Dogs

“Dogs”
Tim Haile

The Michael Vick dog-fighting case has prompted considerable discussion and debate about the value of animal life in comparison to human life. The influence of secular humanism and evolution causes many to value animal life as highly as they do human life. They see humans as being nothing more than the top animal in the food chain. There are also animal rights organizations, such as the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), that promote the concept of total equality between man and beast. Such people usually deny the existence of an immortal human soul, thus rejecting any difference between man and animal upon this ground. Conversely, some acknowledge the existence of an immortal soul, but they argue that animals possess souls as do humans!

In our culture we generally see two extreme positions on the question of the value and treatment of animals: We sometimes see people treat their dog or cat better than their spouse or children. This is shameful, sinful and wrong (see Titus 2:4 & Ephesians 5:23-6:4). Then, as in the Michael Vick case, we also see the abuse and mistreatment of animals. The Bible also condemns this behavior. Proverbs 12:10 says, “Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.” Obviously, a certain balance needs to be respected: Dogs and other animals are not equal to humans with respect to their nature, but neither do they need to be cruelly treated by humans.

The Vick incident does raise an important question with respect to legislative and moral consistency. Why is it illegal and wrong for a person to arrange for, and watch two dogs fight each other, but legal for an abortion doctor to insert a knife into a woman’s uterus and cut an unborn child into pieces? Why is dogfighting a federal crime, when injecting a deadly saline solution into the amniotic sac of an unborn child is federally protected? By what standard is it wrong to fight dogs and right to use a powerful suction / cutting device to dismember an unborn baby and suck it into a canister? Animal cruelty is wrong, but what about HUMAN CRUELTY?

People are using the Michael Vick case to raise awareness of animal rights. I would like to see some awareness raised to the plight and rights of unborn humans, who each year are being slaughtered by the hundreds of thousands. This country has a far greater problem than just dogfighting. Its moral standard is upside down. It is time to return to the Bible for our standard of right and wrong.

Please join us for worship and Bible study at our building located at 125 Hilltopper Ave, Bowling Green, KY 42101. We meet each Sunday at 10:00AM and 6:00PM for worship, and Sundays at 9:00AM and Wednesdays at 7:00PM for Bible study. Our radio program is aired each Sunday morning at 8:00AM on the WKCT 930AM band. Phone: (270) 842-2049 – Email: parkwaychurch@yahoo.com or timhaile@mac.com.