Guilty as Charged

Every once in a while I hear some environmental crusader accuse the Bible of making us think we humans are the pinnacle of creation or some such nonsense. This, they say, gives the human species an inordinate pride that causes us to look down on other (presumably equal) expressions of nature.
Well, yes.
We get that crazy idea from the creation accounts in Genesis, and from the solemn words to Noah about the accounting that must be made (even by wild animals) for every human life. Jesus adds his own divine perspective on the matter. Not only are we "worth more than many sparrows," he tells us, "the very hairs on your head are counted."
Naturally, the idea isn't to swell our hearts with conceit, but to give our hearts rest in God's enveloping providence.
If we really believed in the love Jesus describes (and he should know what he's talking about!), abuse of the environment wouldn't be an issue. There would be no need to strip the earth of resources, because greed would clearly be pointless.
So if you love creation and want to do your best to protect the environment, preach the Gospel!