Amazing Bible Verses That Will Change the World for Animals
Animals: Tradition - Philosophy - Religion

FROM Christian Animal Ethics
March 2019

Not too long ago, many Bible verses were used by abolitionists to convince people that we should end slavery. Surprisingly, many Bible verses were taken out of context by slave owners to actually justify slavery. Instead of using the Bible to speak in favor of or against slavery, the Bible is now used to speak in favor of or against our use of animals. ​It's time to look at the Bible verses that will tell us how we should treat animals.

Not too long ago, many Bible verses were used by abolitionists to convince people that we should end slavery.

Surprisingly, many Bible verses were taken out of context by slave owners to actually justify slavery.

Today, the pattern has continued...

Only instead of using the Bible to speak in favor of or against slavery, the Bible is now used to speak in favor of or against our use of animals...

It's time to look at the Bible verses that will tell us how we should treat animals.

OLD TESTAMENT

Garden of Eden

God gives us a plant based diet – Genesis 1:29

After the Fall

God still does not allow us to eat animals

After the Flood

  • God allows us to eat animals - Genesis 9:3
  • fter all vegetation was destroyed from the flood
  • As a human concession - Genesis 6:12; Genesis 1:31 (like divorce and slavery human concessions - Matthew 19:8; Exodus 21:20-21)
  • Not God’s ideal by any means

More Old Testament Verses

  • Animals must be treated kindly - Proverbs 12:10
  • Animals cannot be overworked or underfed – Exodus 23:12; Deuteronomy 25:4
  • God tells us to provide even for wild animals – Exodus 23:11
  • God preserves both people and animals – Psalm 36:6
  • God takes no pleasure in the blood of animals - Isaiah 1:11,15-17
  • God provides food for the cattle and young ravens when they call – Psalm 147:9
  • God cares deeply for animals – Jonah 4:10-11; 2 Samuel 12:1-6; Ezekiel 34
  • God makes Covenants not just with humans, but with animals – Genesis 9:10; Hosea 2:18
  • A day of rest includes animals – Exodus 20:10
    God gives food to every creature. His love endures forever - Psalm 136:25
  • Daniel is healthier after no longer eating the King’s meat (Daniel Diet) – Daniel 1:8-16
  • God knows all of the animals – Psalm 50:10-11
  • God’s dream is for the wolf to live with the lamb and for no one to harm on his holy mountain - Isaiah 11:6-9
  • God gives a donkey a voice when others will not – Numbers 22:28-32

NEW TESTAMENT

  • Jesus relates himself to a chicken to describe selfless love – Matthew 23:37
  • God feeds the birds of the air – Matthew 6:26
  • God does not forget sparrows – Luke 12:6
  • John the Baptist uses water baptism instead of animal sacrifice for remission of sins – Luke 3:3
  • It is impossible for the blood of animals to ultimately take away sin, only Jesus can - Hebrews 10:4
  • Jesus desires mercy and not sacrifice which refers to OT verse about animal sacrifice - Matthew 9:13, 12:7; Hosea 6:6
  • Jesus says we must help animals even on the Sabbath – Matthew 12:11
  • Jesus frees the animals from the temple – John 2:14-15; Mark 11:15
  • Jesus is the Good Shepherd – Human shepherds kill sheep. A Godly shepherd lays down his life for his sheep – John 10:11
  • Jesus decides to use bread at Last Supper instead of perfect opportunity to use lamb – Matthew 26:26
  • Jesus replaces the need to ever sacrifice an innocent animal ever again. This means Jesus has saved more animals than anyone who has ever and who will ever live – Matthew 26:28; John 6:53
  • Jesus’ food is to do the will of him who sent him and to finish his work – John 4:34
  • All creation groans and all creation waits in eager anticipation to be redeemed – Romans 8:19-22

Abraham Lincoln famously said that both the north and the south used the same Bible to argue both in favor of slavery and against slavery...

Both sides read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged.

As it was with slavery, it must also be with speciesism. Each side will use the Bible to argue for what it believes in...

As Abraham Lincoln once said, "My concern is not whether God is on our side. My greatest concern is to be on God's side."

Whose side are you on?

Choose sides wisely.


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