Calling All Christians, Part One

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment…(Rom 12:1-3)

In following Roslyne’s insightful series of posts on “What Is The Spirit Saying? Parts 1-3“, let us look some more at what The Spirit is saying to Christians.  We’ll begin with the following news article:

Please read this news article at Care2

“What Is The Spirit Saying” about what you read?

“Present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God…”  How do we do this when we are immersed in systemic evil in such a way it is at times unavoidable to stand apart from it?  It’s the “ism’s” in life that are the point of disease and evil intent brought to us by Satan in our realms unseen spiritual war – our fight is against evil spiritual forces not flesh and blood (Eph 6:10-18).  In this case, Satan’s hold on us as consumers (consumerism).  It is our job to resist Satan’s ploys (James 4:7) and fight them with love (Col 3:14).  Find ways to opt out of being a consumer except in areas of need.  Know how our “stuff” is made and where the material comes from.  Know where your food comes from!  Choose food that does not cause pain and suffering. (Resources)

“But to think so as to have sound judgment…..”  Discern good from evil, avoid partaking in that which is not just.   What does this mean in relationship to the article you just read?  How can each of us “take charge” and avoid systemic evil whenever possible?
How can we stay informed as to news like this when the world’s mainstream news usually does not include it?  Can we begin insisting it does?

“So that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect…”  Surely what is happening on this factory farm is not the perfect and acceptable will of God (Jer 9:10; Rev 11:18)!  How can YOU fight this?  What kinds of choices can YOU make to avoid partaking in this evil and align your consumer values with the values of the Kingdom of God’s?  (See Cross Like Love here)

“But be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”  That we may learn to think differently, not according to the patterns of this world, it’s ways, wants, or gluttonous desires – but according to the ways of Christ.  Christ is the exact representation of the Father (Heb 1:3); the Father is love, and love is patient, kind, does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth; it always protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres (1 Cor 13:4-7).  We re-think consumerism and our part in it in order to be set apart from the systemic evil inherent in it.

“Not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think…”  We are not above the animals in such a way as for this treatment to be acceptable!  We are to speak out and live in a way that is against it as those whose job from the beginning of creation was to “guard the creation” against evil! (Gen 1:28)  “Rule and subdue”:  Subdue or Kabash = to bring into bondage, make subservient, force, tread down.  Rule or Radah = dominate, subjugate.  At the time that we were given this mandate by God, the world was not fallen or under Satan’s rule yet.  So what could this possibly mean for a “good and peaceful creation”?  

There is a theological perspective (a Warfare Worldview perspective and Restoration theory) that argues the world is older (as science denotes) than the original translations of Biblical text understood.  God restored the earth just prior to our (animals and mankind’s) creation; mankind was created and given the job in the garden of Eden of “guarding and protecting” the creation from the evil that had previously ravaged this world.  If these theories are correct, in re-reading Genesis, we get a new perspective, which adds continuity to much of the rest of scripture and also unfolds for us a new understanding of some difficult scripture.  It especially sheds light on what was and is suppose to be our role as overseers of the earth and animal kingdom.  We were created in our Good God’s Image as co-workers with Him (1 Cor 3:9) over evil, to “rule and subdue” evil.

For those that would like more information on these theories, see this article on “The Gap Theory“; also Greg Boyd’s books, God at War, and Satan and the Problem of Evil.

Calling all Christians:

Please insist that leadership in YOUR church become aware of issues such as the one in the article, and begin addressing them.  This is GOD’S good creation, we were not given authority over creation to be tyrants.

Let’s not get hung up on denominational or theological differences.  Animal abuse and exploitation is ALL of our concern and we are all responsible for it; it knows no boundary; evil cares not about our little skirmishes on theological matters, in fact, evil capitalizes on them.

More Christians would choose to be set apart from this kind of evil if they knew about it, if there were a sound theological and Biblical understanding being taught from the pulpit as to what the “good and perfect will of God” is in regards to our treatment of the animal kingdom.  This is the kind of news that the entire church needs to be aware of.

This is URGENT.  It is systemic evil of which Christs followers are to stand up against and not partake in, we are to be holy (set apart) from the world, not of it (message from Grace Bible College).

We need leaders who will step up and address these issues with their congregations. It is our responsibility as those who love and follow Christ to reject this kind of treatment of the animal kingdom.  The fact that we reject it and how we do that is part of the discussion that needs to start.

What do you think? 

How can we begin encouraging our leaders to theologically address these issues?  Please share that with us!!  We would like to hear from you and start a list to take to our leaders.  If we all get involved and insist our churches address the issues, more will get done and faster.  We can speed the day of the final redemption for all creation:  “…as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming…”  (2 Pet 3:12)!

Thanks for reading!  We want to hear your thoughts!  ~ Kathy
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”  (Luke 6:36)