My family and I enjoy Pixar movies. They are very fun and entertaining and generally safe enough for the children to watch. The humor found in these specific movies keep my husband and I in quotes to laugh a life-time. One viewing of Cars and we could quote Mater all the live long day. Generally I try to make too much out of movies yet Wall-E was one movie that I believe brought up a very important reminder.
If you haven’t seen this movie, the quick version is this: Earth gets taken over by trash. Humans resort to living on a space ship, the Axiom, until the earth is adequately cleaned by Waste Allocator Load Lifters – Earth class, or Wall-Es. Turns out there is only one left and he plods along steadily, doing what he was intended for. After meeting another robot, EVE, Wall-E follows her to outer space. I won’t say any more due to the fact that that would be giving away the ending. And that, folks, just isn’t nice.
I have read reviews on this movie that have compared it to Adam and Eve. And indeed, one of the movie’s creators did seem to have that in mind. However, I am stunned, absolutely stunned, that the one complaint Christian’s have about this movie is the fact that it has the emphasis of taking care of our earth at the core.
I do not get it.
As Christians, we should be the chief “environmentalists,” though with a higher aim. God put Adam in the garden for a purpose. The purpose is blatantly recorded in Genesis 2: 15
“Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.” -emphasis mine
Adam’s job in the garden was to care for it, to have dominion over the animals and to subdue and fill the earth. It was not a cause that Adam decided to take up to make himself feel good. It was something God commanded, even in a perfect world. God had made the earth and He expected it to be taken care of.
Yet for some reason, those without Christ have taken up the care of the earth, though with an admittedly pagan purpose. And Christians have decried any type of caring for God’s creation as “liberal.” This is shameful and sad. We should be the ones pushing wise use of the resources God has given us. We should be the ones supporting organic farming. We should be the ones recycling and reusing what we already have. It is a Godly concept, not a man-made, “liberal” idea.
Wall-E may not have been intended to remind Christians of how God wants us to take care of His earth. Yet, the warnings in the movie are poignant and should be recognized for the inherent truth: if we do not take care of God’s creation and tend it as God commanded, we should not be surprised when we are sick from pesticides in our food. We should not be surprised when our land is contaminated by toxic chemicals due to irresponsibility by those who use them. We should not be surprised by landfills that keep filling up with items that could have been re-purposed.
None of that should come as a surprise.
I urge Christians, but especially mothers, to make sure you are using up what God has given your family to the best of your ability. Re-purposing and recycling and re-using is not quaint and does not make you a hippie. You do not have to start wearing Birkenstocks or growing your hair to the ground. You do have to obey God’s commands.
“Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”" -Genesis 1:28
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Your post is very insightful!It is definitely time for Christians to take a stand on this important issue. You present a Biblical view of this topic. Blessings!
We loved the movie Wall-E and watch it all the time. I completely agree that caring for the earth is an important Biblical command. We are to take care of everything God has given us, including the earth.
Great post!
Hello,
I am not a Christian, I found this via a Google blog search, but I just wanted to say thank you. Not only because I love the film WALL-E, but because as someone who has at least studied Christianity it has always puzzled me how so many Christians can act like environmentalism is big and evil and something they should have no part in. Too many Christians I’ve known have espoused the belief that since they are only here a short while and they are more concerned with meeting their maker than being here, that the Earth doesn’t really matter. What I’ve always thought is, if you believe in a creator that gave you the gift of life, you should certainly believe he wants you to take care of it and treasure it and the time you have here. So again, thank you for being one of those rare Christians on the web (oh I know there are plenty more intelligent ones out there, but the ones encountered online are far too often hostile and bent on conversion or hate) that has something thoughtful, meaningful, and Christ-like to say.
And also, great taste in movies. WALL-E is amazing.
Kelly, I’ve given you an award on my blog. Congratulations!
Kelly- Great post!
I think the problem is that Christians confuse stewardship with earth worship. I will never agree that trees or grass have “rights” but I do believe it is our obligation to be good stewards of this beautiful world God has given us.
I haven’t seen Wall E, but you did a great with your post!
Toni
What a great and poignant post! I loved Wall-E and as a Christian, I had no clue that other Christians had issue with it!
My Christian friends and I recycle and clean up after ourselves in parks with the idea that you leave a place looking better than it was when you arrived. There are tons of Christians who think of others and what kind of footprint they leave behind. We teach our children to take care of what they’re in charge of. I don’t call us Environmentalists, just trying to be good stewards.
