p. 2 | 2510.-Taking the Life of Animals by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · May 20, 1908

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 34, No. 21.

2510.—Taking the Life of Animals.

By Editor

Does the commandment, “Thou shalt not kill,” mean the prohibiting of taking the life of anything created, such as cattle, sheep, birds, reptiles, insects, etc? M.

Not at all. The command pertains to the human. The Decalogue guides in love to God and love to our fellow men. To try to make it refer to all kinds of beasts, reptiles, and insects, is pushing it to an extreme which will logically lead to fanaticism. The command to Peter, related by Peter in Acts 10:13, 15, teaches this one lesson, that Peter should “not call any man common or unclean.” The vision was given for that purpose and nothing else. The sincere Christian will aim to carry out in his life 1 Cor. 10:31: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” It will not be mere happiness or safety which will control under such circumstances, but the question will be, What will fit me for better service and will best glorify God?