Blessed Are the Peacemakers for Animals and Humans. Dr. Chapman Chen
- Chapman Chen
- Apr 21
- 3 min read
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God,” says Jesus (Matthew 5:9).
1. We Are Not Peacemakers to Animals
Toward animals, we are not agents of peace. We aren’t even fair opponents—since the term “warrior” implies some degree of justice, parity, or honour. Rather, we act as oppressors—despots, tyrants, dictators.
The way we treat animals is fundamentally violent. We strip them of their God-given right to live in accordance with their natural instincts and needs; instead, we compel them to exist—and perish—according to our selfish wants. We destroy their ecosystems and homes, we confine, abuse, and slaughter them, doing whatever serves to turn their lives into means for our gratification. We wage unprovoked brutality on innocent beings with barely a moment’s hesitation (cf. Phelps 2002, 154).
2. The Animals Live Under a Totalitarian Regime
As Isaac Bashevis Singer observed, the animals live under a totalitarian regime at our hands, one as cruel as Hitler’s Nazi Germany, Stalin’s Soviet Union, or X’s Oriental Red Dragon. A lifestyle grounded in cruelty toward animals is inherently violent, regardless of how gently we may behave in other areas. Such a way of life is unworthy of anyone who hopes to live as a child of God (cf. Phelps 2002, 154).
3. Jesus Does Not Listen To Those Who Wage War Against Tyranny?
Talking about totalitarianism, apart from liberating innocent creatures from abusive humans, how about liberating humans from rogue regimes? On March 26, 2026, Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion, Pope Leo XIV stated, “Jesus does not listen to prayers of those who wage war.” On April 16, 2026, the Pope, quoting Jesus, addressed the faithful in Cameroon: "Blessed are the peacemakers. But woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain.” These were widely interpreted as a sharp criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the war with the Iranian theocratic Islamic regime. According to International Centre for Human Rights (Jan. 20, 2026), that regime has murdered at least 43,000 peaceful protectors.
4. True Peacemaking
Fairly speaking, peacemaking that avoids confronting grave injustice may unintentionally allow suffering to continue; therefore, true peacemaking must sometimes include the willingness to restrain evil through proportionate force, grounded in love for the oppressed.
5. Just War vs Unjust Wars
In this vein, Pastor Franklin Graham, on April 3, 2026 (reported by The Christian Post), responded to the Pope, arguing that "just wars" exist and that God can sanction conflict, particularly when fighting evil.
6. Jesus Liberates the Bruised!
That’s precisely why Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11). “I came not to send peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34), Jesus proclaims. “Preach deliverance to the captives… set at liberty them that are bruised” (Luke 4:18–19), Jesus instructs.
In other words, Jesus is prepared to take self-costly, valiant action in order to protect innocent sentient creatures of God.
And direct action did Jesus indeed take. In liberating the animals from the Second Temple, and in calling the Temple-turned-butcher-shop “a den of murderers (parits)”, Jesus disrupted the lucrative income stream of the big bosses behind – the chief priests and scribes – who immediately afterwards plotted to have Him killed (Mark 11:15-18; cf. Akers 2000, pp. 113-114).
7. The Last Resort
In conclusion, in order to liberate animals and/or humans from structural evil, and to secure long-lasting peace for them, valiant action, paradoxically, is sometimes necessary and justified as a last resort. “Si vis pacem, para bellum (If you want peace, prepare for war).”
Comments