I thought it might be helpful and interesting to follow-up the dicussion on permits for commerical fish stocking with the following list of Animal Regulation Scriptures.
QUESTIONS
Which scriptures give the state permission to regulate fish permits?
If Jesus is King of Kings, which laws should the civil government be using?
Is the law making place of the legislature Biblical?
Would it be possible to use Biblical laws in modern society with judges who determined who violated a law, like in Moses day?
I am thinking that our theological presuppositions are either:
(a)The state can do anything that the Bible doesn't say it can't do, or
(b) the state can only do what the Bible gives the state permission to do.
Which do you believe and why?
Statement (b) is exactly a restatement of the regulative principle of worship based on the Second Commandment...which shows that we are limited to worship God to the ways that He prescribes.
It is fascinating how our theology plays out so thoroughly into our political viewpoints and thereby has created the culture we have today!
A Handbook of Bible Law - Animal regulations
Copyright 1991 by Charles A. Weisman. 2nd Edition: Aug., 1992; 3rd Edition:
Dec.,
1994
|
|
Comments: The majority of laws in the Bible dealing with
animals (other than those surrounding sacrifices which are no longer relevant or
applicable to us) involve property rights, owner responsibility and restitution.
In the Bible animals are made reference to by the terms "creature," "living
thing," "cattle," "beast," and "creeping thing."
The Bible says that God put animals on earth for man to make
use of
"into your hand are they delivered" (Gen. 9:2). In biblical
times animals were used for food, to do work with, as a source of clothing, as
money for trading or buying, and even as pets, all of which have changed little
since biblical times. So important were animals that the number owned was a
measure of one's wealth and social status.
'And Abram was very rich in cattle.. . . "" (Gen. 13:2).
"The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds. But the poor man had
nothing, except one little ewe lamb (2 Sam. 12:2-3).
Just as today the owner of an animal was responsible for what
his animal did to other persons or their property. In fact, if an animal had
previous incidents of aggressiveness towards persons, and its owner has been
warned about it but fails to take precautions to confine the animal, he is to be
regarded as a murdered and put to death if that animal kills someone (Exod.
21:29).
| 7A - Animals Used For
Labor |
|
- You are not to work animals on the Sabbath. Exod. 20:10; Exod. 23:12;
Deut 5:14.
- You are not to have two different kinds of animals work together; You shall
not plow with an ox and an ass together. Deut 22:10.
- You shall not muzzle the mouth of the ox that is being used for work.
Deut 25:4; 1 Cor. 9:9; 1 Tim. 5:18.
| 7B - Damage and Injury Done by
Animals |
|
- If an animal kills a person the animal is to be put to death. Exod.
21:28-29.
- If an animal is proven to be aggressive, and its owner has been warned, yet
he does not confine it, and it kills a man or woman, then both the animal and
the owner are to be put to death. If there is a ransom of money demanded of the
owner, it can be paid for the redemption of his life. Exod. 21:29-31.
- If an animal shall gore a servant, the owner shall give the servant's master
a set amount of money and the animal is to be killed. Exod. 21:32.
- If a man's animal eats the crop of another man's field, he shall make
restitution from the best of his own field. Exod. 22:5.
- If one man's animal kills another's animal, then the live animal shall be
sold and the money (and the dead animal if it be cattle) shall be divided
between them. Exod. 21:35.
- If an animal which is known to be aggressive kills another animal yet its
owner had not confined him, then he shall pay for the animal killed but can keep
the dead animal. Exod. 21:36.
| 7C - Animals Owned by
Others |
|
- Stolen animals are to be repaid to the owner 4 or 5 times. Exod. 22:1.
- Stray animals belonging to your brethren are be brought back to the owner.
If the owner is unknown, then you are to keep the animal until the owner comes
looking for it and then return it to him. Deut. 22:1-3.
- If you encounter an animal of your enemy going astray, you shall bring it
back to him. Exod. 23:4.
- If a pit is opened or dug and left uncovered, and an animal falls into it,
the owner of the pit shall pay the owner of the animal but he can keep the dead
animal. Exod. 21:33-34.
- If you see an animal of one that hates you lying helpless under its load,
you shall release the animal. Exod. 23:5.
- You shall not see your brother's ass or ox fall down by the way, and hide
yourself from them: you shall surely help him to lift them up again. Deut.
22:4.
- Whoever kills another's animal shall make it good, animal for animal.
Lev. 24:18, 21.
|
7D - Animals Borrowed or in Another's
Care |
|
- If a man gives his neighbor his animal to keep for him and it dies or runs
away, then an oath before the LORD shall be made between them, that he has not
laid his hands on his neighbor's animal. He is not required to pay for it.
Exod. 22:10-11.
- If a borrowed animal is stolen, the keeper shall make restitution to the
owner of the animal. Exod. 22:12.
- If a borrowed animal is torn in pieces, the remains shall be brought as
evidence, and no restitution shall be made. Exod. 22:13.
- If a man borrows any animal, and it is injured or dies while its owner is
not with it, he shall make full restitution to the owner. But if the owner is
with it, no restitution is to be made. Exod. 22:14-15.
| 7E - General Care of
Animals |
|
- You are not to breed cattle with a diverse kind (no hybrid cattle, livestock
or pets). Lev. 19:19.
- Should have regard for the life of your animals. Prov. 12:10.
- Do not separate a newly born ox or sheep or a goat from its mother for the
first seven days. Lev. 22:27.
- The eggs or young can be taken from a bird's nest but not along with the
mother. Deut. 22:6-7.
- Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds.
Prov. 27:23.
