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Frequently Asked Questions
The F.A.Q.s are more fast paced with simply highlighting
some of the "frequently asked questions" that I've received over the
years, from different aspects of how to apply this teaching to
explaining why the usage of animal slurs is "profane." Why is the term
for a female dog, or another word for a "donkey" considered using
profanity in society? I answer that and many other questions of
conscience here.
Table of Contents
001 - Why is this covenant even necessary to the
animal liberation cause?
002 - Why now?
003 - What's wrong
with believing that this Hosea 2:18 Covenant isn't something that's
inaugurated until the Lord returns?
004 - How do we
persuade fellow-Christians of the validity of this covenant for today?
005 - How do we
put a stop, then, to all of the animal exploitation and oppression?
006 - But haven't
animals striven the least for what we would call sanctification?
007 - Is there
ever a permissible reason for killing an animal, or putting one "to
sleep"?
008 - How do we
reach out to animals with gospel ministry? What shape would ministry
towards them take?
009 - What if you
were wrong about the probable alternative meanings of the words
translated "fish" in the gospels?
010 - Why should I
concern myself with this covenant since the New Testament seems to say
so little, if anything, about it?
011 - Isn't this
just another stumbling block to people accepting Christ?
012 - Aren't you
just introducing another testament like the Mormons?
013 - What about
Paul's warning in Galatians about other gospels?
014 - Aren't you
just introducing another "law"?
015 - Martin, as
Christians, we're not supposed to build our doctrines out of the Old
Testament!
016 - Can't this
be used to breed more Phariseeism? After all, aren't these "just"
animals?
017 - Isn't the
veganism you're advocating because of this Hosea 2:18 passage simply a
guise for "worshipping and serving the creation rather than the Creator" as St. Paul warned us about?
018 - What about
Jesus' comments about humans being worth more than birds in the sight of
God?
019 - Can't I love
God, God's Word, and all of the creation of God (including the animals)
and not be growing in the direction of strict veganism?
020 - What about
the feeding of pets?
021 - What about
Paul's statements about those who are spiritual not being suitably
judged by others?
022 - What about
Paul's comments about not letting anyone judge you regarding food?
023 - Shouldn't
all of the Scriptures that you're referring to only be taken
allegorically for God's dealings with humans?
024 - If this is
true, then how could so many Christians have possibly been wrong about
this?
025 - Martin, how
did you come to this place of having this much love for animals? I can't
see myself ever getting there!
026 - Martin, do
you see yourself shepherding animals a million years from now?
027 - Martin, so
would you say that eating an animal is a sin?
028 - So, Martin,
are you saying that eating an animal is something we'll be judged for?
029 - What about
people who are allergic to soy?
030 - But why
would God put the animals here if not for us to eat?
031 - But, didn't
Jesus say that it's not what goes into a man's mouth that defiles him,
but what comes out of it that defiles him?
032 - Prove that
animals have souls and exhibit at least a proto-spirituality!
033 - Why would
God have allowed such cruelty towards animals over the last several
thousand years, if indeed it can be called cruelty?
034 - But what
about insects, parasites, and fish? Is there ever a legitimate reason to
kill them? Is that ever permissible?
035 - What do you
say to the argument that this is a threat to cultural diversity and the
heritage of many peoples to oppose what you call cruelty towards
animals?
036 - Martin, do
you believe that these are the days that Jesus talked about that would
be as the days of Noah?
037 - Martin, do
you expect animals to vanish in the rapture, were one to take place?
038 - What about
interpretations of Scripture that seem to detail a continued case for
animal exploitation into the distant future with the blessing of God?
039 - What are the
potential fruits of this Hosea 2:18 covenant?
040 - But isn't
this Hosea 2:18 emphasis just one more attempt to bring people under the
ministry of condemnation?
041 - Martin, how
do you respond to someone who's read everything you've presented here
and while thinking that you've brought up some good and important points
is still inclined to think that all of this is irrelevant to their lives
because they believe Hosea 2:18 to be a part of the Gospel to the
Circumcision rather than a part of the Pauline Gospel to the Nations?
042 - What about those who don't see animals as
having "ages to come" but as only living during this age?
043 - What about those who see this whole
covenant, the way you've presented it, Martin, and still think that it
smacks of too much legalism for them (i.e. like the denominational
garbage that Christ has been setting them free from)?
044 - Is this Hosea 2:18 covenant an attempt at
restoring the Edenic state?
045 - How do you interpret the passage that there
will be no more sea in the Book of Revelation?
046 - Martin, don't you realize that the things
that you are saying are going to get you into the deepest trouble?
047 - Martin, don't you realize that if anything were really wrong with
what you call "enslaving animals" and eating them that God would have
overthrown this a long time ago? What makes you think, given the long
history of eating animals, that this is something that's wrong?
048 - Martin,
how do you respond to someone who's read everything you've presented
here and while thinking that you've brought up some good and important
points is still inclined to think that all of this is irrelevant to
their lives because they believe Hosea 2:18 to be a part of the Gospel
to the Circumcision rather than a part of the Pauline Gospel to the
Nations?
049 - What about
those who don't see animals as having "ages to come" but as only living
during this age?
050 - What about
those who see this whole covenant, the way you've presented it, Martin,
and still think that it smacks of too much legalism for them (i.e. like
the denominational garbage that Christ has been setting them free from)?
051 - Is this
Hosea 2:18 covenant an attempt at restoring the Edenic state?
052 - How do you
interpret the passage that there will be no more sea in the Book of
Revelation?
053 - Martin,
don't you realize that the things that you are saying are going to get
you into the deepest trouble?
054 - Martin,
don't you realize that if anything were really wrong with what you call
"enslaving animals" and eating them that God would have overthrown this
a long time ago? What makes you think, given the long history of
eating animals, that this is something that's wrong?
055 - Martin, does
someone have to be a Universalist in order to share your covenant
perspective regarding these animals?
056 - Why is it
wrong to call someone either a bitch or a jack ass? Why are the names of
animals used in slang, frustration, or anger considered profanity?
057 - Is there
anything in favor of this Covenant that we can take away from St. Paul�s
teachings that are otherwise often used to try to disprove
compassion-based theologies and philosophies by well meaning opponents
of this message?
058 - Do
Christians willingly ignore this?
059 - Do you
believe that Churches should be organized around this message?
060 - Isn�t this
just cookie cutting of Scripture and construing it any way that you
wish?
061 - My pastor
says this is nonsense, should I leave my Church over it?
062 - Martin, I
attended a leading seminary and graduated with honors. Anything
approximating what you�re sharing here was considered demonic there. Was
all of my schooling wrong?
063 - Isn�t this
just one more Charismatic/Pentecostal doctrine for Christians to get
their hopes up about, only to be disappointed and frustrated by it in
the end?
064 - Do you
believe that children should be taught this?
065 - If
Christianity went veggie, a lot of people wouldn�t come to Christ!
066 - What are you
going to do with all of the people who are going to pray for their pet�s
healing and their pet dies anyway?
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Animal Gospel
