“Thy Will Be Done” and Animal Liberation. By Dr Chapman Chen

Jesus teaches us to pray in this way: “Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). What matters most, therefore, is God’s will, not our own. Our prayer becomes effective only when it is aligned with God’s will. If you pray for immense power so that you may exploit other fellow humans and animals and trample on their heads, such a prayer will not be fulfilled. For a prayer to be effective, it must be compassionate and directed toward the good of sentient beings. For God is love (1 John 4:8); Christ is compassion (Matt. 9:13, 12:7).

That being said, even compassionate prayers that are in harmony with God’s love—such as “May God liberate all animals from slaughterhouses and factory farms”—may take time to be realised, depending on God’s grand design. God’s plan is like a vast jigsaw puzzle. Each of us, as human beings, can see only a very limited number of its pieces—a tiny corner rather than the whole picture. Even suffering and pain may have significance and meaning within God’s larger plan.

The above principle is echoed in some scientific research. The Spindrift Research Foundation (https://www.spindriftresearch.org/), privately funded by Bruce and John Klingbeil and active from the mid-1970s through the 1990s, conducted a series of experiments examining how different forms of prayer or intention might affect living systems. Focusing on prayer, consciousness, and healing, researchers performed laboratory studies involving plants, micro-organisms, biological samples, and in some cases human participants.

Their reports distinguished between specific (goal-directed) prayer, which asks for a particular outcome (such as the removal of a tumour or illness), and non-specific (non-directive) prayer, which expresses openness to a higher wisdom—for example, “Thy will be done.” Per the foundation’s findings, goal-directed prayer often produced inconsistent or disruptive effects, whereas non-directive prayer was more frequently associated with increased stability, balance, or recovery toward normal functioning in the target system. On this basis, the Spindrift researchers suggested that prayers of surrender or alignment may be more beneficial overall than narrowly outcome-focused petitions, because they allow restorative influences to operate where they are most needed rather than attempting to impose a specific result.

So do not lose heart. Remember this: everything is imperfectly perfect. What appears broken or delayed may still belong to God’s unfolding design. Therefore, relax and “cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you” (Ps. 55:22). Continue to pray, continue to love, and continue to stand for the liberation of God’s innocent creatures.

Full Text: https://www.vegantheology.net/post/thy-will-be-done-and-animal-liberation-by-dr-chapman-chen

#VeganChrist #VeganGod  #VeganTheology #VeganChurch