Should This Matter?

Environmentalism, animal rights, global warming, and vegan/vegetarianism are concepts that have taken over our culture. The shift towards these movements has happened relatively quickly over the past few decades and now even take center stage during political debates. While all of these movements may not necessarily be bad in and of themselves, how does the Bible view them?

The movements are not all bad. They align somewhat with what the Bible says. Genesis 1 tells us that God created the earth and all the living creatures in it. After doing so, God said, “it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). In addition, Adam and Eve (and all animals) were initially created to be vegan. Genesis 1:29-30 tells us that Adam and Eve were given “every herb bearing seed” and “every fruit of a tree yielding seed” for meat, and all animals “…wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.” In fact, blood was not shed until after The Fall (Genesis 3) when Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil which was restricted to them. It was then that God required blood sacrifices as is described in Genesis 4. Also, we are told that Adam and Eve were to tend the garden of Eden (Genesis 1:26, 2:15).

All of this adds up to a few facts:

• God loves His creation
• Man is required to take care of the creation
• The shedding of blood is a result of man’s sin

Despite the good aspects of these points of view, over time, these movements have become more and more extreme. In addition, the movements and their extreme viewpoints have also become more mainstream. I would even argue that they have grown to become more of a religion to many people.

It is not uncommon to hear the phrase, “I like animals more than people” or “global warming is an existential threat,” for example. I have also seen Christians post on social media regarding giving to animal shelters and helping animals without a single post regarding stopping abortion or homelessness. If you don’t agree with the extent of the global warming threat, then you are in denial. If you don’t subscribe to massive environmentalist reforms, you are selfish and uncaring.

Due to the complete infiltration of these extreme views into our society, Christians are forced to confront these ideas. Christians need to know how to respond. How are we supposed to feel about environmentalism and animal rights? In its most benign form, as I described above, we can see that not all aspects of these movements are anti-Biblical. God gave man the command to take care of the earth and the creatures in it. We, like the animals, are created from the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7, 19).

Despite these facts, the Bible does clearly provide an order to creation. While people in this world may want you to think that animals and humans are equal (the theory of evolution is a great example of this), God does not, in fact, view it that way. Man and woman are unique from the creation around us a more precious.

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Breath of Life

The story of creation is very clear about one difference between man and animals. Genesis 2:7 and Genesis 2:19 both describe how man and animals were created out of the “ground”, but only one of these groups were given the “breath of life” directly from God himself: man.

Genesis 2:7

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

Image of God

In addition to the breath of life, God also treated man differently in that man and woman are made in the “image of God.” This is not said of the animals. This same point can be said of the phrase “became a living soul.” Only humans are described as living souls. No other aspect of creation is given this distinction.

Genesis 1:26-27

“And 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, int eh image of God created Hi him; male and female created he them.”

Woman Was Not Equal to the Animals

The passage of Genesis 2:19-24 show that Eve was considered as separate from the animals. This may seem like a funny point, but think about it. God brings all of the animals to Adam to name, which he does. However, in all of those animals, Adam did not find a “help meet” for him. So, what does God do? He forms Eve, a woman.

In addition to being distinct from the animals, she is actual made from man. Specifically, she is made from the rib of Adam.

Matthew 6:25-30

The passage in Matthew 6:25-30 provides God’s perspective on humans verses animals/plants. Here we see that God does not view us as the same as animals and plants, but distinct and more important.

“Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of the these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?”

Destruction of the Earth & Judgement

A quick look at end time prophecy also reveals the uniqueness of man from the creation around us. Revelation tells us that the earth and all on it will be destroyed and remade. However, humans will be separated out for judgement.

Revelation 20:11-15

“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast in to the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast in to the lake of fire.”

Revelation 21:1

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.”

Only man stands in judgement before God. Only man either goes to heaven (New Jerusalem) or hell (lake of fire). The earth will be destroyed. We like to think that our pets go to heaven, but the Bible does not indicate that at all.

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Humans are unique. We have a living soul and were given the breath of God! We alone are made is God’s image! God views us as BETTER than the plants and animals, and He is preparing a place for us at the end of this world.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, we are commanded to take care of the earth. We have been given a certain amount of authority here, and we need to take that authority seriously. However, we are NOT the same as the earth or animals. Therefore, we should treat our fellow humans like they are unique.

As you can see, there is no room for evolution or even theistic evolution in the Bible. To follow these theories, not only must one throw out Genesis 1 and 2, but also other passages and even end-time prophecy. The Bible clearly states that we are unique in creation with purpose and authority in this world unlike anything else in creation.

Take care of the earth. Take care of animals and treat them kindly. Act responsibly in sustaining our environment and bodies. These are biblical concepts.

However, the radicalized view of environmentalism and global warming and animal rights groups: they are anti-Biblical. How?

1. The earth is going to pass way. It will be destroyed. The idea that we must save the earth at the expense of human beings is flawed at best and satanic at worst.

2. Humans are more important than plants and animals to God. When we have to choose between the two, we better choose humans. Our efforts should go to humans first.

Why has our culture drifted to these extreme views? As the world continues, we are becoming more and more Satanic. Satan wants God’s order turned upside down. Think about our culture for a moment. Do you see how God’s order has been slowly flipping upside down? 1) earth/animals are more important/valued than humans (the overpopulation groups, extreme animal rights groups, extreme global warming groups), 2) woman are given more authority than men (hyper-feminism), 3) children are seen as smarter or are more in control than parents, 4) instead of one way to God there are many, and 5) killing a human fetus/baby is ok and beneficial to society but killing an animal fetus is outlawed. The list could go on and on.

How do we recognize these Satanic attacks on our culture?

The best way to know what is wrong is to know what is right!

As Christians, we need to know what God says about Himself, us, and the world around us. We can only know the proper order of things if we READ THE BIBLE! Preachers aren’t preaching on these topics anymore. The only way to know the truth is the study the Bible for ourselves and encourage our preachers to teach all of the truth. These movements have infiltrated our churches and our lives – don’t be fooled!