by jimwalton » Fri Mar 01, 2019 7:06 pm
Yes, it is sinful.
Proverbs 12.10: "The righteous care for the needs of their animals,
but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel."
As believers we cannot brush off animal cruelty with nonchalance, let alone with pleasure. The Bible teaches that animals have worth and dignity: Ex. 21-22.14; Dt. 25; Ps. 50.10; even Luke 14.5; as well as Prov. 12.10, that I just quoted. Even the sparrows are under God's compassionate care (Lk. 12.6).
Animal compassion is part of our privileged role as custodians of the world and of the creatures that God made and in which He takes pleasure. C.S. Lewis felt that animal suffering was senseless, and argued that it was precisely because humans are higher than animals in creation's hierarchy that we should oppose animal cruelty. Our very superiority to animals ought to motivate us to prove that we are not ourselves just animals, and we don't enjoy their suffering.
Yes, it is sinful.
Proverbs 12.10: "The righteous care for the needs of their animals,
but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel."
As believers we cannot brush off animal cruelty with nonchalance, let alone with pleasure. The Bible teaches that animals have worth and dignity: Ex. 21-22.14; Dt. 25; Ps. 50.10; even Luke 14.5; as well as Prov. 12.10, that I just quoted. Even the sparrows are under God's compassionate care (Lk. 12.6).
Animal compassion is part of our privileged role as custodians of the world and of the creatures that God made and in which He takes pleasure. C.S. Lewis felt that animal suffering was senseless, and argued that it was precisely because humans are higher than animals in creation's hierarchy that we should oppose animal cruelty. Our very superiority to animals ought to motivate us to prove that we are not ourselves just animals, and we don't enjoy their suffering.