The Bible's Teachings on Protecting Animals and Nature
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The Bible’s Teachings on Protecting Animals and Nature Introduction treatment of farmed animals, and who hates you lying under its bur- Forbidding Cruelty indeed all of God’s creatures, which den, you shall refrain from leaving to Animals he Bible and the Judaic- were designed to prevent any him with it, you shall help him to unnecessary pain and suffering. lift it up” (Exodus TChristian tradition teach he Bible forbids Modern day animal agriculture 23:4-5). and command us to treat animals Tcruelty to violates core Christian values. It The Ten Com- with kindness and respect. The domestic animals. wipes out entire populations and mandments specifi- massive abuse and suffering legally It would be harsh to species of wildlife, confines huge cally mentions that inflicted on billions of animals prevent the ox from numbers of animals in miserable cattle and donkeys A righteous man every year is a clear violation of eating while work- conditions on factory farms, dam- must not be worked has regard for the life the teachings of our religious faith ing, and consequent- ages the environment, squanders on the Sabbath. In and cannot be justified by any of his beast. ly Deuteronomy scarce resources, and harms the the twenty-third person of faith and decency. 25:4 reads, “You health of people. chapter of Exodus, The people for whom the Bible Proverbs 12:10 shall not muzzle several animal-pro- was written thousands of years ago an ox when it treads tection statutes are were intimately familiar with out the grain.” The Ten Commandments: given by God to wildlife and domestic animals, Moreover, Moses: “Six days especially the practice of raising Do Not Overwork Deuteronomy 22:10 you shall do your cattle and other animals. The Bible says, “You shall not plow with an Animals work, but on the seventh day you contains strict rules governing the ox and an ass together.” Pairing shall rest; that your ox and your he Mosaic Law in the Hebrew animals of different sizes and ass may have rest …” (Exodus TScriptures forbids overworking strengths would place a strain 23:12). Similarly, “the seventh animals and requires that people on the weaker of them, or perhaps day is a sabbath to the Lord your help stray and lost creatures. Many on both. God; in it you shall not do any injunctions are clearly written for Contrast these ancient laws work, you, or your son … or your the sake of the creatures that sought to reduce animal suf- ox, or your ass, or any of your and not the owners. fering with modern-day factory cattle” (Deuteronomy 5:14). The Law requires that farming practices. Today, for exam- God also commands that every one help animals who ple, farmers take calves raised for seventh year one should not sow belong to enemies to veal from their mothers at birth, or harvest the land, the vineyards, whom one owes no obli- deny the calves their mother’s and the olive groves. They should gation, as well as those milk, and deliberately deprive the be allowed to “rest and lie fallow” of friends. One may calves of iron. Farmers often keep (Exodus 23:11). God commands not “pass by” an the calves their entire lives in that what grows naturally in the animal in dis- crates so narrow that they cannot fields left fallow in the seventh tress: “If you turn around. These circumstances year shall be for oneself, one’s ser- meet your render the calves’ muscles soft and vants, one’s guests, and “for your enemy’s ox or anemic, making the flesh tender cattle and also for the beasts that his ass going and lightly colored. Such treat- are in your land all its yield shall astray, you shall ment is incompatible with the be for food” (Leviticus 25:4-7). bring it back to him. Bible’s teachings. If you see the ass of one 2 3 A Righteous Man twelve tribes of Israel – to say what fate would befall them, Simeon and Has Regard for the Life Levi were castigated and chastised of His Beast for crippling oxen, among other things (Genesis 49:6-7). roverbs 12:10 declares, “A right- Peous man has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the The Beasts of the Field wicked are cruel.” This important Shall Be at Peace verse suggests a Biblical division of people into two distinct types – with Thee those who are “righteous” and just he Book of Psalms relates that are kind to their animals, and those God’s goodness and compas- who are “wicked” and