Psalm 8 echoes the truth found in Genesis 1:28 – “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” God told the very first human being to be fruitful, to fill the earth, subdue it and dominate it. Under the command “subdue and have dominion” comes man’s relationship to the world of animals.
And what is that relationship? There are some people who think that animals have as many rights as human beings. Some people seem to think that animals have more rights than humans – perhaps thinking that they have been around longer. Which of course is absolutely true, by several hours. Some people who reject the fact that God created both man and beast – some people who think that man evolved from the beasts – argue that the beast has more rights than the man, because it has been here so much longer than man. And man owes his very existence to the pre-existence of the animal kingdom. Without a doubt to hear about a sick baby orca, or the vandalism of an eagle’s nest, brings out more tears and cries for help or vengeance than to hear about the slaughter of unborn human beings. Something is definitely wrong here.
There is no way for me to answer every question or to address every aspect of these issues in one message. All that I would like to do tonight is give you a framework for pursuing more studies on your own. Does the Bible say anything about green-house gases, Green-peace, the Green party and the Green movement? Yes, it does. It tells us that we have responsibilities toward our environment, and that we have the obligation to use it wisely for the glory of God.
For example, the Bible tells us that man is of a higher created order than any mere animal.
Does a plant, like a tree or a flower, have life? Of course it does. When some husband forgets to water his wife’s violet and it dies, he learns about life and death. When the cellular life of a plant is in good health, it can make that flower actually do things – like turn toward the sun. But the kind of life that a daffodil has doesn’t mean that it has a spirit or a soul. It doesn’t even have the same kind of life that a Pomeranian or a puma have.
Animals have a kind of life that is higher than that of a plant. The botanist and the zoologist might argue about that fact, but we’ll leave them to their own special quarrels. I think that we can all agree that animals can express intellect, while a flower can’t. Pet owners know that their animals have emotions, and they can express personal will. Generally speaking dogs are more emotional than cats, but cats are more wilful than dogs – generally.
But despite these things in the animal world, there are definite differences between animals and human beings. For example, animals lack the self-awareness that humans have. Most species of animals have a limited ability to communicate. The ability to understand that communication is primarily confined to their own species. But there certainly are exceptions, for example when the lion roars the gazelle trembles. And most species have defensive techniques to warn other species to stay away. But even when man is able to teach another species to communicate with him, the conversations are very limited. For example, some apes have been trained to use sign language to talk with their handlers. That ape may be able to use a sign to ask for food or something else. But no ape, dolphin or schnauzer has yet been able to discuss the existence of God or eternity. The reason for that is that there is no evidence that any animal is aware of the existence of God or eternity. And another thing is the fact that animals usually do really stupid animal-like things. When the Lord was talking to Job in chapter 39 He even brought up this sort of thing: “Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich? Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust, And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them. She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labour is in vain without fear; Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.”
The primary difference between man and the animal is their relationship to God. During the six day week of creation, the animal world had already been created. And then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Animals were not created in the image of God, but man was. And one of the biggest results of that is that every human soul is eternal, while not a single animal is.
To a lot of minds, Ecclesiastes is the most confusing book in the Bible. It is written from the stand-point of someone so far from God that he looks at life as an agnostic. But even in his agnosticism he gets many things correct. For example in Ecclesiastes 3:17-22 we read – “I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work. I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?” Even though Solomon says that, just like the animals, humans die, he also notes that “the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth.” Every human being will spend eternity either in the Lake of Fire or in Heaven. This can not be said of any animal.
And man has orders from Jehovah to rule the earth and its animal inhabitants.
Does this Psalm, or any other scripture, give man the right or authority to wilfully destroy God’s creation? Coming home Friday, I saw a car in Rathdrum, spray painted with some sort of message down the side. Assuming that it was done by a vandal, wouldn’t we agree that it was a criminal act? Shouldn’t it be considered an act of vandalism to willfully pollute or destroy God’s creation just for the sake of destruction? Are you aware that God ordered Israel to carry little shovels with them during their forty-years wanderings. They were to build latrines where ever they traveled. You can imagine what a stinky mess a few million people could create in a single day. Deuteronomy 23 tells Israel to designate a bathroom area at every national campsite, and that a paddle was to be employed every time that site was used. If that isn’t a commentary on modern pollution then I’ll admit that one cannot be found in the Bible. There was no such thing as acid rain, water pollution or toxic waste 3,500 years ago, so those subjects cannot be directly found in the Bible, but Deuteronomy 23:13 does tell us what God thinks about wilful pollution.
Why was it that God commanded Israel, in Deuteronomy 20, when they were in battle with their enemies, not to cut down the fruit trees? Isn’t it because it takes a generation or two to regrow that food source when it is destroyed? Subduing the earth means managing its resources, not the destruction of those resources.
