Every time I think I have heard it all, I come across a story that highlights the devolution of human thought and common sense.
PETA is an acronym that stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. The president of PETA, Ingrid Newkirk has said, “A rat is a pig is a dog is a boy. They’re all mammals.” Her meaning is we are all animals, so animals should have the same rights as humans.
This is in keeping with the view held by Princeton philosopher Peter Singer who believes any human “who discriminates against animals by not giving them the same rights as people,” is a speciesist. I am guilty as charged, because I do discriminate between animals and humans
In his “The Briefing,” Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., recently addressed the issue of PETA’s request that Major League Baseball rename ‘bullpens’ the ‘arm barn.’ PETA claims ‘bullpen’ is a term that refers to holding pens where cattle are kept before being slaughtered and processed. PETA, on behalf of animal rights, decry the use of ‘bullpen,’ as being derogatory to cattle.
A friend of mine, Old MacDonald, told me just the other day, the barnyard has been relatively quiet about the controversy; there have been no protests from the livestock. The bulls have not bellowed their discontent and it seems the cows see it as a gender issue; after all, it is called a ‘bullpen’, not a ‘cowpen.’
The horses have not whinnied a yeah or neigh, he hasn’t heard a peep from the sheep, and the chickens have not cackled any complaints. He did say it seems the chickens did get their feathers ruffled when the cows were purported to have authored the Chick-fil-A slogan, “Eat Mor Chickin.”
Of course, that slogan and its lack of proper spelling makes the cows look illiterate. That will probably be the next issue on PETA’s agenda; they are so bullheaded, I mean hardheaded.
Sarcasm aside, the Scriptures teach the ethical treatment of animals. “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,” Deuteronomy 25:4. Here is a short interpretation, if you are going to work an animal, you should feed him. And the Sabbath day of rest was also for the working animals, Exodus 23:12; Deuteronomy 5:14.
These are just some examples there are more, but the point here is that the Bible advocates the ethical treatment of animals, but it also makes a distinction between animals, and humans who were created in the image of God. PETA does not recognize that distinction.
Animals could be eaten as outlined in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, and could be used as animal sacrifices, Leviticus 9:4, 18, in the Old Testament system of worship. Eating and sacrificing humans was strictly forbidden in the Scriptures and should be accepted as common sense, but common sense is not as common as it once was.
Personally, I am a member of the other PETA, People Eating Tasty Animals. I think I’ll have a steak.
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