Tuesday, 28 April 2009

• Christianity and the Animal World

    For as long as I can remember I have been intensely interested in the natural world. As an introspective teen, I used to spend hours wandering the (then-undeveloped) fields of Connecticut-- tall grass, scrubby crabapple trees, junipers, tiny, private brooks and shallow ponds. I often took a camera with me and binoculars. I also loved horses, and rode as frequently as I could. If you've ever read Robert Lawson's Rabbit Hill series, that's the world I lived in. It was quiet, subtle, and full of wonderful surprises that I stored up like treasure in my heart and mind.

  Today at 51 years old, I still get alot of spiritual nourishment from that world. When I was a teen, I wasn't a follower of Christ, but I certainly believed in Mystery, and was deeply aware that such things as I saw could not have happened accidentally. Today I know the One Who created it all, and I marvel at His works. Even more, I know my place in this world. God in Christ has given it to me and to my human kind to dominate this earth and to be stewards over it, caring for it until He returns. I know that in that capacity as in all others, I will have to give account to Him.

  I frequently read a blog that has to do with horse rescue. Recently there was a piece about a guy who was a trainer who trained horses in a very abusive manner. He also happened to be a preacher, a televangelist. A commenter noted that fact with deep cynicism, commenting that here we had "another Christian" who was acting in a way that even they, a nonbeliever, could see was antithetical to our confession.

  "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." Romans 2 24

  My response to this was to curtly point out to the commentator that I was thoroughly sick of people making Christ a party to the hypocrisy of people who call themselves Christians but disobey God's commands to us and His example in Christ. I might add, nowhere in Scripture am I prohibited from appropriately defending myself and my opinions. If you would like to show me where I am wrong, I'm listening-- but only if you are civil.

  The general population is always looking for ways to dishonor the name of Christ, using His followers as an example. We have a heavy burden to behave in ways that bring honor and glory to Christ. Too frequently, God's people get full of themselves when they hear that they are to have dominion over the Earth. They think it gives them license to beat the h-e-double hockey sticks out of anything that frustrates their efforts to bring order to the world. If you were answerable to God, would you abuse His Creation and be willing to present that injured creature to Him? I can tell you I would not, because I fear God.

  This is not to say that we are to leave the Creation alone, or to let it run wild. Because of the sin of Man, this world is fallen. Yet our position as regents of the world remains. We have a responsibility to bring order to this world even though it is beyond our ability to make perfect as it was before we caused its fall. We do have a responsibility to take the world that God has given us as a gift, and train it to do what it was intended to do: to glorify God. You cannot do that by starving, beating, injuring, frightening and traumatising the created things of this world.

  God has endowed people with brains. We are to use those brains to study His world and study the ways in which we can best bring Creation into alignment for its true purposes. It is clear from how animals are 'gifted' that that many are intended to serve Man. Cattle with their strong shoulders enabled us to till the earth and haul heavy loads, to give us milk and cheese. Chickens provide eggs for our nourishment. Some animals provide fur for our warmth, and leather for our tender feet. Horses are almost in a class by themselves, like dogs-- they are useful critters to have around, but they also delight our souls with their beauty and devotion to us. It is no sin to put God's creatures to work if possible to do so. But the follower of Christ knows that this Creation is a gift to Mankind that we are to return to Him with interest. We are to make this place better not just for ourselves, but to enable all Creation to glorify God with its giftings.

  Neither is it glorifying to God to elevate the Creation to the same position as Man. We are to value human life, because of all Creation, it is only Man that is created in the Image of God. As shattered an image as we are, God commands us to value it above all else. To prefer the Creation over the well-being of people is not right. To coddle the animal in an unnatural way is not consistent with our command to be stewards of this earth. This is a kind of abuse at the other end of the scale.

  Horses are created for work, and if I may say so, to delight the senses. There's nothing quite like being aboard a willing, healthy, able, affectionate horse. But you don't get there by being a Nazi trainer. You get there by intelligently drawing out the best natural instincts of the animal. That goes for all creatures that live with and for people.

  I am pleased to be a Christian environmentalist. My perspectives are quite different from those who would love to depopulate the Earth of humans in order to allow "Nature" to have its head. Not for one minute do I think the world would be a better place without humankind. But it is a fallen world, and requires the grace and wisdom of God to take good and appropriate care of it. With His help and guidance, we can do this.

  Christian, what are you doing to be a faithful and accountable steward of this planet?

   

  • 12:05 PM
  • 35 Views
  • 6 eProps
  • 6 Comments