Martin de Wit
Professor of Environmental Governance at Stellenbosch University
Responsible Creation Care in an Age of Conflicting Perspectives
Thursday, October 2, 2025, @ 4:00 PM
Response: Dr. Loren Wilkinson, Professor Emeritus Interdisciplinary Studies, Regent College; Author of: Circles and the Cross: Cosmos, Consciousness, Christ, and the Human Place in Creation. Cascade Books, 2023.
Abstract
Based on a rigorous understanding of the biblical discourse, there is no credible evidence to support the claim that authentic Christian spirituality conflicts with a responsible view of creation care. Some scholars do agree, however, that a critique is called for: This includes certain perspectives on God’s relationship with creation, on humankind’s spiritual, but also earthly, bodily and material value, on the implications of salvation for all of creation, and on certain future escapist expectations. Biblically, the narrative clearly articulates this world as God’s creation from Genesis to Revelation. Guidelines for an effective response are that creation care needs to arise from the core of Christian faith and that Christians cannot responsibly act as if there is any part of creation or human action that falls outside the scope of the gospel as revealed in Scripture.
Biography
Martin de Wit is Professor of Environmental Governance at Stellenbosch University, South Africa and coordinates the School of Public Leadership’s Postgraduate Diploma and Master’s Programmes in Environmental Management. His research work focuses on care for creation, the interactions between the economy and the environment (notably climate, ecosystems, energy, and waste), and on the place of the human person in environmental governance and social order. His latest book, written in Afrikaans, is called Skeppingsorg: ‘n Aanset tot interpretasie van sekere Bybeltekste oor die mens se verhouding tot die natuurlike omgewing [Creation Care: An Onset to Interpreting Certain Biblical Texts on Humanity’s Relationship to the Natural Environment] (Durbanville: AOSIS, forthcoming). He serves on the Board of Directors of the creation care organization A Rocha.
UBC Graduate & Faculty Christian Forum,
&
Canadian Science & Christian Affiliation
Thanks to UBC Murrin Fund
Martin de Wit:
“A theology and ethics of creation care is a whole-gospel issue, but with a specific entry-point in the person and work of Jesus Christ. A Christian ethic of responsible stewardship, earthkeeping or creation care needs to start with a high christology as the revelation of God’s will has reached its finality in the revelation through his Son.”
“In its critique, the aim of a theology and ethics of creation care would not be to be novel in the first place, but to bring improved clarity to the Christian faith confessed by the church throughout the ages and to living in this spectacular “universe [that] is before our eyes like a beautiful book in which all creatures, great and small, are as letters to make us ponder the invisible things of God.”[1]
[1] Belgic Confession, Art 2.
“A reformational approach is proposed, which starts with the authority of God’s Word, and the holy, catholic, Christian churches’ faithful confession of that Word. A central feature of a reformational approach is that it is Christocentric and Trinitarian. These are not abstract theological doctrines but deeply affects Christian lives. Christian identity formation in Christ challenges the natural desires of the human being through the text and calls for a renewal of our minds.”
Build Your Own Reading List on Creation Care
Steven Bouma-Prediger, For the Beauty of the Earth
Steven Bouma-Prediger, Earth-Keeping and Character: Exploring a Christian Ecological Virtue Ethic.
R. J. Berry & Laura S. Meitzner Yoder, John Stott on Creation Care.
Loren Wilkinson, Circles and the Cross: Cosmos, Consciousness, Christ, and the Human Place in Creation.
Darrel Falk, On the Divine Origin of Our Species.
Dennis Hollinger, Creation and Christian Ethics: Understanding God’s Design for Humanity and the World.
Faith Skinner, Living Green, Loving God: A Christian Guide to Creation and Conservation.
How Can We Love the World? Miraslov Volf gives the 2025 Gifford Lectures https://youtube.com/watch?v=ywZ4g0pNBzw
New Book from GFCF Committee Member Dennis Danielson, Professor Emeritus, University of British Columbia Coauthor (with Christopher M. Graney)
A Universe of Earths: Our Planet and other Worlds from Copernicus to NASA (forthcoming from Oxford University Press)
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