Do animals have equal standing with mankind in the eyes of God, to the point that churches should hold a special ritual service to bless them?
Is this paganism or false worship, handing out God's blessings upon animals?
God says NOTHING UNCLEAN will enter the kingdom of God, so does this mean no animals will be in heaven, so there is no need to hand out God's blessings upon animals? Or does this only apply to unlcean animals such as dogs, pigs, snakes, etc?
I believe there will be animals in heaven. But to hold a special ritual service to bless them, is very unbiblical and just not right. God will purge His creation and clean out all the unclean, not us.
God gave animals for our pleasure. I believe that is for humane treatment today.In old testament times sacrafice, but jesus died on the cross to end sacrifices.
Do animals have equal standing with mankind in the eyes of God, to the point that churches should hold a special ritual service to bless them?
*** NO !!! Animlas do not have Equal Standing�
Gen 1::21 ~ So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
Gen 1: 24 ~ Then God said, �Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind�; and it was so. 25 And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
Gen 1 :27~ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, �Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; {{{ have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.�}}}
To the point that churches should hold a special ritual service to bless them?
*** I�ve heard tell that Catholic Churches hold Blessings for Animals�but I have never witnessed this so I cant say for sure�And there are many Cultures� that do this�In the OT specific Birds & Animals were for Offerings & Sacrifice but I find no where about Blessing Animals�I do not Believe the Colt/Donkey that carried Our LORD Jesus* was bestowed a Blessing by anyone�All though what an Honor for that lil Hee Haw�:bouncy:...
Is this paganism or false worship, handing out God's blessings upon animals?
*** Paganisim ? I Believe YES !!! They ( Pagans ) Worship the God/Goddess, Sun & Moon, Nature including Animals�
God says NOTHING UNCLEAN will enter the kingdom of God, so does this mean no animals will be in heaven, so there is no need to hand out God's blessings upon animals?
*** I�m with MrRow & Dennis�I do Believe Animals will be Present in Heaven�After all�Father GOD did Create them and He saw it was Good�and HE gave Man/Women dominion over them�meaning�to take care of them�I�m not sure what if anything the Bible says on this�:dunce:...
Or does this only apply to unclean animals such as dogs, pigs, snakes, etc?
*** Well I sure hope my lil dog and all my past critters are there�an I like lil Pot belly piggys but they do have a Split Hoof�and Snakes�Well�That ole Snake in the Grass Satan/Lucifer sure aint gona be in Heaven�Praise GOD !!!!�:bow:...xo
Yes it is Bibical to include animals in relgious services. The Jews did it all the time, then they sacrificed them!
On a serious note :
I can point to a number of scriptures which can suggest animals have a after life. But I don't. Feel that is at the heart of this matter. When my baby horses are born I anoint them with oil and pray for them and ask for Gods blessing. I also have prayed for my property and anointed the four corners of it. I have anointed and prayed for my water well. I have prayed for my truck. The point is (I believe) if you are a Christian everything that comes under your care comes under His care.
Ok back to being funny :
People pray over their food before they eat it, why not their animals?
You guys are using much spiritual wisdom in your answers. I'll wait for more to respond, I'm sure Thunder has a word to share on this topic, before I put my 3 cents in using scripture.
This was a topic on here sometime back, as well as being discussed on another forum in relation to an article that a Methodist church had set aside a Sunday for eveyone ot bring their animals to the church to be blessed, and the animal lovers and haters are at war.
Just thought I would try this topic again over here.
2sparrow, I this day declare you a hoot! :ROFL: and you know what? the funny part about it, you're right:excited::ROFL: we do pray over our food, which could go to say we are blessing the animals...uhhhhhh:ROFL:
Oh! wait! I just had a revelation of a blessing over the food... (heads bowed... Lord, bles the food Im 'bout to eat... (peeping out of the corner of your eye), heeey, you bet'n not touch my chilcken feet!:ROFL::ROFL::eat::dancingp:
God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
God said that His creation is good. He has a purpose, a place and a plan for all. He takes notice of His animals...a sparrow doesn't fall to the ground that He does not know about it. There are several verses in Scripture that talk about the blessing animals are to people. I think Balaam would have done better to bless his donkey than to beat it. :goofball:
Of course animals do not have equal standing with mankind in the eyes of God. Man was made in God's image, not animals. But, animals did play an important role in Biblical times and do in our lives today. We have dominion and are to be good stewards over them. As far as churches holding a special "ritual" to bless them...I have been a part of asking for a blessing of animals at church buildings (mostly in the parking lot) with a fellowship of believers, at livestock events with a fellowship of believers and I, as a believer, have blessed my own animals, in my home and on the farm. Just as TwoSparrows spoke...I ask blessings over my food, over my home and property, and over the animals in my care. I pray over them and anoint them when needed. They work for me, are companions and a blessing to me...why should I not ask our Father to bless them?
I'm not sure where the idea of paganism or false worship comes into play here. I have been to several of these "rituals". I have seen no paganism or worshiping of anything or anyone other than God...certainly not the animals.
As far as if animals or which animals will be in heaven, I will leave that up to God. But, I do find it interesting that He saved both the clean and the unclean animals at the time of the flood...and that He covenanted with every living creature.
Genesis 7:
7 And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives entered the ark to escape the waters of the flood. 8 Pairs of clean and unclean animals, of birds and of all creatures that move along the ground, 9 male and female, came to Noah and entered the ark, as God had commanded Noah.
Genesis 9:
9 "I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you�the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you�every living creature on earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth."
So, no...animals are not on the level of man and we should not put them there or above people...but God does give some status to His animals.
"Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."
