Project – Biblical Perspectives on Environmental Stewardship and Their Application to Contemporary Christian Practice: A Study of Selected Churches in Rivers State

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

The environment constitutes an essential part of human existence and the wider created order. Human beings depend on land, water, air, forests, animals and other natural resources for survival, economic activities and social development. Within the Christian worldview, however, the natural environment is not merely a collection of resources available for unrestricted human exploitation; it is part of God’s creation and therefore possesses theological significance. The opening chapters of Genesis present God as the Creator of the heavens, the earth, plants, animals and human beings, repeatedly describing creation as good (Gen. 1:1–31). Genesis 2:15 further indicates that humanity was placed in the garden “to work it and take care of it,” suggesting responsibility alongside human use of creation. Bauckham (2010) argues that biblical theology presents human beings as members of a wider “community of creation” rather than as beings whose relationship with nature is defined solely by domination. Thus, environmental stewardship within Christianity is fundamentally connected with the doctrine of creation and with humanity’s responsibility before God.

The biblical concept of environmental stewardship is closely related to the understanding of humanity as created in the image of God. Genesis 1:26–28 gives human beings a distinctive position within creation and speaks of their responsibility to exercise dominion over other creatures. However, biblical dominion need not be interpreted as unrestricted exploitation. Bauckham (2010) maintains that the biblical account requires a reconsideration of interpretations of dominion that justify domination and exploitation, because the Bible contains a broader understanding of humanity’s place within God’s creation. The Old Testament also contains laws concerning land, animals and agricultural practices that indicate limits on human use of creation. For example, the Sabbath principle extends beyond human beings to animals and agricultural land (Exod. 23:10–12), while Deuteronomy 22:6–7 demonstrates concern for the responsible treatment of living creatures. These passages provide theological resources for understanding stewardship as responsible care, restraint, accountability and service rather than ownership without limits (Bauckham, 2010; Horrell, 2006).

The biblical understanding of creation also extends beyond Genesis to the Psalms, wisdom literature and the New Testament. Psalm 24:1 declares that the earth belongs to the Lord and everything in it, thereby establishing divine ownership as an important foundation for human responsibility. Psalm 104 celebrates God’s sustaining activity throughout creation, while Job 38–41 emphasizes the complexity and value of creatures existing beyond direct human usefulness. In the New Testament, the scope of creation becomes particularly significant in Christological passages such as John 1:1–3 and Colossians 1:15–20, which present Christ in relation to creation and its reconciliation. Bauckham (2010) argues that biblical perspectives found in Job, Psalms and the Gospels challenge an exclusively human-centred reading of Scripture and encourage Christians to understand other creatures as part of God’s creation community. Consequently, environmental stewardship can be regarded as a theological implication of recognizing God’s ownership, Christ’s relationship to creation and humanity’s accountable place within the created order (Bauckham, 2010).

The Christian theological discussion of environmental stewardship has become increasingly important because contemporary ecological problems have implications for both human societies and non-human creation. Climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, deforestation, soil degradation, water contamination and unsustainable resource exploitation have created complex ecological challenges. Deane-Drummond (2018) notes that ecological crises require engagement across theology, science, ethics and other academic disciplines because environmental problems cannot be adequately addressed through a single disciplinary perspective. Christian environmental theology therefore seeks to connect doctrines such as creation, incarnation, redemption, human responsibility and Christian ethics with practical responses to ecological challenges. The Lausanne Movement similarly identifies creation care as an integral dimension of Christian discipleship and describes care for the earth as connected with the Lordship of Christ. This development demonstrates that environmental stewardship is increasingly being considered not merely as an environmental concern but as an issue with theological, ethical and missional implications for the contemporary church (Deane-Drummond & Artinian-Kaiser, 2018; Lausanne Movement, 2011).

