Pastor Victor answers the question: What Lives Matter?

What lives matter? by Victor Brodt, MDiv

Do any lives matter? Is there a put down here? No, in fact this is a clarification when the waters have been badly muddied.

Calm down! Too many people are busy making points without even trying to listen. Stop for a minute or two and listen. Hear something that might just be totally life-changing if you really get it.

There’s an ancient set of values that mankind continuously attempts to ignore. The truth is that all life is valuable. Once you begin to cheat this truth something diabolical starts to happen, you begin to cheat you as well as others around you. We all have this horrible tendency that we must choose to resist. Like weeds that grow in your garden from out of nowhere come shoots of anger, bitterness and poisons popping up and choking the good that you desire… until you stop and listen to the ultimate infinite value for you and for all others. It may sound foreign to you but this includes all living creatures; everything and everyone. Sorry if this is foreign to you, but this is because you have not continuously immersed yourself in God’s presence and God’s Word. We are all easily infected and overrun.

There are multitudes of perspectives that purport to offer sage advice, and there are some simplistic answers. There seems to be one thing in common: get rid of everything to do with God. The irony is that the failures in the past came precisely because our forefathers got rid of God’s values in their daily practices. Almost always that has been the cause of all the real problems!

We are told we are no different from animals, but this really means that values are nonexistent. Does a cosmic mistake deserve justice, or equality or even respect? No! Here’s the trouble, if you want to rid the world of any godly perspective you have totally nothing to stand on. The idea is avoid God’s absolute Authority while on the other hand we demand absolute authority for our brand of justice, truth, and fairness. It is so unfair and we wonder why everyone treats us like dirt, no one hears or no one cares. Why should they? That is the world our society has created in order to get rid of God… and the result is you have no basis for any value. You got what they wished for.

All creation matters, the world around us and animals matter immensely, but get this: from God’s heart all humans are created sacred and precious beyond belief. Today many treat animals and the world around them like throw-away garbage, but God tells us they are eternally valued. In our society it is the garbage attitude; and so we treat each other like throw-away animals. This is entirely contrary to God’s plan. Man at the beginning was designed to lovingly, joyously rule over creation and animals. I hear people scoffing; yet still expect paradise without God’s help. It is pretty much saying: “get out of the way while I muck things up”, that is a really silly idealism. Know this: mankind will always fail but… but It will be fixed, that is God’s sure and absolute promise. All are supposed to be raised to life and…valued forever. Additionally mankind in particular, that is every tribe and people group has a sacred and holy, infinitely immeasurable value. All are equal and infinitely precious. So great is that value that angels scratch their heads in utter disbelief. In amazement we are designed to be holy, wondrous, and to reign with royal loving authority forever. The end is mere moments away, here’s the choice Eternal life or rebellion for eternity.

We’re all commanded to love, not empty lip service, but genuine love or Jesus will say I never knew you away from me.

You cannot worship an animal, a human or a people group, God alone No one else deserves that. You can’t even worship Justice or other ideals, none but God deserves our worship for all other things are but idols.

This is a severe but kind warning, we must all face up to the injustices we have done, not others, but we ourselves. We must weed the garden and grow fruit that demonstrates the true and infinite love of Jesus. As hard as mankind may try we are faced with either the unjust and unfair fruits of the rebel…or to live in the truth that all lives matter. It is one of two choices, and the choice rings throughout eternity.

Yes my friends ALL LIVES MATTER!

So true! Enjoy! Love this!

Caren: Please do not use the phrase “All lives matter” as a divisive term. This is not about race; this is about God’s perspective. We at PrayersforPets1 firmly believe that because God created every living thing on earth and invested each one with value; all life matters, all lives should matter to us all. Your life matters, your pet’s lives matter. All Lives Matter to us.