are cruel to T sion are not reserved just for creatures under their care. humans but extend to all of God’s The story of Rebekah at the creatures. Psalm 36:6-7 praises well stresses the importance of God, saying “man and beast thou kindness to animals as a personal savest, O Lord. How precious is attribute. In this account, the thy steadfast love, O God! The patriarch Abraham, children of men seeking a wife for take refuge in the his son Isaac, sends shadow of thy his trusted servant wings.” out to search for a Psalm 145 reiter- as an ideal a day when humankind suitable woman. God’s Ideal Includes Peace The Lord is good to all, ates this theme of will be at peace with nature: “For The servant chooses with Animals and his compassion is over God’s concern for you shall be in league with the Rebekah after she all God’s creatures: stones of the field, and the beasts demonstrates a kind all that he has made. he book of Hosea (2:18) sug- “The Lord is good of the field shall be at peace with disposition by draw- Tgests that God would make a to all, and his com- you.” ing water not just Psalm 145:9 pact with the animals to give them passion is over all Isaiah 11:6-9 eloquently depicts for him but also for safety from being hunted and per- that he has made. how the animal kingdom will be his camels secuted by abolishing the instru- … thou satisfiest included in the blessings of peace (Genesis 24:19). ments of their destruction: “And I the desire of every on earth when it is achieved: “The Similarly, 2 Samuel will make for you a covenant on living thing” (9, 16). wolf shall dwell with the lamb, Chapter 12, God that day with the beasts of the Similarly, God’s explanation to and the leopard shall lie down uses the sad story of the inexcus- field, the birds of the air, and the Jonah for why God elected not to with the kid, and the calf and the able killing of a family’s beloved creeping things of the ground; and destroy Nineveh reflected God’s young lion … and the lion shall eat pet lamb to show King David the I will abolish the bow, the sword, concern for animals. The “great straw like the ox. … They shall error of his ways. and war from the land; and I will city” contained 120,000 people not hurt nor destroy in all my holy When Jacob called together his make you lie down in safety.” “and also much cattle” (Jonah mountain: for the earth shall be twelve sons – representing the The Book of Job 5:23 describes 4:11). full of the knowledge of the Lord”. 4 5 Reverence for Life day?” (14:5) And in the Sermon on ness, and docility. through, and the the Mount, Jesus speaks of “the He often represent- lowing of cattle is in the New Testament birds of the air”, saying that “your ed animals as being not heard; for both heavenly Father feeds them” under God’s provi- the birds of the air he New Testament contains I desire mercy (Matthew 6:26). dence, and Jesus’ and the beasts of Tmany references favorable to Interestingly, the New repeated statements and not sacrifice. the field are gone” protecting animals and nature. In Testament never depicts Jesus eat- to practice love, (9:10). Similarly, Luke (12:6), Jesus stresses that God Matthew 9:13, 12:7 ing meat in his lifetime, not even mercy, and compas- Habakkuk predicts loves even the lowliest of crea- at the Last Supper, although on sion are consistent “… the destruction tures: “Are not five sparrows sold two occasions after his death and with, and indeed of the beasts will for two pennies? And not one of resurrection the Bible describes his fundamental to, the terrify you, for the them is forgotten before God.” eating fish. humane and preser- blood of men and Matthew 10:29 also reports Jesus’ Many Christians see deep sig- vation ethic. violence to the belief that God cares for all God’s nificance in the story of Jesus earth, to cities and all who dwell creatures, even those of little mon- beginning his life among the ani- therein” (2:17). In both cases, etary value to mals (Luke The Bible’s Conservation destroying the land – much as we us. In teaching 2:7). Denied are doing today to farmland and God’s infinite Message shelter and the wilderness – brings misery. wisdom and lodging by the he obligation of humans to The Bible accords special rever- love for humans of respect and protect the natural ence for trees and forests, and one mankind, T Bethlehem in environment is a theme that of the first things the Israelites Matthew Judea, Mary appears throughout the Bible.