The relevance of environmental stewardship to Christian practice is particularly important because Christian theology is expected to influence the conduct and lifestyle of believers. The Christian response to environmental challenges should therefore extend beyond theological statements to concrete practices such as responsible waste management, conservation of natural resources, reduction of pollution, protection of vegetation, responsible consumption and environmental education. The Cape Town Commitment argues that Christians should adopt lifestyles that reject destructive and polluting patterns of consumption and should regard care for creation as part of their obedience to Christ. The Lausanne Movement’s subsequent call for creation care further emphasizes that local churches can participate in environmental restoration, conservation, advocacy and sustainable community practices. These perspectives suggest that environmental stewardship can become a practical expression of Christian discipleship when theological convictions about God’s creation are translated into everyday behaviour and congregational activities (Lausanne Movement, 2011, 2012).

The Nigerian context gives particular urgency to the theological discussion of environmental stewardship. Nigeria has experienced environmental challenges associated with pollution, resource exploitation, waste generation, deforestation, soil degradation and oil-related ecological damage. Ukpong (2004), examining environmental degradation from the perspective of Christian theology in Nigeria, specifically draws attention to oil spills and water pollution in southern Nigeria and argues for a theological understanding of creation that can shape appropriate human attitudes toward the environment. More recent scholarship likewise argues that environmental degradation in Nigeria should not be considered exclusively a scientific, economic or governmental issue but also has an ethical and religious dimension. Atoi, Olowoyeye, and Jacob (2023) argue that Christian ethical principles such as stewardship, eco-justice and creation spirituality can contribute to addressing environmentally harmful human behaviour in Nigeria. This suggests that churches and Christian communities have a potentially important role in shaping environmental attitudes and practices among their members (Ukpong, 2004; Atoi et al., 2023).

The issue is particularly relevant to Rivers State because of the state’s location within the Niger Delta and its long association with petroleum exploration, environmental pollution and ecological challenges. Research on Rivers State has documented the continuing environmental consequences associated with oil-related activities and other forms of human pressure on the environment. Josiah and Akpuh (2022), for example, examine environmental damage in Rivers State through a theistic ethics approach and emphasize the need for sustainable environmental practices in response to continuing ecological degradation. Recent research focusing specifically on the church in Rivers State likewise identifies environmental degradation arising from oil exploration, industrial activity, urbanization, artisanal refining and waste problems and argues that churches can move beyond conventional ministry activities toward environmental justice and ecological stewardship. These circumstances make Rivers State a significant context for investigating whether biblical teachings concerning creation and stewardship are being translated into contemporary Christian practices within local congregations (Josiah & Akpuh, 2022; Amakiri & Awaji-Ikekeinyem, 2026).

Contemporary Christian environmental stewardship therefore raises an important theological and practical question concerning the relationship between what churches teach about creation and what Christians actually do in relation to the environment. A church may affirm that God created the earth while giving limited attention to environmental issues in preaching, discipleship, church programmes and community engagement. Conversely, churches may incorporate environmental activities into their ministries through sanitation exercises, tree planting, waste management, environmental education, advocacy and community development. The Lausanne Movement’s creation-care framework argues that environmental responsibility should be integrated into the church’s mission and that Christians should actively participate in protecting, preserving and restoring creation. Similarly, recent Nigerian scholarship calls for greater engagement between Christian ethics and ecological responsibility. Against this background, this study examines Biblical Perspectives on Environmental Stewardship and Their Application to Contemporary Christian Practice: A Study of Selected Churches in Rivers State, with particular attention to the extent to which biblical principles are understood, taught and translated into practical environmental behaviour within selected churches (Lausanne Movement, 2012; Atoi et al., 2023).

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The Bible contains substantial theological resources for environmental responsibility, beginning with the creation narratives and extending through the Old Testament’s treatment of land, animals and human responsibility to the New Testament’s wider vision of creation under the Lordship of Christ. Genesis 2:15 presents humanity with a responsibility to work and care for creation, while Psalm 24:1 establishes God’s ownership of the earth. Nevertheless, the existence of these biblical teachings does not necessarily guarantee that environmental stewardship is adequately understood or practised by contemporary Christians. Bauckham (2010) observes that certain interpretations of the biblical dominion mandate have historically contributed to overly human-centred understandings of humanity’s relationship with nature. The problem, therefore, is the possible gap between biblical teaching concerning stewardship and the environmental attitudes and practices of contemporary Christian communities (Bauckham, 2010).

