(Note: Frank and I wrote the following open letter to Christian
Churches on 11 March 2002 and was addressed To all churches
claiming to be “Christian”)
The Bible is full of admonitions against cruelty. We are to be
stewards (true meaning of “dominion” in Genesis) of His creation. And,
furthermore, in John 14:12 Jesus makes it clear that “greater things
than these” will His Believers accomplish, after He has returned to
glory:
12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works
that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do,
because I go to My Father.
~from New King James Version
Are we accomplishing “greater things” now if we are fueling the
Holocaust of God’s innocent creatures? Surely, God will not long suffer
His creation to be raped and pillaged by the very ones who were told
they would be able to “do greater things” after He had gone to be with
the Father.
Woe to those who feast on the products of torture, thereby ensuring
the continued growth of the huge, powerful meat and dairy industries.
Our world is saturated with the blood of innocents, with blood that
cries out to God. The Hebrew Bible (“Old Testament”) says that the “soul
is in the blood.” We Christians have conveniently translated “soul” as
“life”:
Leviticus 17:11
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to
you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the
blood that makes atonement for the soul.
~from New King James Version
The atonement required a “soul” for a “soul.” It stands to reason
that because animals have souls they could be offered as atonement for
human souls. That’s why plants or rocks or anything else could not be
offered for atonement. And Christ Himself provided the final atonement
for our sins: the Sinless for the sinful. And all because of the fall of
humankind due to disobedience back in Eden! The concession to eat
animals (along with strict rules for such consumption found in the Book
of Deuteronomy) was granted by God because humans were so corrupt they
would have annihilated their own race by cannibalizing each other. After
the fall, the free will that God had given humankind raged out of
control, as the Prince of Darkness, Satan, became the ruler of the
world.
This is what John 3:19-21 says about darkness:
19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the
world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds
were evil.
20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come
to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may
be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."
~from New King James Version
Do we really love the light, instead of the darkness, if we continue
to give in to our lower natures by craving animal products? We say we
are washed by the Blood of Jesus and are new creatures in Christ. Then
why do we live in license and concession, rather than liberty and power
over our appetites? If we are saved and Heaven-bound, why don’t we start
getting used to godly living now? After all, animal products will not be
available in Heaven:
Revelation 21:4
4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes;
there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be
no more pain, for the former things have passed away.
~from New King James Version
The conclusion tomorrow –
For the complete letter, see:
http://all-creatures.org/letters/20020311.html
