Monday, April 26, 2010

Christianity & the Humane Treatment of Animals-Guest Contributor Reverand James Hanratty


Did you know God made provision for the animals upon the earth?

Let take a look into God's Word and read a little of what the Bible tells us about how God shows kindness for his animal creation:
  • Look at the birds flying around . . . your Father in heaven takes care of them, he gives animals their food and feeds the young ravens when they call.
  • He sends the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.They give drink to every beast of the field.
  • By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.
He causes the grass to grow for the cattle...
The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.

Did you know that Jesus identified Himself with all the innocent animals who had been sacrificed and declared that His was the final sacrifice?

In fact, Jesus is even described as "The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29)

Additionally, Jesus is called "The Lion of the tribe of Judah" and it is interesting to notice that He was born in a stable among animals rather than in an inn. He rode a donkey in triumph into Jerusalem on that great day of the feast. He is prophesied to return again in glory as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, riding on a white horse (Revelation 19:11).

Also, the Holy Spirit is symbolized by a dove.(John 1:32) He chose to reveal Himself as like a pure and gentle bird (Matthew 3:16) at Jesus' baptism.

It's so sad but did you know millions of wild animals die painful, lingering deaths in vicious traps every year? Not for food - for furs! Millions more are bred on fur farms and slaughtered for fashion.

The beauty industry inflicts untold agony on a million animals every single year for perfumes, lipsticks and other cosmetics. There are more than adequate synthetic alternatives, but such is man's sinful inhumanity towards God's animal kingdom and the slaughter continues today.

In the name of science, millions more animals suffer in laboratories worldwide every year. In the first chapter of the Bible, God made humankind responsible for His animals (Genesis 1-28). All animals are God's animals (Psalm 50:10) and we are answerable to God for our treatment, care and protection of them.

Let's never forget that the welfare and protection of animals is an essential part of our Christian responsibility. All caring Christians should make known their opposition to such cruel practices as vivisection. We must determine to do all in our power to bring about the speedy abolition of all such mistreatment and tortures of animals.
God promised Believers he would give them a tender heart...

"And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart." (Ezekiel 36:26 NLT)

So as Christians who want to love and please God let's be tender hearted and share your love with these animals God expects us to care for them as we share life on this earth with them.

Not a Christian?

Did you know that Jesus abolished animal sacrifices and so Christianity has always rejected the need for blood shed of animals. (Hebrews 9:12, 26).

It is only mankind who needs forgiving and saving, and also teaching as to how to worship (Psalm 36 & 51), the animal kingdom worships God continually and naturally.

You know, most of us imagine that in God’s eyes we are just one of millions of people upon the earth. We imagine most people don’t really seem to think we are important and so we assume God thinks of us in a similar way. But then, again, God is not like ‘most people.’ We feel that God has favorites and we vision we’re a far way down the list, but the way we feeling do not correspond to reality. To God, YOU are very special to him.

God loves you with his whole heart. He loves you with every speck of his enormous love. That means no matter how much he loves others, he couldn’t possibly love anyone else more than he loves you.

Scripture makes no promise that you will always feel loved, nor that circumstances will always make it obvious that you are loved. God simply promises that you are loved. No suffering or tragedy will ever separate you from God’s love (Romans 8:35-39). A snap-shot in time proves nothing. Only eternity’s movies can adequately portray the infinitude of God’s love for you.

That's the good new and now for the bad news...

The Bible tell us the punishment for sinning again our Holy God....is death. This means because of our sinning we have earned eternal death and that we deserve to die and be separated from God forever.

"For the wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23)

BUT... since there was no way we could make our self right with God...Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) The Bible says Christ took the punishment that we deserved for our sins. Placed it upon Himself, and died in out place. He was buried, and three days later he rose from the dead to offer us eternal life as a free gift.

There is only one way of salvation today for mankind and that is through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ - the Lamb of God who died to redeem sinful mankind (Revelation 5:12, 13). He died with the result that no other animals need die . . . for man's sinfulness.

What is your response to Christ? Would you like to place your trust in Jesus right now? It if you place your trust in Christ, why not say a short prayer with me right now and we will thank God for having saved you and given you the gift of eternal life.

"Dear God....I believe Jesus died for my sins and rose from the dead. I have trusted Christ alone as my savior. Thank you for your forgiveness and everlasting life that I now have.

In Jesus' name, amen."

If you would like to discuss this article or if you are seeking spiritual direction you can leave a comment for Reverend Hanratty in the comment section.

2 comments:

olduster said...

I did not know there were so many scriptures about animals

Anonymous said...

Yes me too.