I once wrote a poem about my dog’s collar – Beauty’s sun-worn red collar that had a heart tag attached to it that jingled when she shook her head. In the poem, I tried to convey what that collar had enclosed in the form of my childhood dog and what it meant now that she was gone, as symbolized in the empty collar sitting on a shelf. But the writing form could not fully capture the joy of our friendship and the grief of loss. The floppy ears and joyful face of my furry friend. The years spent playing and growing together. Words were insufficient to describe how an animal had impacted my life.
Yet there does not seem to be a lack of words from those who believe that caring for animals is an unspiritual endeavor. Some Christians insist that animals, including pets, will not be present in Heaven or on the New Earth. There is no reason to make caring for animals a priority because it is not a spiritual task, like reading the Bible or evangelizing.
I want to personally show these believers pictures of my childhood dog and share stories of how Beauty had been a friend to me during painful and lonely times. Countless others could likely share similar experiences with pets and even wild animals they had seen or noticed. Like the cheerful sound of birdsong in the morning, the awe of spotting a doe while walking in a wooded area, or the wild majesty of an elephant or lion at a zoo.
Yes, only humans were made in the image of God. The children of Adam and Eve are the ones whom Jesus died for to save. However, if we believe that the gospel message is far-reaching and that one day our Lord will bring renewal to all creation, then should we not strive to be good stewards of animals? Compartmentalizing our lives and assigning certain activities, like how we interact with the natural world, as unrelated to the Christian life, misses the holistic nature of our faith.
Scripture gives us numerous reasons why we should care about the proper stewardship of animals.
God Created Animals and Placed Us as Stewards Over Them
For those struggling to believe that their faith impacts how they view the natural world, a return to the book of Genesis is beneficial. The creation account cuts through the idea that the material world is somehow bad and the spiritual realm is all that matters. God is the One who brought the universe and earth into existence. He crafted the creatures of the air, sea, and land to fill the world – something He declared very good (Genesis 1:31).
And when He created humans in His image, He gave us the special task of reigning over all the creatures of the earth (Genesis 1:26-28). The words “dominion” and “subdue” often evoke thoughts of forcibly using or controlling another for one’s personal plans. However, the Lord had stated that He had made Adam and Eve in His image, meaning they had the capacity to act justly and reign in righteousness, just as the Lord rules over all things. The first people were made to care for the earth and the animals, managing them as wise stewards.
Before the fall, humans had a joyful bond with the various kinds of animals and lived in harmony with them. Only when sin entered the world was man’s relationship with the natural world tarnished. An animal had to be slaughtered to cover their nakedness, showing that sin brought death and the need for blood to be shed – a foreshadowing of the need for Jesus’ sacrificial death as the Lamb of God (Genesis 3:21). ‘
In the future, the peace between humans and animals will be restored after the Lord’s return. Babies and children will be able to walk and play with domestic and wild animals alike (see Isaiah 11:6-9). With such a day coming and the command to act as wise stewards still in place, we should understand why animals are our concern, including pets, livestock, and the wild animals of the earth.
Provisions in the Law Emphasized Proper Care of Animals
In the Law that God gave to Israel, He included many commands that related to how they treated animals. The person responsible for an ox or donkey falling into a pit and dying was held accountable since those animals were vital to farming and traveling (see Exodus 21:33-34). Similarly, a person who was entrusted with looking after the livestock of their neighbor and failed to care for and protect the animals had to make restitution (Exodus 22:10-15). Careless stewardship had consequences.
Livestock also received the same command to rest as the Israelites and their servants. In His instructions for the Sabbath, the Lord told Israel that even the animals had to cease work on the Sabbath (Deuteronomy 5:14). Observing this command would bring honor to the Lord while also giving much-needed time to rest. This emphasis on rest, for humans and animals alike, shows that how we care for the people and animals entrusted to us matters to the Lord.
The Israelites needed these laws to help them understand that what they accomplished was not in their own strength, and what they possessed came from the Lord. He is the Owner of all things. As He said, “all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are mine” (Psalm 50:10-11, NLT). Because of this, He is concerned with their welfare (see also Jonah 4:11).
Our Faith and the Treatment of Animals
The author of the beloved classic Black Beauty, Anna Sewell, wrote to promote the humane treatment of horses. She was a follower of Jesus, and part of her critique comes from the faith of the characters. In one instance in the story, John tells James, the stable boy, “There is no religion without love, and people may talk as much as they like about their religion, but if it does not teach them to be good and kind to man and beast, it is all a sham - all a sham, James, and it won't stand when things come to be turned inside out and put down for what they are” (Sewell, Black Beauty, Dalmatian Press, 2011, p. 54).
Our relationship with Jesus directly affects how we act. A person who is walking closely with the Savior, seeking to obey and honor Him in everything they do, will demonstrate their faith through deeds. This includes how they view and steward animals.
Proverbs tell us that “The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel” (Proverbs 12:10, NIV). A Christian should be concerned with animal welfare, which will be reflected in their views and choices. Such decisions will not only relate to their immediate pets. For example, dogs and horses used in racing are often mistreated. By viewing and participating in these races, a person is giving their consent to the proceedings and contributing to the harsh use of animals. Those who seek to follow the Bible will not want to support such harm.
Or consider the individual who hunts only as sport to collect trophies. It is one thing to hunt for food, but it is another to kill animals purely for fun. A believer with a steward mindset will carefully consider the purpose and impact of their actions before hunting.
Although Christians may commonly hear people speak about having dominion over the earth in terms of using resources and animals as goods, we are meant to care for the needs of animals with ethical methods. Issues like the use of animals in sports or the preservation of endangered species might seem unrelated to our faith. However, our walk with Christ should impact this area of life, just as it should affect every part.
God Notices Even the Little Sparrow
Encouraging the disciples not to be afraid as they went out to preach the good news of the Kingdom, Jesus spoke about the Father’s care of sparrows. These birds were regularly sold in pairs for the small price of a penny – of not much value from a human standpoint. Yet, the Father sees when one little bird falls to the ground, and they are still within His care (Matthew 10:29). If the Father cares for the sparrows, how much more valuable were the lives of the disciples (Matthew 10:31).
The point of Jesus’ message was to comfort the disciples and remind them that their lives had value. However, we also see from the Lord’s words that God cares about even the smallest of animals, including those that humans easily overlook.
Oftentimes, birds and other animals are a part of our daily existence. We see sparrows or robins hopping around our homes or in city parking lots. Squirrels jump from the limbs of trees. Depending on where we live, there are other forms of wildlife that inhabit our landscapes. We can overlook their existence, but God does not. He cares for them and is concerned with how we interact and steward them.
So, we must ask ourselves: If God made all the creatures of the earth, notices how we treat them, and is concerned even about the smallest animals, then why do we think that being involved in animal stewardship is unimportant and unrelated to the Christian life?
Perhaps we need to reconsider the teachings of Scripture and recognize our responsibility to care for creation – from our furry friends to the tiny sparrow.
Photo Credit: Unsplash/Robert Bottman
