Ordinary People Journeying on the Red Road (San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1992), p. 3.