The ones who call themselves Christian and are haters are few – and loud. When children act out like that, I think they’re crying out for a little attention and affection. Some of them just need a little love.
I loved Wall-E. Good post. Thanks for sharing.
Anne-Marie,
Good points!
Just for the record: I am not advocating anything and everything that the world may present as the best way to take care of God’s creation.
That being said, you bring up valid issues. Questions arise, then, because since we are to follow God’s standards, and not man’s, where do we draw a line? What specific Scriptures are there that set the guidelines?
Also, the reasons why Christians should be good stewards of the earth should be different than the reasons of non-Christians. We need to be careful about what those reasons are. Are we doing it to “fit in?” Are we being swayed by the latest studies on how we should be green or are we internally convicted by what God actually says in His Holy Word?
Lots to think on and chew on here. I feel another post coming on.
Thanks for visiting, unfinishedmom! I love my new visitors!
I am sorry that I made you feel as if I was calling all Christians out as not caring for God’s creation. I certainly didn’t mean it that way.
Hope to see you back here soon!
Anne-Marie,
I also meant to add that I’ve done a bit of research on recycling and so far I see very little that is negative about the process. If you have any facts to the contrary, please send them my way! I’d love to continue my research.
Amen. Thanks for saying it well.
That was a great post! I thought the same thing. I know that I’ve been playfully teased about using reusable bags and using a people powered mower, and things of that sort in the past…but I believe so strongly that the Lord calls us to good stewardship in all that we do. I just blogged about this a few months, that my motive in trying to be environmentally conscious is mainly because I worship the One who made it all and gave it to us to care for.
I visited today via TheHappyHousewife. I’m right there with you, except for one thing. Not all Christians decry any type of caring for God’s creation as “liberal.” Some of us believe that caring for the earth is very important. It does tend to be a mantra of the vocal Republican Conservative Christians, though. It bugs me too when they do!
For sure. Stewardship is one of our largest responsibilities, whether it be money, time, or the resources of the earth.
There’s definitely an attitude out there among some Christians that there’s something un-Christian about being environmentally conscious. I wonder where that comes from.
I whole heartedly agree. I read those verses with my Sunday school kids last week. If God wants us to be good stewards (and He does) surely one of our biggest gifts and responsibilities has to be our earth. I don’t agree with all of the theories floating out there about what is happening, will happen, has happened to the earth, but I can see the dangers of pulluting our soil and water, filling our landfills, producing things out of toxic substances, and on and on. God has blessed us with a beautiful, though temporary, home. Let’s take care of it for our children for as long as he would have us live here.
There is a similar thought here in Australia, the government just wants to breed the mob mentality – eg. just because you care for the environment and consider homeschool doesn’t mean you’re a hippie, as you said!!!
I hear what you’re saying, but this is where my discernment antennae go nuts. Do you know what happens to the things you set out for recycle? It’s probably not at all what you think happens.
Yes, Christians need to be good stewards of God’s Creation, but we cannot hold ourselves to the standards of evil people. These are the people who believe that Carbon Dioxide should be eliminated & that that the Amazon rain forest is depleted. They ask no questions, intelligent or otherwise. They accept it all blindly. Those are two bandwagons Christians should NOT be jumping on.
Above all, Christians need to seek God’s wisdom and pray for discernment.
BTW…I loved Wall E! If you get it on DVD you must watch the mini-movie that fits into the movie. It’s hysterical! And I can’t help but sing along with Peter Gabriel at the end. It’s very catchy. What’s really funny is that when DH rented it, I didn’t watch it the first 100 times the kids did. I finally took notice one day and sat down to enjoy it. “I didn’t know we had a pool.”
I also struggle trying to understand why so many Christians seem to truly “hate” anyone with a bend towards protecting the environment. As you so clearly stated, God commanded Adam to care for His creation.
Yes, we should worship the Creator not the creation, but He has given us charge over this earth and we Are to be good stewards.
Totally agree! You did a great job with this post!
I agree that we as Christians are to be good stewards of what God provides and that includes the earth. I am afraid that Christians often get a bad rap and their intentions are misinterpreted. I have never heard any Christian I know make remarks about intentionally NOT protecting the environment but they(and I) do not agree that the ways liberal media claim to be protecting it really is protection. Because of this, Christians are some how made out to be earth haters. God made the earth and He will sustain it for His own glory for as long as He wants it. Nothing we do or do not do will change that. As for Wall E, (I have only seen it once)but the message I got was just how lazy people have become as they go through life depending on others to take care of their every need and never really living.