I recently read an article that asked if Christians can be environmentalists. Blow by blow, each side produced its reasons for and against this question, as if the issue was up for debate.

But here is what is really at stake:

1. Christians believe God created the earth.
2. Genesis says God called it good.

So the real question for those who call themselves Christians is, “How are we to treat things God calls good?”

The simple answer is we better care a lot about what God calls good.

God called people “good,” animals “good,” a whole list of virtues, the Church (with a capital C), and especially His Son Jesus “good.” We are called to treat these areas of life with the utmost respect.

Why would we treat the environment any differently?

As a kid, what my dad cared about, I cared about, whether his favorite baseball team (the Yankees) or his favorite food (popcorn). When our heavenly Father calls something good, the idea is that His kids would treat it with respect, caring about it like He does.

So should Christians care about the environment? YES (caps lock on!). For one example of one organization doing great work in this area, take a moment to check out what is being done at PlantwithPurpose.org. There you’ll find some people living out a commitment to God and to saving out planet, an issue not to be questioned but to be applied.

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DILLON BURROUGHS is an author, activist, and co-founder of Activist Faith. Dillon served in Haiti following the epic 2010 earthquake and has investigated modern slavery in the US and internationally. His books include Undefending Christianity, Not in My Town (with Charles J. Powell), and Thirst No More (October). Discover more at ActivistFaith.org.