Years ago, I shared with a coworker the latest funny thing my cat had done and asked if she, too, liked animals. Her reply caught me off guard: “No. Animals have no soul, so it doesn’t matter anyway.” Her words left me wondering how common this view is among Christians—that how we treat animals and the earth is inconsequential because this is not our “forever home”. While our eternal hope is not rooted in this fallen world (2 Corinthians 5:1), that does not make this world disposable.
Humans are made in God’s image and entrusted with authority over the earth and its creatures—called to be stewards of creation, not passive consumers. This calling stretches back to the very beginning: “The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it” (Genesis 2:15, NLT).
Worship and environmental stewardship are deeply connected. Hymns like “God of the Galaxies, Touch the Earth Lightly”, and “God of the Sparrow’ give voice to the biblical call to see creation as both God’s gift and our responsibility. Scripture echoes this truth. Psalm 8 marvels at the heavens, moon and stars while reflecting on humanity’s place within creation. To be “crowned with glory and honour” and given responsibility over God’s works is not permission to exploit but a call to steward wisely. When worship names the earth as the Lord’s (Psalm 24:1) and celebrates his works in creation, it forms us to live as faithful stewards of what belongs to God.
Animals, too, hold a special place in God’s design. “Not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it” (Matthew 10:29, NLT). Caring for pets is a form of quiet, everyday worship—their dependence on us teaches daily stewardship, and the compassion we show them reflects our Creator’s own sustaining love.
Animals, too, hold a special place in God’s design. “Not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it” (Matthew 10:29, NLT). Caring for pets is a form of quiet, everyday worship—their dependence on us teaches daily stewardship, and the compassion we show them reflects our Creator’s own sustaining love.
Pets are also often dismissed in favour of human children. Yet for many—single adults, the elderly, couples navigating infertility, or those in seasons where parenthood is not possible—animal companionship matters deeply. Pets are not the same as children, but they do create space for worship: opportunities to practise selfless love and care for the vulnerable. Loving animals does not diminish our capacity for human relationships; it enlarges our hearts toward compassion.
Our duty to care for creation extends beyond our homes into the wider world. Caring for the environment is not merely about preserving its beauty—it is an act of loving our neighbours, including the generations who will come after us.
