BUILDING A CHRISTIAN ECOLOGICAL ETHIC AMID THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS:

A Contextual Theological Study of the Relationship between Humans, Nature, and the Responsibility of Faith

Abstrak

The environmental crisis has become one of the most pressing global challenges, affecting not only ecological sustainability but also the social, economic, and spiritual dimensions of human life. In this context, theology is called to offer contextual reflections that respond meaningfully to contemporary ecological issues. This study aims to examine how contextual theology reconstructs Christian ecological ethics through the relationship between God, humanity, and the whole creation amid the environmental crisis. The study employs a qualitative library research approach by critically analyzing academic books, peer-reviewed journal articles, and official documents related to contextual theology, ecotheology, ecological ethics, and environmental issues. The findings reveal that the environmental crisis is fundamentally a crisis of relationships rooted in anthropocentric paradigms and the exploitation of nature. Therefore, Christian ecological ethics should not merely be understood as a moral obligation to protect the environment but should be reconstructed as a relational ethic grounded in three interconnected dimensions: the theological relationship between God and creation, the ecological relationship between humanity and nature, and the ethical relationship expressed through faithful responsibility toward ecological justice and environmental sustainability. This study contributes to the development of contextual theology by proposing a conceptual framework that integrates theological reflection with ecological praxis while reaffirming the role of the church in fostering ecological spirituality, promoting ecological justice, and participating actively in the public sphere as an expression of the missio Dei.