Jesus Christ The first Animal Rights Activist Anybody who studies the Bible knows that Jesus

s Christ was a champion for the underdog. He hung out with the lowly which in biblical times included tax collectors, sinners, and ladies. Nevertheless, historians and most Christians usually overlook the fact that Jesus was also was a champion for animals. By examining scripture we can see that although the ministry of Christ was targeted at humanity, he interacted compassionately with animals though out his lifetime and he might have been somewhat of a vegetarian. Beginning in Genesis, human beings are commanded by God to be stewards of the animals. Many people look at Chapter 1 in the book of Genesis and think this indicates we are entitled to own and use animals, but within the accurate meaning of the word, stewardship demands us to be guardians for animals. Prior towards the birth of Christ, animal use and abuse was rampant and horrific. Numerous chapters of the Old Testament depict the big number of animals sacrificed (killed) as sin offerings. Beginning using the birth of Christ we see a brand new relationship using the animal kingdom. He was born in a stable of lowly birth. There are many places like a tavern, a field or a roadside that would have portrayed a lowly birth. Instead Jesus enters the globe in physical form amongst the animal kingdom. Throughout the New Testament, the only animal Jesus appears to eat is fish. We know he attended celebrations and Passover gatherings and most likely there had been conventional foods like lamb, but nothing is recorded of the food he ate at these events. Even when Jesus ate fish or bread, he showed his respect for all life by thanking God and treating food as sacred. According to the Gospel of Mark chapter one, John the Baptist who prepared the way for the birth of Christ and later baptized Jesus, ate only honey and wild locust (insects). This hints at the idea that in many people should refrain from eating meat or that maintaining a vegetarian lifestyle or semi-vegetarian way of life is good for us. In the gospel of Mark, chapter eleven Jesus becomes enraged when he sees caged animals for sale at the temple. He overturned the tables of the cash changers and also the seats of those who were selling doves.My house shall be known as a home of prayers but you have made it a den of thieves. Jesus is furious because the temple is being used as a market location. I understand the focus of this chapter is about keeping the temple as a holy location of prayer, but I frequently wonder if his rage came from seeing the misuse of the animals as well. His use of the word thief is something to ponder. From a humanist perspective, these were business individuals selling commodities in an inappropriate place, but they had been not thieves. However, from an animal rights perspective the traders in the temple had been thieves. The people engaged in the buying and selling of animals in the temple were stealing the life of the animals by selling them to be used as sacrifice for sin offerings. The gospel of Luke is

very substantial when examining Christs therapy of humans and animals. In chapter four Jesus casts demons out of a man and also the man is cured. Nevertheless, later in chapter eight Jesus casts legions of demons out of a man. The demons beg to enter the nearby heard of pigs (swine). We know Jesus could have just removed the demons as he had done previously. Rather Jesus agrees and the pigs turn out to be processed. They immediately run down a cliff and drowned themselves in the sea below. Initially, this appears to be a cruel act as far as animal rights goes. Why would Jesus permit innocent animals to experience demonic possession? However, on a bigger scale Jesus is using this encounter to illuminate crucial facts about the animal kingdomfact that were overlooked then and are still overlooked by most Christians today. Initial, if the pigs had no soul, they could not be possessed. So, the very first lesson is that animals have souls. Secondly, the nature of the pigs in this act portrays the deep gift and sacrifice the animal kingdom makes on behalf of humanity. Animals are accurate companions and burden bearers for humans. Then we understand that all through the New Testament Jesus frees humans from demonic possession, but this will be the only instant where an animal experiences demonic possession and also the animals immediate response is to commit suicide. This chapter depicts the extraordinary connection and wisdom that the pigs had using the divine. The whole herd of pigs realizes its better to be dead and with their creator then suffering demonic possession here on earth. Do the pigs understand that as they end their life their spirits will join with God? If so, then this example from the Gospel of Luke indicates the pigs are smarter and much more spiritually enlightened than the man who was formerly possessed. Anyone who studies the life of Christ realizes his ministry was to humanity and our initial priority as a Christian is to take care of every other-human to human. We also know that Jesus freed us from strict rules when it comes to diet plan. Nevertheless, it is clear that animals are sacred towards the Creator. The Holy Spirit is portrayed as a dove, and Jesus is known as the Lion of Judea. To follow in Christs footsteps indicates that we should form a right relationship with the animal kingdom. We should be guardians and adopt beliefs comparable to Native Americansall life is sacred. We live in a time where horrific atrocities are being inflicted on animals; factory farming, senseless animal experimentation, and rising abuse and neglect of domestic animals. But theres hope. If the life of Christ can radically alter the way we treat ourselves and each other, it can also alter the way we interact with the animal kingdom. manga writing