Models of Dominion
“We will not fight to save what we do not love.” –Barbara Brown Taylor
Throughout January I have been reading Barbara Brown Taylor’s new collection of sermons called Always a Guest. Early on in this compilation there is a sermon called “The Dominion of Love.” In this inspiring homily Barbara explores what God might mean in the Genesis 1:26 command for humans to “have dominion” over Creation. She notes that for many years the predominant view was “despotism.” Humans had the right to do with Creation whatever they chose. In this view, everything was put here for human benefit and disposal. Eventually many people of faith came to see this dominion to imply they are “stewards” of Creation or “divine servants” who have been entrusted with the care of the earth and all its inhabitants. The idea of being stewards means the earth does not belong to you or I but is rather on loan to us.
Many people of faith have grown quite comfortable with the idea of humans maintaining the role of stewards of the earth. Barbara, however, suggests there may be other models to consider, ones that bring us closer to the real meaning of dominion. She says the idea of “stewards” is “awfully utilitarian” and claims that when we are stewards we “act from duty, not love, which may not be enough for this warming world of ours.” An alternative model she presents for our consideration is that of “priest.’ A priest is someone who sees in the world “an altar laid with God’s good gifts, just waiting for someone to bless them and hold them up to heaven again.” You and I have the privilege and honor of being “priests” when it comes to Creation. This gives the doctrine of the priesthood of the believer a whole new meaning.
Next Barbara offers the model of “neighbor,” noting that Jesus taught us we are to love and care for our neighbor. At this point in the sermon she raises a series of questions: “Do only two-legged ones qualify, or do my neighbors include the four-legged ones, the winged ones, the ones with fins and fur? Does God’s compassion stop with human suffering, or does it extend to every creature in need of mercy, especially those with no voice of their own to cry out for help?” It should be clear that we are to be caring neighbors not only to humans but to all God has made.
The next model Barbara suggests is that of “kin.” She points here to the interconnectedness of all of Creation as revealed in the Genesis 1 narrative. There is, in fact, a commonality in all created things. The web of life is undeniable. This commonality should motivate us to be more considerate of the rest of Creation when it comes to having dominion.
The final model offered in this amazing sermon is that of “lovers.” Barbara Brown Taylor says “We are made in the image of the First Lover, the divine one, who brought this whole shebang into being. If it is true that we have been put here to live in that image, then the only dominion we can possibly exercise is the dominion of love—without condition, without distinction, without self-interest or secret devotion to any other dominion, including the one in which the value of all things is reduced to their price.” In the end she concludes, “We are here because God made us, and if God made us, we live by love. We are here to preside over the dominion of love in God’s name.”
It will likely be hard for a lot of us to get away from the use of the word “stewards” but the models of “priests,” “neighbors,” “kin,” and “lovers” should certainly be incorporated into the concept. Like Barbara Brown Taylor, I think “lovers” is probably the best way to understand our role as those who have been given dominion over the earth. God created the world in love. God created us in love. Now God expects us to serve and care for the world in love. Anything short of love will not do.
–Chuck