A second problem concerns the limited visibility of environmental stewardship within some expressions of Christian ministry. Churches often devote considerable attention to evangelism, worship, prayer, discipleship, social welfare and other areas of Christian service, while environmental issues may receive comparatively limited theological and practical attention. The Lausanne Movement argues that creation care should be treated as part of Christian mission and discipleship rather than as an issue external to the gospel. Similarly, Deane-Drummond (2018) emphasizes the importance of integrating theological reflection with ecological concerns and practical responses. Where environmental stewardship is not adequately incorporated into preaching, Christian education and congregational programmes, church members may lack the theological understanding and practical motivation required to respond responsibly to environmental challenges. The problem addressed by this study is therefore the extent to which biblical environmental principles are incorporated into contemporary Christian teaching and practice (Lausanne Movement, 2011; Deane-Drummond & Artinian-Kaiser, 2018).

A third problem is the severity of environmental challenges in Nigeria and particularly in the Niger Delta region. Environmental degradation associated with oil exploration, oil spills, industrial activities, artisanal refining, waste disposal and other activities affects ecosystems, livelihoods and communities in Rivers State. Josiah and Akpuh (2022) identify continuing environmental damage in Rivers State as an issue requiring sustained attention, while Ukpong (2004) earlier highlighted oil spillage and water pollution in southern Nigeria as issues that require theological reflection. Recent research on Rivers State further argues that churches have a role to play in promoting environmental justice and ecological responsibility. Despite this potential role, there remains a need to establish empirically how churches understand their environmental responsibilities and the extent to which their biblical teachings are reflected in actual environmental practices (Josiah & Akpuh, 2022; Ukpong, 2004; Amakiri & Awaji-Ikekeinyem, 2026).

Finally, there is a need for context-specific research examining the relationship between biblical perspectives on environmental stewardship and contemporary Christian practice among churches in Rivers State. Existing literature has established important theological foundations for creation care and has also examined environmental degradation in Nigeria and Rivers State, but there remains a need to investigate how these theological principles are understood and applied at the congregational level. The gap concerns such questions as whether church leaders teach biblical environmental responsibility, whether members understand stewardship as a Christian obligation, what environmental activities churches undertake, and what factors facilitate or hinder the practical application of biblical stewardship principles. This study therefore seeks to examine selected churches in Rivers State in order to determine the extent to which biblical perspectives on environmental stewardship are translated into contemporary Christian practice (Atoi et al., 2023; Lausanne Movement, 2012).

1.3 Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to examine biblical perspectives on environmental stewardship and their application to contemporary Christian practice among selected churches in Rivers State.

Specifically, the study seeks to examine the biblical foundations of environmental stewardship, assess the understanding of environmental stewardship among members of selected churches, examine the contemporary environmental practices of the selected churches, and identify factors influencing the application of biblical environmental stewardship within the selected churches.

1.4 Objectives of the Study

The specific objectives of the study are to:

1. examine the biblical and theological perspectives on environmental stewardship among selected churches in Rivers State;
2. assess the level of understanding of environmental stewardship among leaders and members of selected churches in Rivers State;
3. examine the ways biblical principles of environmental stewardship are applied in contemporary Christian practices among selected churches in Rivers State; and
4. identify the factors that facilitate or hinder the effective application of biblical environmental stewardship among selected churches in Rivers State.

1.5 Research Questions

The study will be guided by the following research questions:

1. What are the biblical and theological perspectives on environmental stewardship among selected churches in Rivers State?
2. What is the level of understanding of environmental stewardship among leaders and members of selected churches in Rivers State?
3. In what ways are biblical principles of environmental stewardship applied in contemporary Christian practices among selected churches in Rivers State?
4. What factors facilitate or hinder the effective application of biblical environmental stewardship among selected churches in Rivers State?

1.6 Research Hypothesis

The following null hypothesis will be tested at the 0.05 level of significance:

H₀: There is no significant relationship between the understanding of biblical environmental stewardship and its application in contemporary Christian practice among selected churches in Rivers State.

1.7 Significance of the Study

The study will be significant to church leaders because it will provide a theological basis for reflecting on the environmental responsibilities of the contemporary church. Pastors, ministers, church administrators and other leaders may benefit from the findings by gaining a clearer understanding of how biblical teaching concerning creation and stewardship can be incorporated into preaching, Christian education, discipleship and church programmes.

The study will also be significant to members of Christian churches. It may help Christians recognize environmental stewardship as part of responsible Christian living rather than viewing environmental concerns as exclusively scientific, governmental or secular issues. The study may encourage believers to connect their faith with practical behaviours such as responsible waste disposal, conservation, avoidance of unnecessary pollution and responsible use of natural resources.

The study will be relevant to theological institutions and Christian educators. It may provide useful material for teaching biblical theology, Christian ethics, practical theology, missiology and environmental theology. It may also encourage theological institutions to give greater attention to the relationship between Christian doctrine and ecological responsibility.

The study will be useful to churches seeking to participate in community development. Environmental activities such as sanitation campaigns, tree planting, environmental education, community clean-up programmes and advocacy may provide opportunities for churches to demonstrate Christian responsibility in their communities. The findings may assist churches in identifying appropriate ways to integrate environmental concerns into their ministries.

The study will also contribute to scholarship on Christianity and environmental ethics in Nigeria. Existing Nigerian scholarship has identified the importance of Christian theological responses to environmental degradation, but further contextual studies are required to examine how these principles operate within local congregations. The findings may therefore provide a basis for future researchers investigating environmental theology and Christian ecological practices in the Niger Delta and other parts of Nigeria.

Finally, the study will be relevant to communities and other stakeholders concerned with environmental sustainability in Rivers State. Although churches cannot independently resolve the environmental problems of the Niger Delta, they constitute important social institutions capable of influencing beliefs, values and behaviour. Understanding their potential contribution to environmental stewardship may therefore be useful for broader discussions concerning ecological responsibility and community engagement.

1.8 Scope of the Study

The study focuses on Biblical Perspectives on Environmental Stewardship and Their Application to Contemporary Christian Practice. The geographical scope of the study is limited to selected churches in Rivers State, Nigeria.

The study will focus specifically on four major areas: the biblical and theological foundations of environmental stewardship; the understanding of environmental stewardship among church leaders and members; the application of biblical stewardship principles in contemporary Christian practice; and the factors that facilitate or hinder such application.

The study will examine practices such as environmental education, waste management, sanitation, conservation, responsible resource use, environmental advocacy, community environmental activities and other relevant expressions of Christian environmental responsibility. The study will not attempt to examine every environmental organization or religious institution operating in Rivers State.

1.9 Operational Definition of Terms

Biblical Perspectives: The teachings, principles, themes and theological ideas derived from the Bible concerning humanity’s relationship with God, creation and the natural environment.

Environmental Stewardship: The responsible care, protection, management and use of God’s creation in recognition of humanity’s accountability to God as Creator.

Creation Care: Practical Christian responsibility for protecting, conserving, restoring and responsibly using the natural world as God’s creation.

Christian Practice: The beliefs, attitudes, behaviours, activities and ministries through which Christians express their faith in everyday life and within the church community.

Contemporary Christian Practice: Present-day expressions of Christian faith and ministry, including preaching, teaching, discipleship, church programmes, community engagement and individual Christian behaviour.

Environmental Ethics: Moral principles and values concerning the relationship between human beings and the natural environment and the responsible use of environmental resources.

Church: A Christian community organized for worship, fellowship, teaching, discipleship, service and participation in God’s mission.

Church Leaders: Pastors, ministers, priests, elders, deacons and other persons with recognized leadership responsibilities within the selected churches.

Environmental Degradation: The deterioration of the natural environment through activities such as pollution, deforestation, inappropriate waste disposal, resource exploitation and other harmful human activities.

Stewardship: The responsible management of something entrusted to a person or community, particularly the Christian responsibility to care for God’s creation rather than treating it as unrestricted personal property.

Project – Biblical Perspectives on Environmental Stewardship and Their Application to Contemporary Christian Practice: A Study of Selected Churches in Rivers State