Living Souls
"Any religion which is not based on a respect for life is not a true religion. Until he extends his circle of compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace." —Schweitzer
In
the Middle Ages, the predominant church of that time held a council
to determine if women and animals had souls. Women managed to get by,
but the animals didn't. Even today, much of Christianity still
teaches that animals do not have souls and are specifically intended
to be dominated and eaten. To a large degree, Christians are just as
responsible as any other religion (or lack thereof) for the abuse and
cruelty that the creatures face daily. One religious leader went so
far as to say of animals being slaughtered:
Their cries should not arouse unreasonable compassion any more than to red-hot metals undergoing the blows of a hammer, seeds spoiling underground, branches crackling when they are pruned, grain that is surrendered to the harvester, wheat being ground by the milling machine. Diet for a New America, pg. 23
We hear from society and many pulpits that we have the absolute dominion of the earth and are to subdue all things to ourselves for our own pleasure. This is pure corruption of the true meaning of the responsibility God originally gave to man at creation. Unfortunately, this is not the only Bible truth that has been wrested from its original intent; and for good reason the world often deems Christianity hypocritical.
But
this is hardly true Christianity or the way the Bible presents our
responsibility to creation. Let us look at the Bible and to Jesus
Himself. We'll find a whole different and much more pleasant story.
In Genesis 1:26, God says,
...Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion...
Notice before we are given dominion we are first made in God's image! This is very important. Despite how God is at times depicted, He is a loving, gracious being. He is described as:
...The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin&ldots; Exodus 34:6,7
We only have dominion over the animals as we are under the dominion of God. And in the same way that God deals with us, we are to deal with the animals. And while we are to be faithful caretakers of these sacred trusts, they are not "ours."
In Psalms 50, God eloquently says:
For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are Mine. Psalm 50:10,11.
Not only are the animals God's, and He the only One Who can rightfully claim ownership, but He also says that they are made for Him.
For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible...all things were created by Him, and for Him. Colossians 1:16.
So we are mere stewards of the creatures who are really God's and for Him. And as such we are held accountable for our stewardship. In Psalm 28, David says:
Because they regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of His hands, He shall destroy them, and not build them up. Psalm 28:5.
Now let's look quickly at the concept of a soul. In Genesis we find what it is that comprises a soul.
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Genesis 2:7
A soul requires two parts to exist, a body and the breath of life; this makes the soul. Of course, animals have a body, and they also have the breath of life, so they are living souls just as much as you and I are. The Bible even calls them such.
But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee: and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:...and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind Job 12:7-10 (emphasis added).
...and every living soul died in the sea Revelation 16:3.
Obviously, the Bible, whose Author is God, considers animals as souls. Paul talks about how they, like us, are anxiously waiting for Christ's coming and the end of misery and pain.
For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now Romans 8:19-22.
In Proverbs we are admonished:
Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction Proverbs 31:8.
As stewards of God, it is our duty to ease the burdens of all creation, if we would hear His commendation:
...Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou in to the joy of thy Lord Matthew 25:21.
If we have done all in our power by our daily choices and lifestyle to relieve and prevent the suffering of God's creatures, man and animal, then God will be able to entrust us with the universe for all of eternity!
All rights reserved Copyright © 2006 By J. Lee