In a letter to the editor of a newspaper of the United Methodist
Church, a pastor criticized the bureaucracy of the church and stressed
the number of children who die while church bureaucrats fuss about
paperwork, etc. He made many good observations that I would agree with
and also mentioned the decline in church membership.
He went on to say that John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, “served
the least, the last and the lost,” and made a comment about reversing
priorities so that more is spent on “global neighbors” than “on lawn
care and pets.” As usual with most church leaders, he chooses to ignore
the fact that John Wesley was vegetarian and cared about other animals.
What I find disappointing in church leaders is the either/or
mentality (people or animals) that trivializes or ignores the plight of
other animals. They refuse to acknowledge the fact that all the grains
and soybeans raised to feed farmed animals could feed all those “global
neighbors” instead, and would also eliminate the cause of most of the
global warming and viral pandemics that are so much in the news. Add to
this the Lord’s blessing that would result from the elimination of the
horrific factory farm conditions. Surely, Jesus would never condone the
out-of-control cruelty suffered by billions of other animals.
It’s time for church leaders to soften their hearts and to stop
hiding from the truth. Those church fundraisers featuring animal body
parts and secretions are an abomination. I don’t know how anyone who
claims to be indwelt with the Holy Spirit can invoke God’s blessing over
the tortured remains of any of His creatures. No wonder so many people
who really care about other animals leave those churches.
If church leaders and their congregations truly believed in the words
of The Lord’s Prayer (that they are so fond of reciting) – “Thy kingdom
come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) –
they would enthusiastically promote the positive changes that would
bring earth a little closer to God’s original intent – a vegan world.
Instead, they work against His will in a most egregious way.
So many pray for God’s blessings, but aren’t willing to take that
easy step closer to His will. It isn’t “either/or.” Going vegan benefits
humans, other animals, and the environment.
