Man, Animal, Manimal?

AN AFTER-BEDTIME STORY:

Jake—awakened by his alarm clock— quickly turned it off in order to let his wife sleep. (They had been up late last night, praying about this day.) Jake sat up, pushed the covers back and slipped into his house-shoes. After straightening his pillows, he walked to the bathroom and turned on the light. He then took a shower, got dressed, shaved and combed his hair. Afterward, he went to the kitchen to get some breakfast. He poured a glass of milk, took some vitamins, dropped some bread in the toaster and micro-waved some oatmeal and pre-cooked sausage. He then turned on the radio—to listen to the traffic report—and quickly ate his breakfast. He also fed his daughters goldfish. A short time later, he was in his car and on his way to work. This would be his first day on the job and he was hopeful that his education had adequately prepared him for success. He had recently moved his family to the city to be close to his new employer. His new boss had graduated from the same college that he had and he knew that this had helped him get the interview. It also provided him with a level of comfort, as they enjoyed a couple of laughs together during the interview. After arriving at the office—a bit early according to his watch—Jake decided to play a song, which he had downloaded onto his phone. It was a worship song performed by one of his favorite musicians. Singing along with it brought him even greater peace. * * * This was going to be a day to remember.

REGARDING JAKE:

In the story above, what is Jake? Is he [1] a zebra? [2] a rhinoceros? [3] a chimpanzee? or [4] a human being? Please underline everything in the story that guided you to your answer.

IS JAKE RELATED TO ANIMALS?

Obviously, Jake is a human being. What many people wrongly believe, however, is that Jake is distantly related to his daughters’ goldfish, as well as to his bowl of oatmeal – that all of life evolved from a single life form. Nothing could be farther from the truth! Regarding animals, they are not only, ‘not’ related to humans, they are as different from us as a ceiling-fan is from a helicopter! This wrong thinking is the result of the ‘Theory of Evolution’ – an illogical, unscientific and godless fantasy, most accurately described as ‘the intellectual rebellion of man.’i

[If you would like to see what God, this author and couple of atheist say about the Theory of Evolution, see the very end of this article – before the endnotes].

Before looking at the multitude of ways that people differ from animals, let’s consider another question:

WHY DOES JAKE (OR ANY HUMAN) EXIST?

God is an infinite, omnipresent and eternal Spiritii – a non-physical being, who is unlimited by time,iii spaceiv or matter.v He exists as a trinity – one Godvi in three persons (Father, Son and Holy Spiritvii). At some point in eternity past, He decided that He wanted a bigger family to love. (Father, Son and Holy Spirit are family, but He wanted it larger.) In order to accomplish this, He would create a physical realm (the universe)viii and a specific physical location (the earth)ix where He could place two physical people (one male and one female). These two people would be given the ability to physically pro-create, as would the generations after them. This would result in the birth of billions of peoplex who would have the opportunity to join God’s family. Each of these people would be given a temporal physical body, a soul (thoughts, wills and emotions) and an eternal spirit.xi The soul and eternal spirit would be transferred (by God) into an eternal spiritual body at the point of physical death.xii These people would also be given ‘free-will’—the ability to obey or disobey God, and the ability to accept or reject Him. Anything less would produce only puppets or robots.

Sadly, this freedom would result in these first two people choosing to disobey God—rejecting His authority and His right to be their God. This, in turn, would result in their children, grandchildren and all of the following generations (that’s us) to come into existence with a sinful nature.xiii We are born opposed to God, sinfully living as our own authority.xiv

God, being omniscient,xv holy, perfect and justxvi – and the very epitome of lovexvii – could never allow sin to go unpunished,xviii but He could pay for our wrongdoing Himself. God, the Son, would step into His creation—into the physical realm—becoming a human.xix (He would do this through the womb of a virgin,xx so as to not inherit the sinful nature which is passed down through natural conception). He would then live a perfectly sinless life in the physical realm. During this time, He would teach people all about life and eternity, and how we can become His children. He would then allow Himself to be sacrificially punishedxxi – beaten (more severely than any person ever has been)xxii and ‘physically’ put to death – in order to take the justly required punishment for the sin of mankind.xxiii He would do this so we could be forgiven and become His children.xxiv (This is like a judge, who is the loving father of a repentant criminal, who pays a fine for his child: Justice is served, the father suffers, the child is forgiven and their love grows deeper.) Anyone who refuses to accept God’s love, lordship and sacrifice would have to pay for their own sins in Hell – forever!xxv

