There is an amazing psalm that says, “The heavens belong to the LORD (Yahweh), but the earth he has given to mankind” (Ps.115.16). We have been placed by God’s governing economy to be the resident managers of earth. We are meant to steward the creation, to enhance its beauty, to protect it from danger, to nurture it. One of the ways that that gets expressed is if we are made in God’s image, in His likeness, then there is creative potential in every human being.
In order to answer the “cultural mandate” question we must ask several other questions: “How in my life do I image God as Creator? How do I steward the creative gifts that He gives me? How should those reach expression in my life, so that even that becomes a tribute to His presence and His glory?”
According to the Scriptures, humankind was created in the image of God (Ge.1.26-27) and this image separates us from the rest of creation. One purpose for creating man and woman in His image was that “they may rule” (Ge.1.26, 28) over all that He had made. Christians sometimes disagree about what it means to be made in God’s image. At a minimum, I would suggest it includes at least three things. First, it is something we do – primarily, rule over God’s creation. Not only does it imply dominion, but the Cultural Mandate also includes human attributes in a moral sense as well as emphasizing the human capacity for interpersonal relationships.
In short, the creation mandate says that man is sovereign over the rest of the earth, man is obligated to responsibly use what God has placed under his control, and man is expected to reproduce according to God’s intended design. God’s original intent for creation infused mankind with supreme earthly authority, along with specific responsibilities. Among these privileges are the rights to freely use all of earth’s animals, plants, and resources for the benefit of humankind. The creation mandate is expressed most directly in Ge.1.28, “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply (increase in number); fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’” The Hebrew term for “rule over” implies an absolute sovereignty of man over the rest of the earth.
Humanity is given the task of taking care of God’s creation and to draw out, work with, and benefit from it as God’s representatives on earth. Similar to the way God creates, humanity is called not only to “fill the earth” but also to “subdue it” (1.28), which suggests a certain resistance and need for taming. Nonetheless, this does not give humans permission to exploit and destroy the creation for selfish gain. Rather, we are to exercise dominion over the creation as God would take care of His creation – with love and concern for its welfare.
Regardless of the specific view one adopts of the meaning of the image of God, Scripture is clear that humans are to exercise dominion over the creation as God’s viceroy. Consequently, as image bearers, we are to represent God and reflect His glory, power and authority over creation. In so doing, we reflect the image of God.
This cultural (i.e. creation) mandate also implies responsibilities to which mankind is bound. As the God-appointed viceroy (ruler), mankind is prohibited from abusing or wasting those aspects of Earth he controls; since creation ultimately belongs to God, misusing it would be an act of disrespect and irresponsibility. Likewise, God’s command includes an expectation that man will “multiply,” obligating man to adhere to God’s intended plan for human sexuality: heterosexual monogamy (Ge.1.27; 2.24; Mk.10.5-9).
The term “cultural mandate” is well-recognized as a way of understanding the relationship between Christianity, culture, and human vocation.
So let us ask again, “How do we image God, steward His creation, and offer tribute to His glory?”
Maranatha!
(mar-uh-nath-uh – “Our Lord Comes”)
Pastor Steve can be reached at PastorSteve@MaranathaBibleChurch.org