Man is supposed to use what God has given him, not misuse them. Subduing the earth refers to mining its resources and harnessing it’s energies. I know it is controversial, but the proper use of atomic energy comes under God’s blanket statement. And there is certainly nothing wrong with building a dam, especially if care is taken to preserve the fish. And there is nothing wrong with harvesting a forest, doing everything possible for those trees to replenish themselves.
When it comes to the animal kingdom man has opportunities and responsibilities.
For example, we have a Biblical mandate to use animals to increase our ability to work. Proverbs 14:4 says that through the strength of an ox, we are made stronger. Proverbs 21:31 says “the horse is prepared against the day of battle.” But isn’t the life of that horse endangered by putting him in the middle of men fighting other men? Yes, it is, but what is your point – that is the job of that particular horse.
Men should dominate and manage the animal kingdom as wisely as he uses the resources of a credit card. Conversely, nowhere in the Bible do we read that animals have a God-given right to dominate anything. If there is a pride of lions running freely over grazing land needed by a goat-herder, then man has every right to make those lions move on, and if they refuse, it is not un-Biblical or ungodly to kill those lions. and if there is a spotted owl roosting in a tree which is needed to build a house, then the owl needs to move. If the lumbermen can find adequate timber somewhere else, they should consider going somewhere else. But if they can’t find another source of for timber, then the Bible says “timber.” No where in the Bible are we told to put the owl before the needs of the man.
But you can remember when the environmentalist said that if that forest was harvested the Spotted Owl would become extinct. Some people will think that I’m cruel, but again my answer is: “So?” If the fossil records can be at least partially trusted, I think that it is safe to say that God caused the extinction of quite a few animal species, and there was no sin involved. Without advocating the wanton destruction of any species of plant or animal, I don’t see any Biblical command for judgment on anyone for the inadvertent or even the determined extinction of some sort creature. Animal rights, as championed in modern society, are unknown in the Bible. I hear people bemoaning the great loss of pigeons in the Atlantic, Auks in the Pacific and the poor Tasmanian Tigers. But so far as I can tell, the world has not suffered to any great extent in those losses.
I might be wrong, but it appears that Adam and Eve were vegetarians. “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat” – Genesis 1:29. But after the flood, Noah and his sons were given permission to eat flesh. The only requirement the Lord demanded was that they were not to eat or drink the blood. Genesis 9 – “And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. and the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.” It is not violating any animal’s rights to eat them or to make garments out of their skin. These are two of the reasons why there are animals on the earth. There was no sin in eating that big fish at camp last Thursday.
And yet man still has the responsibility to be responsible – to manage wisely what he can manage. Why does Idaho Fish and Game encourage the catching and eating of those 32 inch Kamloop? Because the poor little Kokanee salmon need some help. It is all about management. As I say, we should not go out of our way to slaughter and waste the Lord’s blessings. Listen to Deuteronomy 22:6-7 – “If a bird’s nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young: But thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days.” We prolong our days upon the earth when we learn to take care of the Lord’s gracious gifts to us.
And we are commanded to be concerned about the welfare of the animals under our control. Proverbs 12:10 – “A righteous man regards the life of his beasts.” Deuteronomy 22:1-4 – “Thou shalt not see thy brother’s ox or his sheep go astray, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt in any case bring them again unto thy brother. And if thy brother be not nigh unto thee, or if thou know him not, then thou shalt bring it unto thine own house, and it shall be with thee until thy brother seek after it, and thou shalt restore it to him again. In like manner shalt thou do with his ass; and so shalt thou do with his raiment; and with all lost thing of thy brother’s, which he hath lost, and thou hast found, shalt thou do likewise: thou mayest not hide thyself. Thou shalt not see thy brother’s ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again.” Just three chapters after the giving of the ten commandments we read – “If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.” It doesn’t matter if the animal is owned by an enemy, the suffering animal should be helped anyway.
It’s obvious from scriptures like Deuteronomy 22 and Exodus 23 that God cares for animals. And if the Lord cares for their well-being then so should the Christian. Neither the Christian preacher nor the ox should be muzzled while they tread out the corn. But it’s not that the ox is equal to his owner, it still is the servant of the man. Elsewhere we are told that God takes note of sparrows that fall and how much they cost when purchased in the market place.
The thing to keep in mind in talk about the environment is that this particular environment is temporary.
This world is not our permanent home; we are just passing through. There is not a single animal species on earth which will not in a sense become extinct. And the focus of the real Christian is not on the cattle on a thousand hills, or the beast of the forest. The Lord has said, “Every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.”
As Christians, we have two responsibilities in regard to all God’s creatures great and small. Remember that they are the Lord’s first, and when they are put under our care, they should be treated as gifts from Him. Then the second thing is that our attentions should be first and foremost on the Lord of those beasts and not the cattle themselves. There are tens of thousands of people, many professing to be Christians, who have made gods out of all those animals. I fear the a vast portion of the environmental movement is nothing but another form of idolatry. Amen?