* * * Regarding Hell, it must be forever!xxvi Judgment cannot simply be ‘annihilation’ (live a life of evil then disappear). Without the fear of the Lord (the fear of eternal punishment),xxvii nobody would choose His forgiveness, fatherhood, love and lordship (which must be received together). Nor would they choose to restrain their evil desires. People throughout time, would be as evil as the people who lived before the flood – at the time of Noah. (They had become so evil, that evil was the only thing that they ever thought about.xxviii)

So God created humans to make us His children.xxix This is why He made us like Himselfxxx—with thoughts, will and emotions; intellectual and relational; possessing speech and language; creative, industrious and artistic; with singing and laughter; a sense of morality and a desire to be loved. He made us this way, so we could understand and relate to Him, and have an intimate, intricate and ever-loving relationship with Him – in Paradise!

It will be Paradise, because when the last person who is going to accept salvation does so,xxxi God is going to make a new ‘perfect’ Heaven and a new ‘perfect’ Earth,xxxii where we—His forgiven and ‘then made perfect’ children—will live with Him forever. (F.Y.I. The present heaven and earth were perfect until mankind sinned.xxxiii)

OTHER WAYS THAT MAN AND ANIMALS DIFFER.

So, in addition to our eternal spirit, purpose and destiny (Heaven or Hell, depending upon our decision), here are many other ways that humans differ greatly from animals.

Dominion: God gave humans dominion over the earth, as well as all of the species of life.xxxiv This means that we have been given minds capable of perceiving and understanding the functioning of His creation—the processes, production and functions of the earth, as well as the complex interactions of people, plants, animals, and the environment—and can act upon this knowledge.xxxv As a result, humans obtain, convert and use natural resources (air, water, soil, metals, minerals; plants, trees and animals), and energy resources (fossil-fuels; geothermal heat; tidal, wind and solar energy) to provide for our needs and desires. We also keep pets, build zoos and aquariums, establish parks and wildlife preserves, and use animals for service (farming, transportation, hauling, protection, search and rescue, drug detection, handicap assistance, medical condition detection and pest-control). God also gave us animals to provide us with food and clothing, and He gave them a fear of humans.xxxvi

Hands: People have hands with which we do amazing things; point, signal, write (with pen or computer), read (Braille), talk (sign-language), draw, paint, sculpt, weave, thread needles, tie bows, turn pages, remove splinters, use weapons (from clubs to machine guns), use tools (from construction to surgical), lead orchestras, play musical instruments (percussion, wind and stringed), operate cell-phones, play games, throw and catch balls, juggle, make shadow puppets, break boards, raise in worship and fold in prayer.

Family: A man can be a child (of God and of his parents), husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, son-in law, grandson, great-grandson, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, great-uncle, second-cousin, etc., each of these roles being clearly defined and understood by all related parties. A woman can fulfill the same number of roles.

Communication: People communicate with other people primarily by speaking – which incorporates our brains, lips, tongues, teeth, throats, vocal cords and lungs. When communicating—orally or written—we are capable of using complex languages, governed by grammatical rules, thereby enabling us to both express ourselves and understand others very well.

Singing: People sing—and enjoy listening to singing. Singing is a brain-building activity which aids in memorization, early language, and music development. (Think of the children’s “A.B.C.s” song.) Singing can effect emotions (calming or energizing), bring up memories, build anticipation, increase passion and, in regard to God, express and increase reverence and awe.xxxvii God tells us to sing songs to and about Him—in order to worship Him, and to teach and admonish one another.xxxviii

Clothing: People design, manufacture and wear clothing – for protection (from the elements and the environment), camouflage (for hunting or warfare), pleasure (for comfort or style), to display status (such as a king), and to protect us from shame.xxxix

Hygiene and grooming: People clean and groom themselves – by taking baths; cutting, shampooing and styling hair; trimming finger nails; brushing teeth; shaving; preparing clothes; and wearing makeup.

