Rule Over the Earth?

Subdue the Earth!

In the 1960s, historian Lynn White Jr. wrote a now-famous article in which he largely blamed Christianity for today’s ecological crises. According to White, the Bible legitimises the large-scale exploitation of nature by portraying humans as made in God’s image and as rulers over the earth. For instance, we read in Genesis 1:26:

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

In verse 28, God further calls on humans to be fruitful, increase in number, and subdue the earth. White interprets these passages as a licence for exploitation. But is that interpretation correct?

Stewardship as an Alternative

Many Christians reject White’s interpretation and instead emphasise humanity’s stewardship. Just as a steward manages their lord’s property, we are tasked with keeping the earth in good condition for God. After all, the earth ultimately does not belong to us but to Him (Exodus 19:5, Revelation 11:4). Thus, we must treat it responsibly. Advocates of stewardship often cite passages such as Genesis 2:15 to support their point:

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

However, stewardship is not without its challenges. A steward is somewhat akin to a manager, who uses the resources entrusted to them as effectively and productively as possible to achieve a goal. While a steward cannot act entirely as they please, they remain above and apart from what they manage.

Thus, stewardship seems to leave little room for genuine care for and connection with the earth and its creatures. What’s missing is a sense of compassion and involvement with creation.

Stewards or Kings?

I propose something that may at first sound strange: instead of speaking of stewardship, I believe it’s better to speak of kingship. But why? Isn’t kingship an entirely outdated and, moreover, patriarchal concept?

I concede the latter point, and if the term “king” doesn’t appeal to you, feel free to replace it with something more gender-neutral. It’s like with God: we generally refer to Him in masculine terms, but (as I see it) this doesn’t imply He is male.

As for being outdated, I believe we should not dismiss the idea so quickly. Kingship is, after all, a deeply biblical concept. God and Christ are constantly referred to as kings. But not just them. Christians, too, are described as children of God who will reign as kings over the earth alongside Christ (Revelation 5:10). Of course, ultimate power belongs to God. Christ is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (1 Timothy 6; Revelation 17:14, 19:16). But if we take the Bible seriously, Christians should at least be seen as His vice-regents.

Christ and Adam

The concept of kingship can also help us better understand the difficult passages that White critiques. Christ is often referred to as the “new Adam,” fulfilling what humanity was meant to be. From this perspective, Christ’s kingship connects to Adam’s calling to subdue the earth. Since all things were created through and for Christ (Colossians 1:16), we can assume that Christ’s kingdom encompasses not just humanity but all creation.

I understand if you still find it hard to view kingship or dominion in a positive light. Power, these days, is (rightly!) viewed with suspicion. Colonialism, slavery, and dictatorship have made us wary of unjust forms of power. And isn’t kingship the most absolute and unpredictable form of power imaginable?

Yet most Christians (I assume?) have no problem accepting Jesus’ kingship. After all, His power is just! So let’s consider what we can learn from Jesus about ruling.

To Rule Is to Serve

In the Bible, kings are often portrayed as shepherds. David was originally a shepherd, and Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd (John 10:14). A good shepherd knows their sheep by name, and the sheep know them. They care for their sheep, even willing to lay down their life for them. Despite His power, Jesus seeks out the lost sheep. His authority is not shown by making others serve Him but by serving the weak and oppressed. Kingship modelled after Christ is fundamentally servant kingship.

The Little Shepherd

In his messianic vision, the prophet Isaiah describes the future king as a shepherd over all creatures:

The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.(Source: Isaiah 11:6)

Here, the good king is portrayed not only as a shepherd-king but also as a small child! A child knows nothing of oppression, slavery, or exploitation. By nature, a child is weak and vulnerable. But that vulnerability teaches us something important. As Paul says: in our weakness, we are strong, for in weakness, Christ’s power is made perfect (2 Corinthians 12:9–10). That is why Jesus calls us to become like children. Only then will we be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3–4).

This is the paradox! We must humble ourselves to be exalted. Humility is our greatness. As Jesus told His disciples:

Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.(Source: Matthew 20:26)

If we learn to become small like children, as He did, only then will we ultimately inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). To follow Jesus is to become more like Him, even in how we wield power. God’s power is not exclusive. The fact that we can share in His power without diminishing it in any way elevates it far above any tyrannical form of authority.

What Now?

How can this vision of kingship help us address today’s ecological crises? We cannot ignore the significant impact we have on our environment. If this view is correct, we are called to serve all of creation. This responsibility forces us to consciously acknowledge our influence. Concepts like the Anthropocene can help us in this regard. Even in rewilding initiatives, where we “return” parts of the earth to nature, human oversight remains necessary. We cannot escape kingship. Let us, then, strive to be good kings!

Conclusion

The biblical view of dominion does not command us to dominate the earth, as White argued, but rather to serve it. The idea of servant kingship helps us recognize our responsibility without exploiting creation. Unlike stewardship, this concept does not place us above and apart from creation, managing it from a distance, but involves us deeply with it. Servant kingship offers a vision of a world where humanity leads in a way that enables all God’s creatures to thrive, multiply, and fill the earth.