Why Cecil the Lion Has Significance for Christians.

The story of how on July 1, 2015 Cecil the Lion was lured out of his animal sanctuary in Zimbabwe and killed by an American big game hunter Walter Palmer has since sparked international attention by animal conservationists. The lion was a favored resident of Hwange National Park, and described as a national treasure. There are questions about the legality of the hunt, Palmer stands accused of poaching, and he faces possible extradition to stand before his accusers.

I think that the killing of Cecil should be something Christians need to grapple. I fail to see how this would be some kind of misguided sense on the sanctity of life, as if concern for the preservation of wildlife takes our eyes of the killing of life in the womb via abortion. Both are legitimate concerns.

“Cecil the lion at Hwange National Park (4516560206)”

Christians really need to consider the matter of Cecil and the conservation of threatened and endangered species because that is the natural outworking of a robust understanding of what life is about for bearers of the imago Dei. Moses informs us that “God created man in his own image, | in the image of God he created him; | male and female he created them” (Gen. 1:27, ESV). Elohim even commissioned them to “have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Gen. 1:27, ESV). The divine image bearers were to be stewards over all the creatures. They could use animals for their benefit (i.e. food, clothing, work, science, companionship, etc.), but if humans were really to truly be reflections of their Heavenly Father, they would care for all creatures.

Messiah said, “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And why are you worried about clothing?” (Matt. 6:26, ESV). Humans can observe nature, understand how the Creator cares for even the smallest creatures, and find solace everyday struggles because there is something that sets humans apart from birds and flowers. But, if God does care for the little creatures, should not the bearers of the imago Dei reflect the same care in their actions?

Wisdom tells us that “Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast” (Prov. 12:10, ESV). God’s people are to have concern for the animals dwelling on the earth. The Lord also wants them to know “Every beast of the forest is Mine | The cattle on a thousand hills” (Psa. 50:10). All the animals on earth belong to God, all humans are entrusted with stewardship over God’s animals (Gen. 1:28), and all Christians should be well familiar with Messiah taught about stewards who failed in the stewardship of the minas and talents given to them by the master (Matt. 25:14-30; Luke 19:12-27).

I can’t really say I know everything there is to know about animal rights, but I think these are some worthwhile reads on the subject: “Thy (Animal) Kingdom Come” by Wes Jamison, “Is ‘Animal Rights’ A Biblical Concern” by Dan Story, “PETA or just PET” by Hank Hanegraaff, “Hiding Among the Animals” by Harold O.J. Brown, and “Film as Pre-Apologetics: How Noah Raises Questions Only Christianity Can Answer” by John McAteer.

If people can really understand their dignity and worth as bearers of the imago Dei, it is only natural they would reflect the same care over nature as their Heavenly Father.

~ WGN