CSA’s Sarah Withrow King is running a series of devotionals during Lent, reflecting on what we believe about God’s creatures and how we might move toward living out those beliefs as members of the body of Christ.
What is the place of animals in our Christian faith, and what does that mean for us? Join us on Mondays for a video, a song, and/or a short reading, along with questions for reflection and discussion.
Want more? Join Sarah and other CreatureKind friends for a Facebook Event every Monday at 11AM Eastern Time!
Do animals go to heaven?
Read or listen to the poem God’s Grandeur by Gerard Manley Hopkins.
Read Romans 8:18-25.
How does Paul envision creation’s release from bondage in this passage? Where do humans and animals find a place in his vision?
Consider a creative exercise: rewrite the above passage in your own words, using specific examples from your own deepest longing. Draw a picture of groaning creation. Write a prayer or poem to express the longing of creation and your own heart for reconciliation.
Pray: “The heavens demonstrate your Glory, Creator God; and the firmament proclaims your handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge, heard through all the earth. Your law is perfect, reviving the soul; your decrees are sure, making wise the simple; your precepts are right, rejoicing the heart; your commandments are clear, enlightening the eyes. Your ordinances are true and righteous altogether, more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey, in keeping them there is great reward. But can I detect my own errors? Please clear me from hidden faults, from my own proud thoughts; do not let them have dominion over me. Let the words of my mouth, the meditation of my heart, and the actions of my life be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” (Based on Psalm 19)
Sarah Withrow King is the Deputy Director of Christians for Social Action, the co-director of CreatureKind, and the author of two books, Animals Are Not Ours (No Really, They’re Not): An Evangelical Animal Liberation Theology(Wipf & Stock) and Vegangelical: How Caring for Animals Can Shape Your Faith (Zondervan).
