Creation in Christianity

This section explains Creation in Christianity and how Christians believe the world was created.

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth."
— Genesis 1:1

The Book of Genesis, which is the first book in the Bible, begins with the account of creation. Genesis 1 details the creation of the universe, the Earth, and all that exists within it. Genesis 2, on the other hand, focuses on the creation of the first human beings, Adam and Eve.

Genesis 2:7 states:
"Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."

Key Points from Genesis 1:

• God as the Sole Creator: Christians believe that God is the one and only Creator of all things. Nothing existed before God created the world.
• God’s Existence Before Creation: The world did not exist before God brought it into being. God existed eternally, and He was the cause of everything in existence.
• Purposeful Creation: The creation of the world was not random. Christians believe that God carefully planned and designed the universe and continues to sustain it.
• Holiness of Creation: Everything that God created is holy. Christians hold that all of creation is sacred and should be treated with respect.
• Six Days of Creation: According to the Bible, God created the heavens and the Earth in six days. Each day of creation involved God bringing different aspects of the universe into being, such as light, land, plants, animals, and finally, human beings.
• The Seventh Day of Rest: On the seventh day, God rested, as stated in Genesis 2:2-3. This signifies not only the completion of God's work but also serves as an example for humanity to observe rest and reflection.

The Image of God in Humanity

Christians believe that God created humans in His image. However, this does not mean that humans look like God physically, as God is spirit. Instead, it means that humans share certain qualities with God, such as the capacity for love, rational thought, creativity, and moral understanding.

This belief is expressed in Genesis 1:27:
"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them."

For Christians, this teaching emphasises the dignity and worth of every human being. It reflects the special relationship between God and humanity, highlighting that humans are created with a unique purpose. Additionally, it calls Christians to live in a way that mirrors God's attributes—such as being loving, compassionate, and forgiving—towards others.

Stewardship and Dominion

In Christian belief, God gave humans the responsibility to care for and rule over His creation. This concept is expressed in Genesis 1:26:
"Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’"

This idea of dominion does not imply that humans have the right to exploit the Earth or its resources recklessly. Instead, it suggests that humans are entrusted with the care and management of the world, acting as stewards rather than masters of it. God’s instructions for humanity are not just to dominate but to rule wisely, compassionately, and with respect for the environment and all living creatures.

The principle of stewardship is further reinforced in Genesis 2:15, where God places Adam in the Garden of Eden to care for it:
"The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it."

This reflects the responsibility that all humans have to protect and nurture the world. Stewardship involves ensuring that the natural world is cared for, preserved, and passed on to future generations. Christians believe that this task is a sacred duty given by God, and they are encouraged to adopt an ethical approach to environmental issues, ensuring that they respect and protect God's creation for the well-being of all.