Q: Lynn White, in his critique of Christianity as the primary cause of the ecological crisis says that Christianity is the most anthropocentric religion the world has ever seen. Is he right?
A: Does the Bible reveal God to be focusing on man’s interests or His own?
“The major works of God revealed in Scripture all serve the doxological purpose (Ps. 86:9-10; Rev. 15:4); as a matter of fact, Scripture identifies no greater purpose for each of the following: God’s Predestining and Calling Works (Eph. 1:5-12; 2 Pet. 1:3); the Ministry of Christ (Jn. 13:31-2; 17:1-5; 21:19; 2 Cor. 1:20; Heb. 13:21); Creation (Ps. 19; Is. 40; Rev. 4:11); the Keeping of His word (Rom. 3:1-7); Salvation (Ps. 79:9; Rom. 15:7; 16:25-27; Eph. 1:14; 1 Tim. 1:15-17; 2 Tim. 4:18; Jude 24-25); the church (1 Cor. 10:31; 2 Cor. 4:15; Eph. 1:12; Php. 1:11; 2 Thess. 1:11-12; 1 Pet. 4:11,16); fruitfulness of believers (Jn. 15:8; 1 Cor. 10:31); the kingdom (Php. 2:11; 1 Thess. 2:12; Rev. 1:6); sickness, death, and resurrection (1 Sam. 6:5; Lk. 17:11-18; Jn. 9:1-3; 11:4); judgment (Rom. 3:7; Rev. 14:7); deliverance of Israel (Is. 60:21; 61:3); and the fulfilling of covenants and summing up of all things (Is. 25:1-3; 43:20; Lk. 2:14; Rom. 4:20; 15:8-9; 2 Cor. 1:20; 2 Pet. 1:3-4; Rev. 19:7).”
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from Christopher Cone, Prolegomena: Introductory Notes on Bible Study & Theological Method (Fort Worth, TX: Tyndale Seminary Press, 2008), 7.
