Chimps Are Not People
Posted: Tuesday, February 24, 2009
by John Waddey
firstcenturychristian
Sandra Herold dressed her pet chimp Travis like a man, taught him to use the toilet and to eat at the table with her. He rode with her in her car, even slept in her bed. But all of those were mere externals. Inside, Travis was still an animal with the instincts of the wild in his mind. A visit from poor Charla Nash provided the occasion to prove that Travis was an animal and not a person. Something inside Travis clicked and in an instant the law of the jungle asserted itself. He attacked Ms. Nash, determined to kill her. He nearly succeeded before the police shot and killed Travis. Because Ms. Herold behaved foolishly, Ms. Nash has been maimed and disfigured.
No matter how much we love animals, we should never forget that the Creator placed man on a plane above all animals. He said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish..the birds and the cattle and every creeping thing...on the earth" (Gen. 1:26).
While He authorized us to rule over the animals, even to use them for our food and clothing, etc., He reserved to himself the right to destroy human life. To Noah God said, "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man" (Gen. 9:6). Thus God ordained the death penalty for the murderer. I find it remarkable that many wish to treat animals as humans and guarantee them legal rights previously reserved for humans. At the same time, they see nothing wrong with slaughtering a million plus pre-born human babies every year! There are stiff fines for destroying the eggs of a protected bird, yet total freedom to abort a human baby.
Animals can provide companionship. Some birds can learn to talk. Animals can love us and bring us happiness. But animals can also be used to serve us. Thus we use horses, mules and oxen. Some animals can do specialized jobs such as guide dogs, drug-sniffing dogs, guard dogs, police dogs. They can be used for sport such as racing and entertainment as in circuses. But animals can also be used for food and for their skins.
While we can love animals and admire their beauty and strength, their skills and agility we must never place their worth and value over that of a fellow human, made in God's image. While we should never abuse or be cruel to an animal, we should not object to using them for food and or clothing. While no one is obliged to eat the meat of animals (Rom.14:2-3) we must not condemn or reject those who do eat their flesh (I Tim. 4:3-5).
In this day of warped and confused moral values, we who follow Christ and know His Word have a duty to be moral beacons to those around it. That's why the Master calls us "the light of the world" (Matt. 5:14).
Hi John,Thanks for reminding us of a very important distinction - that in the Biblical view man is unique while animals are not. During this Darwin year, information like this is very necessary.God bless you,Joel.
Thanks Joel. Those who have been taught that man is only a highly evolved animal have a hard time accepting your thought.
