Challenging Church Compassion – 08: Chased Away “L”

Challenging Church Compassion – 08: Chased Away “L”

Lamb of God
Lamb of God

Almost every day we receive emails, letters, or see postings from compassionate people who care deeply about animals who were chased away from church by the church’s hardness of heart. One of these was “L” who wrote:

“I stopped going to Church a while ago after I became aware of the horrors of factory farming and the silence of my Church.”

“L” is saying in other words that church silence promotes violence, because like us, she knows that if the church spoke out against the horrible treatment and suffering of farmed animals, that it would stop.

As the Lord said through Isaiah in 45:19,

9. I have not spoken in secret,
from somewhere in a land of darkness;
I have not said to Jacob’s descendants,
‘Seek me in vain.’
I, the LORD, speak the truth;
I declare what is right.
NIV

The church is supposed to be delivering the truth of God to the people, but instead they remain silent about the suffering of animals, which is to deny the truth, which is an indication of their hardness of heart and lack of compassion.

Or, we could say that their silence is a way of speaking in secret, or lying to their congregations.

They don’t speak the truth as the Lord does, and as a result people like “L” are chased away.

Go on to: Challenging Church Compassion – 09: Hearing the Truth

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10 thoughts on “Challenging Church Compassion – 08: Chased Away “L”

  1. I have had a similar frustration as L. While I wouldn’t expect every sermon to be about animals, I haven’t heard ONE sermon include them in a loving way, it is extremely disappointing, and has certainly discouraged me from going to Church.

    1. Thank you for expressing your feelings. The more we talk about these things, the sooner our voices will be heard.

  2. So tragic that real Christians and Christ are judged by the professing “church” which will only grow more and more apostate as the end times approach. Stay true to the Loving, Merciful Creator, let the “churches” go their merry way as they ignore the voice of God. Such a shame they are and a reproach to Christ.

  3. I am an ordained minister in a large and very liberal Protestant denomination. I have raised this issue with my fellow clerics on many occasions, but there is little or no response. Strange, because whenever I have preached a sermon dealing with this subject, the response of the congregations have been quite positive with numerous requests for printed copies. I know of no denomination (save perhaps the Quakers) who share my concerns. This is one of the major reasons that, while remaining a Christian, I no longer support any church or attend worship.

    1. During our many years of church ministry, we also experienced the same problems. We have also looked for truly compassionate churches in our area, but also, we haven’t found any. They all flaunt their hardness of heart toward animals and the people who care about them. So sad.

  4. Thanks Frank and Mary for this publication. I lost my religion, but not my faith. I pray every day so God guides our leaders to a new compassionate era. God bless our world.
    “L”

    1. Dear L: Thank you very much for your comments, we hear these sad tales almost every day. We’d very much like to include your story in one our our blogs. Would you please tell us what happened in the church that cause you to leave. Please send it to us in a email to [email protected]

  5. Actually nothing happened, that’s why I decided to stop going to Church.
    It might be difficult to explain how this happened, but after I became a vegan, a spiritual awakening occurred within me. Slowly I began to recognize the connection we all have with all beings, no matter if it’s a bee or a cow. Slowly I realized that I did not need to go to Church to feel the presence of God within me and all other beings. Every time I would go to Church I was expecting that the priest or pastor would talk about this connection, about our role of protectors of God’s Creation, but sadly I never heard a word. Little by little I started to hear the sermons just as empty words, they were saying nothing to me, they had no meaning…and then I decided that this Church was not for me. I began to get up very early, go out and see the sky, the stars, hearing the sounds of the night, the birds chirping, the squirrels running around… and right there, I could hear and feel the real presence of God. Never, in all the years I went to Church (I used to go every Sunday!) I had this wonderful feeling of being connected with everything and everybody. After seeing the indifference of my Church about the issue regarding the treatment we have against animals and our environment, I knew God had something else planned for me. I stopped going to Church because I knew deep in my heart that it was a waste of time. I feel free since then. Now I pray for all Churches, religions and philosophies, so one day they will be able to feel this wonderful internal awakening that only an ethical vegan life can provide.
    God bless our world.
    P.S. Frank and Mary, thank you for your wonderful job.

    1. Thanks, L, for this wonderful explanation, even if it is wrapped around the problem of disfunctional churches. All churches should be the way you envision them. We always felt wonderful when an animal would come to church and they always seemed to stay for the whole service. One day I even picked up the neighbor’s cat who came to our service, and cradled her in my arms as I gave the youth sermon; after all, it was for her too.

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