The Good Shepherd Lays Down His Life for the Sheep, Whilst the Kindest Acts of the Wicked Are Cruel. By Dr. Chapman Chen

Jesus the good shepherd promises to “lay down His life for the sheep” (John 10:11). He practises what He preaches. In emptying the Temple of innocent creatures about to be slaughtered for sacrifice, and in calling the Temple-turned-butcher-shop "a den of robbers/murderers" (Mark 11:16, Luke 20:46, Matt. 21:12-13), Jesus debunked the evil and fraudulent nature of animal sacrifice and disrupted the chief priests' and scribes' lucrative revenue stream. Immediately afterwards, they plotted to destroy Him (Mark 11:15-18), eventually leading to His arrest, trial, crucifixion, and resurrection at Easter (cf. Keith Akers 2000, 117-118). Promises made, promises kept. By contrast, “the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel” (Proverbs 12:10). Pharisaic priests endorse and practise the abuse, rape and murder of innocent creatures in the name of God and Jesus Christ.

For example, Martin Luther (1483-1586), the seminal figure of the Protestant Reformation, asserted that God is present in all earthly creatures, but insisted on his "Christian liberty" to eat animal flesh (LW 22:451). While conceding that God gave every animal a soul (LW 22.30, 22.37, 28.191), he argued that now "the animals are subjected to man as to a tyrant who has absolute power over life and death" (LW 2.132).

Similarly, Karl Barth (1886-1968), arguably the most influential and shameless Protestant theologian of the 20th century, tried to whitewash the “good hunter, honourable butcher and conscientious vivisectionist” by identifying them with a Old Testament Abel or Noah or a High Priest engaged in an “act of eschatological character”, which can only achieved “in recollection of the reconciliation of man by the Man [Jesus Christ] who intercedes for him and for all creation” (Barth 1961:355). In this act, the “High Priest” destroys the animal and surrenders them to God to atone for the humans’ sins. Only after that does the “High Priest” receives whatever remains of the animal for the satisfaction of the humans’ own needs and desires (Barth 1961:354).

Pastor Billy Graham (1918-2018) is yet another beauty. For sure, he conceded that God is concerned about the animals whom He made and called good (Gen. 1:21-25); and “a righteous man cares for the needs of his animal” (Proverbs 12:10) (Graham 2010). Yet he also believed that “animals were intended for man’s enjoyment and use” (Graham 2004). His favourite foods were canned Vienna sausage, pork, and ice-cream with lard icing (Rossman 2018).

In a word, put down our evil knives; follow the Vegan Christ; shun Pharisaic priests’ anti-vegan vice! #VeganChrist #VeganGod  #VeganTheology  #Veganchurch

Full text: https://www.vegantheology.net/post/the-good-shepherd-lays-down-his-life-for-the-sheep-whilst-the-kindest-acts-of-the-wicked-are-cruel