ANIMAL RIGHTS

No normal human being wants to see any animal suffer needlessly. The laws that have been passed to prevent inhumane treatment of animals are sound, and they reflect a sense of responsibility which we all should have in assuming dominion over God's creation (Gen. 1: 26).

Most people in our society are several generations away from the farm. As a result, they do not have to grapple with the realities of meat preparation. I am amazed at the number of times that I have asked people where their chicken and beef come from only to learn that it is "from the grocery store."

This has tended to create an animosity toward those who hunt or work in the meat preparation industry. Recognize that God has given mankind animal life for this specific purpose (see Acts 10:12-13; 1 Tim. 4:3). Most of them would never have existed were this not the case.

A second factor which has strongly influenced our culture in this regard is the indoctrination of evolution. If, in fact, we evolved from animals, who are we to declare that we should have dominion over our "ancestors?"

If you believe that this is overstatement, consider the words of Michael Fox (a prominent Director at the Humane Society):

"There are no clear distinctions between us and animals. Animals communicate, animals have emotions, animals can think. Some thinkers believe that the human soul is different because we are immortal, and that just becomes completely absurd" [quoted in Guardian of Truth, Feb. 17, 1994].

The real problem occurs when we apply this logic in the opposite direction. If, in fact, we can kill other animals, why can't we kill humans? Hitler had no problem with this logic, nor did Charles Manson. This rationalization is also a driving factor behind those who promote abortion and euthanasia. Did you ever notice how all of these things tend to rise and fall together?

But, there IS a major difference. It was God who said: "let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing" (Gen. 1:26). God made mankind (and them alone) "after His image" (Gen. 1:26; Ps. 8:5-8). This, and this alone separates humans from animals.

Let us observe the order of things that God has prescribed for us. To do otherwise do otherwise "worships the creature rather than the creator" (Rom. 1: 24-25).