David Lipscomb on Animals

John Mark Hicks recently shared a quote from David Lipscomb that was so delightful for me that I simply had to repost it here. These are Lipscomb's thoughts, published in the Gospel Advocate, on the occasion of the founding of the Nashville Humane Society in 1887:

Some of the best citizens of Nashville are engaged in a good work in the organization of the Humane Society for the prevention of cruelty to animals. The Lord has given the animal to us and we are his protectors. We have no right to cruelly use them. Many a man will be punished for his inhumanity to the dumb brute. The genuine Christian will treat the animal humanely. It is a sad commentary on our people that there exists the necessity for the organization of such a society. Many people in our own beloved land need to become civilized.

This should function as a potent reminder to us that a concern for the welfare of animals is not some ancillary political agenda that has been grafted onto Christianity in the these latter days. In fact, it is a longstanding concern among Christians for whom it ought to be a natural outgrowth of our core theology of creation. While Hicks' tongue-in-cheek suggestion that yes, dogs do go to heaven is more rhetorical flourish than substance, the reminder that "Animals are not throw-aways" is a profound Christian truth which warrants regular repetition.

Welcome to the World, Beagles

Here is a bit of heart-wrenching, heart warming news about a group of Beagles rescued from a Spanish laboratory.

Unfortunately, beagles’ notoriously obedient dispositions makes them ideal for experimentation. According to the Beagle Freedom Project’s website, they are the breed of choice for lab testing of pharmaceutical, household, and cosmetic products due to their ability to adapt to life in a cage and the fact that they are relatively inexpensive to feed.

When the beagles are no longer needed for research, some labs contact organizations such as ARME, who then work to find good homes for the dogs.

This heartbreaking (that soundtrack!) video was filmed back in June, when the organization gave nine lab beagles a second chance at life. We dare you not to be moved by that first beagle’s initial tentative steps and soulful eyes.

A Nice Thought Inspired by National City

The National City Christian Church, the headquarters of the Disciples of Christ, just observed its fifth annual blessing of the dogs. The idea is a refreshing one and not simply because it is a clever tool for both evangelism and community involvement (though it certainly is). It is nice to see a church--particularly a church so near to the Churches of Christ--making an effort to recognize the broad scope of God's blessings for His diverse and magnificent creation. Granted, the description in the linked article makes the affair seem more like a themed publicity stunt than a theologically motivated stand, but I nevertheless enjoy the thought that we are somewhere implicitly acknowledging that God's blessings are not merely for mankind. It is important to remember that redemption is ultimately cosmological rather than anthropological just as the Fall had ramifications beyond simply human nature. Even as we admit that humanity has a certain pride of place as the focal point of that redemptive plan and a mediator of God's grace to creation, we cannot help but see that God's love is not limited by or for humanity.

If you have one, you might make time to thank God for your dog and ask His abundant blessings on man's best friend, for a change, and not merely on man.