Creation Care and Animal Welfare

Over the past couple of weeks I have been doing some research on the history and theology of Christianity and its interaction with animal welfare concerns. One of the over-arching themes that I have found is that many believers think there is a direct link between the manner that we treat animals and how we treat our fellow humans who are considered "the least of these." I have also discovered that in Scripture, most specifically the Hebrew Bible, God clearly instructs us to give great care to those animals over which we have been given "dominion." The Exodus account of the 10 Commandments informs us the reader, that one of the purposes of the Sabbath is to give our animals and workers a rest.

Anyway, I'm working on a campaign with the Humane Society to encourage Christians to eat humanely. Here is a great article, that I would like to share and hear your feedback: http://www.esa-online.org/Article.asp?RecordKey=44FBB2E9-5276-4C20-A289-383995C664CA


Enjoy!

Comments

ks said…
I like the idea and the balance the article represents, not wanting us to claim that animals have equal rights to humans. SOmething about it doens't quite settle well with me, though. I do believe in compassionate treatment of animals. I want them to be treated fairly and with respect to their purposes. But I don't think we're called not to eat meat or eggs (and I know the article wasn't saying that, but I can see some people easily drawing that conclusion). I dont know. I probably think about the same thing as you.
3:59 PM
Anonymous said…
Hi, I was so grateful to come across this post and the article you linked to at ESA. It's so rare to see fellow evangelicals pay any attention to animal welfare issues. Thank you so much for doing so. My name is Ben DeVries, and earlier this Spring I completed my capstone project on a Christian foundation for animal welfare at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Since then I've been working on launching a grassroots, faith-based animal advocacy effort called Not One Sparrow (http://www.notonesparrow.com/), and in fact I posted earlier this month on Not One Sparrow's blog about the All Creatures Great and Small Campaign. I would love to connect with you and EAS further if you'd be open to doing so. Please email me anytime (ben@notonesparrow.com), and I hope very much to interact with you more.
8:03 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Palm Sunday School Lesson for Teenagers

Scripture: Luke 22:17-20 Topic: When Jesus ate with his Disciples Background: This lesson would be taught during a Sunday morning breakfast club for teenagers. Once a month the youth meet to cook breakfast and then we try to relate the lesson to food. Last time the Middle School breakfast club met a middle school student led his peers in a devotional that went through the various stories of Jesus sharing food with his disciples. This Sunday we are going to focus on one of those stories and how it relates to Easter. Opening: 1. Ask, “Have you ever helped plan a party?” a. Ask the students to share about the various things they did to prepare (send invites, decorate, blow up balloons, set the table, plan games, order food). 2. Say, “For some families, Easter is a time of celebration, a party of sorts.” a. Ask, “What does your family do to celebrate Easter?” (family gets together, we eat dinner together, Easter egg hunt, attend church se
Read more

They touched Jesus, but then, how did they pray?

I'm sitting in my room praying and thinking, "After the resurrection did the disciples pray to Jesus?" Just imagine this with me for a moment. You have spent the past 2 - 3 years of your life following this intriguing man around, your feet are calloused, your memory is overflowing with moments around the campfire or dinner table, and you've been challenged to completely shift your Jewish worldview. And then he is gone. Just as quick as he came, just as brief as the moment he walked the shoreline past your fishing boat and called out to you, he is gone. And you are left knowing you've met an incredible man who was more than a man -- a man who was somehow divine. Now there is no one around you analyzing deep fulfilled Christological theological concepts, but there are plenty of Greek voices and new philosophical ways of contemplating life's happenings, there are Jewish commentaries, and there are the conversations that have happened along the roadside. An
Read more

Question: Multi-generational ministry

What do you think is good about churches that focus on reaching a specific age group? What do you think some of the disadvantages are? Would you rather be part of a multi-generational interactive community or a community of peers? (Assuming both are in the context of Christian fellowship.)
Read more