Book Review:
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT ANIMALS
Book:
"There is Eternal Life for Animals" - author Niki Shanahan
For more info and to order: http://www.eternalanimals.com/
Over the past few years, especially due to the growing cries of environmentalists around the globe, I have been doing some of my own biblical research on what the Bible really has to say about animals/pets and their role in His creation and overall purposes and plan, as well as with the relationship He has with them, and what our relationship with animals is to be like.
I have found my investigation to be a major eye-opener and mind-blowing, while at the same time stupefied that in our usual traditional backgrounds we have had such an insignificant view of animals. It amazes me how we have basically ignored this subject, to our detriment, and to the detriment of animals, a beloved part of God's creation and a major part of His plan and desire to have His Kingdom fully come and to be fully restored!
For example, it is amazing to learn that the Gospel is to be preached to every CREATURE…..hmmm…now what does THAT mean? Get a copy of the book and it will give you some helpful input on that - and then you can decide what to do with it..
The author has taken the root words from Hebrew and Greek to bring to light some popular misinterpretations of some passages, as well, but has also categorized her book into various topics to consider the issues. I really appreciate the author's extensive use of Scripture.
It seems that we have given animals far too low of a place in God's scheme of things, while many environmentalists and others have given them too high of a place and it has become idolatry. My understanding is that the truth lies somewhere in between, and I think that if we want to not only reach out to environmentalists or even develop a clearer understanding of how great the Kingdom of God is and how great His salvation is what His blood all paid for, it is important that we find out what the Scripture teaches.
Not to mention how much it will encourage those of us who love our pets and have often wondered about many things about animals and what the Bible really says about them in the final scheme of things..
Although I don't necessarily agree with all of this author's interpretations or conclusions on her findings, or agree with all of the author's personal approaches to her pets, I have indeed found it very helpful in the way she has organized a lot of Scripture about this topic and has made it very helpful in giving understanding in the areas where most of us probably have questions about this. I also appreciate that she is one of the voices that is beginning to wake the Church up to this largely forgotten aspect of Jesus's massive restoration project as a part of His Kingdom purposes!
Perhaps it is also time for us as Christian artists to
also raise the awareness in the Church and in the world of the truth about
animals in God's ultimate scheme of things and His original intentions for
them - to bring that area into alignment with God's truth just as we need
to bring other areas of life into alignment with His truth.
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Canadian House Church Resource Network