Animals: Tradition - Philosophy - Religion Article from All-Creatures.org
Primary purpose of the statement is not to exclude or
create boundaries but to help indicate the basic doctrinal outlook of the
site and its writers. The General Beliefs of SAGC fall within basic
Christian orthodoxy, and more specifically a general Protestant/Evangelical
understanding of the Bible and the gospel, but we welcome believers from all
theological traditions.
The present statement of faith has the goal of presenting the main
beliefs of Shepherding All God’s Creatures (SAGC) in order to help
orient those that wish to be a part of it. The statement’s purpose
is to indicate a centre of core doctrine that represents the general
beliefs of the group.
Its primary purpose is not to exclude or create boundaries but to
help indicate the basic doctrinal outlook of the site and its
writers. The General Beliefs of SAGC fall within basic Christian
orthodoxy, and more specifically a general Protestant/Evangelical
understanding of the Bible and the gospel, but we welcome believers
from all theological traditions.
The group’s Specific Beliefs represent the goals and beliefs of SAGC
in regard to its mission in promoting the stewardship of the animal
kingdom and creation, and how these are correlated to other issues.
- We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible,
authoritative Word of God.
- We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three
persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin
birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and
atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His
ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in
power and glory.
- We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people,
regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
- We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose
indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a Godly life.
- We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they
that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto
the resurrection of damnation.
- We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus
Christ. (Copyright NAE)[Statement of Faith: National Association of Evangelicals,
https://www.nae.net/statement-of-fa…, accessed 27/03/2017.]
- Together with the historic-orthodox Christian Church we confess the
Apostles’ Creed: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of
heaven and earth.
Doctrinal Statement: SAGC
We believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was
conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he
descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended
into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will
come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy
Spirit, the holy catholic [‘Catholic’ here means simply universal]
church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the
resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Our Specific Beliefs characterize the mission and purpose of SAGC.
As a ministry dedicated specifically to caring for the animal
kingdom, and to communicating God’s hope for creation, SAGC seeks to
emphasize God’s love for all his creatures, responsible and
Christ-like stewardship of the environment, and the glorious
expectation of a new heavens and earth without pain and violence.
- We believe that God’s original purpose for creation and the animal
kingdom has always been peace or Shalom (Genesis 1-2). Shalom is a state
of non-violence characterized by harmony between human beings, between
humans and animals, and amongst animals themselves. In this sense we
believe that death entered creation through sin (Genesis 3, Romans 5:12)
and was not God’s will but brought by the enemy who comes to steal, kill
and destroy. On the contrary, Jesus came to bring life (John 10:10), and
to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).
- We believe that Jesus’s atoning death on the cross was not just to
reconcile human beings but ‘all things’, ta panta τa πάντα (Colossians
1:20, Ephesians 1:10), and that all of creation and the animal kingdom
are awaiting redemption (Romans 8), when the lion will dwell with the
lamb and edenic peace will be restored (Isaiah 11:6-7). We look forward
to the new heavens and new earth in which righteousness and peace will
reign (Revelation 21-22, 2 Peter 3:13).
- We believe that the Church as Christ’s Body on earth has the goal of
seeking to make God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew
6:10). God has equipped the Church with gifts and talents, and has
endowed it with authority (Matthew 28). In regard to the animal kingdom
and creation this means actively coming against the principalities and
powers that currently oppress it. For this reason we believe in
utilizing all the spiritual tools and weapons God has given us; these
include, but are not limited to, prayer, fasting, holding fast to God’s
promises, and also seeking to promote the truth about the animal kingdom
contained in the Scriptures and the gospel.
- We believe that God cares for and sustains every living creature.
The Lord loves each one of his creatures individually and not just as
groups or species (Luke 12:6, Matthew 6:26). Even though this varies in
its expression on the basis of historical, geographical and individual
factors, we believe that humans should seek to practice compassion
towards animals (Proverbs 12:10, Deuteronomy 22:6, Jonah 4:11), and that
cruelty does not reflect the character of our Creator whose tender
mercies are over all his works (Psalm 145:9).
We believe in being faithful caretakers and stewards not only of the
animal kingdom (Genesis 1-2) but also of the environment and its
resources. As people specifically entrusted by God with looking after
the earth and its creatures, Christians will have to give account of how
they looked after what was given to them (Luke 19:11, Revelation 11:18,
Romans 14:12).
- While we respect the dietary choices of all believers (Romans 14,
Matthew 15:1-20, Mark 7:1-23), realizing that this is an issue between
the believer and the Lord, SAGC sees vegetarianism, and more
specifically veganism as God’s ideal for creation (Genesis 1-2, Matthew
19:8, Isaiah 11:6-7), and as a practical manifestation of compassion
towards animals. In this sense, SAGC, as part of its particular calling,
sees it as one of its goals to promote biblically grounded forms of
vegetarianism not only as a sign of the coming kingdom but also for the
stewardship of the environment, natural resources, as well as for the
improvement of human health.
- SAGC’s concern for animals is in line with, and linked to, an
overall concern for the weak and the oppressed: these include the poor,
the unborn, children, the elderly and the marginalized. In this sense,
SAGC sees these issues as indivisible and compassion as an overarching
vision that touches all aspects of God’s world. SAGC sees itself within
the abolitionist tradition of William Wilberforce, who together with his
quest to end slavery sought to fight against cruelty to animals (SPCA
1824). SAGC believes that these problems are all interconnected and that
‘injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere’ (Martin Luther
King Jr.).
This statement was put together and written by Marcello Newall;
thanks, Marcello, it is because of your fine penmanship that we have
such an excellent statement of faith!
~Kathy, SAGC
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Animals: Tradition - Philosophy - Religion Article