Was Noah an Environmentalist?

A new Noah movie is being produced by Hollywood and is set for release in Spring. Russell Crowe will star as Noah. But how biblically accurate will this movie really be?

In one news report, we read the following quote from the filmmaker:

“I think it’s really timely because it’s about environmental apocalypse which is the biggest theme, for me, right now for what’s going on on this planet. So I think it’s got these big, big themes that connect with us. Noah was the first environmentalist. He’s a really interesting character,” Aronofsky said, explaining the relevancy of the film and Noah’s story in this day and age. (http://www.christianpost.com/news/first-photo-of-noahs-ark-from-darren-aronofsky-movie-released-78112/)

Here are just a few thoughts on just this one statement.

1. The theme of Noah’s Flood and the Ark is not environmentalism, but judgment of sin and God providing an Ark of salvation (which is also a picture of Jesus who is our “Ark” of salvation and who is the “door”).
2. I smiled at the statement that “Noah was the first environmentalist.” Can you imagine what today’s environmentalists would say about that? Imagine all the trees Noah had to cut down to get all the gopher wood—and he had no replanting program!
3. Two of each kind of land animal (seven of some) came to Noah. Can you imagine Noah today getting permission to take all these animals on board this boat? Imagine what today’s environmentalists would have to say about that!
4. And can you imagine the health inspectors today going through the Ark? And what about the fire inspections? And would the building authorities give him a permit to construct it?
5. The relevancy of what happened in Noah’s time to us today is that God will once again judge the wickedness of man—but next time by fire and not by water. This will be the final judgment, which is why we all need to ensure our heart is right with God. We must be born again, as the Bible says, knowing we will then not suffer the “second death,” which is eternal separation from God.

The point is, the account of the Flood and the Ark has nothing to do with environmentalism as this filmmaker is suggesting. It has everything to do with judgment because of man’s rebellion and God’s provision of salvation for those who obeyed Him and went through the door to be saved.

By the way, Christians do need to have a Christian worldview in regard to environmentalism based on the Bible. We must understand that we live in a sin-cursed universe and that man was given dominion to use the environment for man’s good and God’s glory. Modern environmentalism for the most part is built on an evolutionary view of history with the creation having dominion over man!

AiG has articles dealing with a Christian approach to environmentalism on the AiG website such as “Creation and Conservation” and “Go (Truly) Green—by Starting with Genesis.”

Here is the real message of the Ark (which is to be the ultimate message of the Ark Encounter project). In John 10:9, Jesus said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”

Once the movie is released, it will be interesting to compare the script with the truth of God’s Word in Genesis. I have this strong suspicion it won’t hold up.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken