![\"God](\"http:\/\/www.all-creatures.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/lambleft.jpg\")
<\/a>A Sermon Delivered to
\nThe Compassion Internet Church<\/p>\n
21 June 2015<\/p>\n
Frank L. Hoffman, Pastor<\/p>\n
Scripture References:<\/p>\n
Genesis 1:24
\nGenesis 2:7
\nPsalm 9:9-20
\nMicah 6:6-8
\nMatthew 6:9-13
\nRevelation 21:4<\/p>\n
God requires justice not killing of any living being, human or other animal.<\/p>\n
God wants us to have lovingkindness toward the whole of His creation, and to stop our warring madness and end the horrible suffering inflicted upon animals.<\/p>\n
God requires justice, and not the distortion of Biblical passages that try to justify the killing and eating of animals.<\/p>\n
This is part of the issue that Michael Berenzweig commented about on our Facebook page about our sermon two weeks ago. He said\u2026<\/p>\n
You cited Micah 6:8. The previous two verses show us the vegetarian imperative that God requires harkening back, yes, to Genesis 1:29!<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s look at Micah 6:6-8 and see how God requires justice\u2026<\/p>\n
6. With what shall I come to the LORD
\nAnd bow myself before the God on high?
\nShall I come to Him with burnt offerings,
\nWith yearling calves?<\/p>\n
When put in context with this passage it becomes obvious that the answer to this question is a resounding, \u201cNO!\u201d<\/p>\n
God requires justice and not the sacrifice of animals.<\/p>\n
The only one who likes the shedding of blood is the devil.<\/p>\n
7. Does the LORD take delight in thousands of rams,
\nIn ten thousand rivers of oil?
\nShall I present my first-born for my rebellious acts,
\nThe fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?<\/p>\n
Michael further commented: \u201cIt takes 78 calories of oil to produce 1 calorie of beef. [This is] profligacy, greediness, beyond scope.\u201d<\/p>\n
And, as above, the answer to these two questions is also a resounding, \u201cNO!\u201d<\/p>\n
God requires justice not killing, as we are told next.<\/p>\n
8. He has told you, O man, what is good;
\nAnd what does the LORD require of you
\nBut to do justice, to love kindness,
\nAnd to walk humbly with your God?
\nNASB<\/p>\n
And Michael added, \u201cYes the healing of the body, the soul, can come from a whole foods, plant based diet. Organic phytophagy, merciful, ecological, just, was set up in the garden. Jesus only asks us to return!<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s now take a look at how even Bible translators distort the Biblical truths to try to hide the fact that God created both humans and animals as living souls (Hebrew: neh-fesh khah-yaw).<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s first take a look at Genesis 2:7\u2026<\/p>\n
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.
\nKJV<\/p>\n
In this verse we see the Hebrew term, neh-fesh khah-yaw, translated as living soul, which is what we humans are.<\/p>\n
But now, let\u2019s take a look at Genesis 1:24.<\/p>\n
24. And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
\nKJV<\/p>\n
However, in this verse we believe that the Bible translators were politically motivated to distort the truth to hide it from most people in an attempt to make animals seem like lesser beings, when in actuality, the Hebrew term neh-fesh khah-yaw is used for these animals the same way it was used for God\u2019s creation of human beings, but the translators used instead the term \u201cliving creature\u201d, and not \u201cliving soul\u201d.<\/p>\n
This is unjust.<\/p>\n
This is a lie.<\/p>\n
This subverts the truth to justify the killing and eating of animals.<\/p>\n
God created both humans and other animals as living souls, or living beings.<\/p>\n
God requires justice, and what happened here in this translation distortion is unjust to both humans and other animals.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s go on and take a look at Psalm 9:9-20 and see other situations where God requires justice not killing.<\/p>\n
9. The LORD also will be a stronghold for the oppressed,
\nA stronghold in times of trouble,<\/p>\n
Aren\u2019t human exploited animals the most oppressed group of beings on this planet?<\/p>\n
Of course they are, for more than 100 billion of these animals suffer and die at the hands of uncaring and ungodly human beings every year.<\/p>\n
And since these animals are in trouble, and God is their stronghold, then it only stands to reason that God requires justice for them just as much as he does for us.<\/p>\n
10. And those who know Thy name will put their trust in Thee;
\nFor Thou, O LORD, hast not forsaken those who seek Thee.<\/p>\n
The day of reckoning is coming\u2026God requires justice not killing.<\/p>\n
11. Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion;
\nDeclare among the peoples His deeds.<\/p>\n
12. For He who requires blood remembers them;
\nHe does not forget the cry of the afflicted.<\/p>\n
We don\u2019t believe that God requires the shedding of blood, but rather the soul that resides in the blood.<\/p>\n
13. Be gracious to me, O LORD;
\nBehold my affliction from those who hate me,
\nThou who dost lift me up from the gates of death;<\/p>\n
We sense all afflicted animals crying out alongside all afflicted human beings.<\/p>\n
We also believe that if human beings truly repented and became children of God, and ended their former corruption of creation, that the animals would also tell and sing the praises of God.<\/p>\n
14. That I may tell of all Thy praises,
\nThat in the gates of the daughter of Zion
\nI may rejoice in Thy salvation.<\/p>\n
15. The nations have sunk down in the pit which they have made;
\nIn the net which they hid, their own foot has been caught.<\/p>\n
16. The LORD has made Himself known;
\nHe has executed judgment.
\nIn the work of his own hands the wicked is snared.
\nHiggaion Selah.<\/p>\n
This is what will happen on the day of reckoning, when the wicked people of this world who cause so much pain, suffering, bloodshed, and death will be snared in the corruption of their own hands, and perish forever from the presence of God.<\/p>\n
17. The wicked will return to Sheol,
\nEven all the nations who forget God.<\/p>\n
But what about the afflicted animals and humans of this world<\/p>\n
18. For the needy will not always be forgotten,
\nNor the hope of the afflicted perish forever.<\/p>\n
God is telling us that every single animal and human being who has suffered in any way, has not been forgotten, for their souls and spirits will rise into heaven; they have not been forgotten.<\/p>\n
God requires justice not killing.<\/p>\n
19. Arise, O LORD, do not let man prevail;
\nLet the nations be judged before Thee.<\/p>\n
20. Put them in fear, O LORD;
\nLet the nations know that they are but men.
\nNASB<\/p>\n
And again the psalmist reminds us that God will bring all the proud and arrogant people who continue to contribute to the corruption of creation with all its pain, suffering, and death to answer for their crimes and they will be judged.<\/p>\n
God requires justice not killing.<\/p>\n
And since this is also Father\u2019s Day, let\u2019s consider how to love and honor our heavenly Father.<\/p>\n
In Revelation 21:4, we are told about the conditions that will exist in the new heaven and earth.<\/p>\n
4. \u201cand He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
\nNASB<\/p>\n
Every day we hear from people who are crying over the horrible things that are happening to animals, and many of them doubt if God really cares about humans, for they are suffering along with the animals.<\/p>\n
However, this verse tells us that God really does care about the animals\u2019 suffering and the people who weep about their suffering and death, for He will end the suffering and death which in turn will wipe away the tears.<\/p>\n
This verse also tells us that God will reestablish the peaceful perfection of Eden in His heavenly will; it will be a time of no more crying, or mourning, or pain, or death.<\/p>\n
This also tells us that God requires justice not killing.<\/p>\n
This is something for which we should honor and praise God.<\/p>\n
But how should we do this?<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s let Jesus tell us in His own words, as we are told in Matthew 6:9-13.<\/p>\n
9. “Pray, then, in this way:
\n‘Our Father who art in heaven,
\nHallowed be Thy name.<\/p>\n
This is how we honor and praise God, but there is more to honoring and praising our heavenly Father than just spouting a few words; we have to do it in spirit and truth, or to say it another way, we must live it.<\/p>\n
Think carefully about how we are to do this, as we are told next.<\/p>\n
10. ‘Thy kingdom come.
\nThy will be done,
\nOn earth as it is in heaven.<\/p>\n
This is how we are to live a life that honors and praises God.<\/p>\n
We are not only to pray for God\u2019s heavenly kingdom and will to come to earth as it is in heaven, we are to help make it happen by turning away from all the corrupted worldly ways that are all around us.<\/p>\n
We are to do everything in our power to end all human causes of pain, suffering, bloodshed, and death that we possibly can, and this begins with what we put on our plates, and this includes what we are going to eat this very day.<\/p>\n
11. ‘Give us this day our daily bread.<\/p>\n
Bread is a plant food; it is not the byproduct of some tortured animal; this is a return to God\u2019s Eden diet of only plant foods.<\/p>\n
Eating this way honors and praises our heavenly Father, not just this day, but every day we live this way.<\/p>\n
God requires justice not killing.<\/p>\n
12. ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.<\/p>\n
And we are to pray for our heavenly Father to forgive us for all the horrible and ungodly things we did, but in order for God to do this, we must also forgive all others who have repented of their ungodly acts, and we also need to have the capacity to forgive those who have not yet repented.<\/p>\n
13. ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.<\/p>\n
Living in the heavenly will of God is the best way to keep us from temptation and deliver us from evil.<\/p>\n
This is living in the full knowledge that God requires justice not killing, and leads us into praising God.<\/p>\n
Have a happy Father\u2019s Day, Dad.<\/p>\n
[For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.]’
\nNASB<\/p>\n
Amen.<\/p>\n
See our Sermons Archive: http:\/\/all-creatures.org\/sermons.html<\/a><\/p>\n
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