Food: People plant, tend, harvest, and eat fruits and vegetables. We also raise and/or hunt animals for food (per God’s guidance).xl In addition, we use ‘tools’ to cook, prepare and eat food – fire pits, ovens, rotisseries, stoves, pots, pans, bowls, plates, cups, sharpened branches, chopsticks, knives, forks, spoons and automatic coffee-makers. We also preserve and store food.

Technology: People invent and use technology – wheels, levers, pulleys, water wheels, wind mills, ladders, tools, weapons, musical instruments, medical instruments, clocks, sundials, magnifying glasses, microscopes, telescopes, computers, robots, communication equipment, etc. We also build machines and devices to enhance and improve our endeavors (farming, ranching, construction, transportation, exploration, industrial and medical operations, warfare, etc.) and for pleasure (radios, televisions, go-carts, ski-lifts, amusement-parks, etc.).

Transportation and travel: People design, create and use different methods of transportation to traverse water, land, sky and space. Water (rafts, boats, submarines, scuba diving equipment, deep sea craft). Land (sleds, skis, skateboards, wagons, bicycles, motorcycles, automobiles, military-vehicles, trains). Sky (hang gliders, hot air balloons, air planes, jets, helicopters). Space (rockets and space shuttles).

Construction: People design and construct things which we need or desire – shelters, barriers, dams, roads, bridges, buildings, elevators, houses, playgrounds, swimming pools.

Cities: People construct and live in cities, which have: roads, modes of transportation, traffic control, buildings (with climate control), electricity, lighting, availability of food and water, sanitation and sewage services, companies to work for, companies to buy from, medical facilities, gas stations, etc. Cities also have governments, which determine and enforce the rules and regulations by which the people are expected to adhere.

Comfort: People design and create comfortable environments – weatherproof buildings with doors and windows, insulation, carpeted floors, ergonomically designed furniture, blankets, pillows, fans, air-conditioners, heaters, humidifiers, etc.

Art / Beauty: People imagine and create beautiful things: Music, pictures, sculptures, architecture, landscaping, cars, clothing and birthday cakes.

Government: People design, plan, establish and operate governments in order to guide, direct, rule and control their societies.

Economics: People establish ways to control the resources of a community—production, distribution and management—for the benefit of the citizens.

Education: People provide education so others can: Learn how to learn, how to think, and how to read and write (math, science, history, geography, literature and language arts). Learn to ‘live off the land’ (hunting, fishing, farming, ranching). Learn work skills (construction, auto mechanics, medical-care, operating vehicles and machinery, operating computers). Learn warfare and self-defense (unarmed combat, creating and using weaponry, battle strategy). Learn theology: to understand and relate to the All Knowing, All Seeing, All Powerful Creator, Judge and Savior of the universe – Who created us to make us His children, so He can love and care for us for all of eternity in Heaven.

Healthcare: People provide healthcare, integrating—people (doctors, nurses, technicians, nutritionists, trainers, health coaches); knowledge (health and medical education); medical facilities (hospitals, clinics, laboratories, exercise and rehabilitation facilities); technology and equipment (thermometers, monitors, hypodermic needles, microscopes, x-rays, surgical tools & robots, lasers, casts, braces, pace-makers, hearing-aids, eye-glasses, false-teeth, exercise equipment, etc.); chemicals (vitamins, supplements, medicine), and transportation (ambulances, care-flight helicopters, crutches, wheel-chairs and walkers)—with the intention of saving lives and improving or maintaining the health of people.

Pleasure: People engage in or observe (watch or listen to) various non-essential activities for enjoyment / entertainment: Observing the beauty of Gods’ creation. Playing on playgrounds. Playing or listening to music. Playing or watching games (physical, verbal, computer, board games). Performing in / or being entertained by plays, movies, comedies, abilities displayed, various forms of competition).

Historic preservation: People keep records of significant times or events in order to remember them. We write books, set up monuments, take photos, record audio and video, make written records; and save news articles, pictures, letters, greeting cards and children’s hand-prints.

Special Occasions: People observe and/or celebrate special occasions: Weddings, anniversaries, births, birthdays, graduations, notable accomplishments, Christmas, beginning a new year, funerals.

Love and Worship: People, who have been created in Gods’ image—to understand and relate to Him—are invited to accept Him as Lord, Savior, Father and Friend. In so doing, we grow ever deeper and deeper in love with Him, and end up worshiping Him with all of our hearts.

REGARDING THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION:

Regarding the Theory of Evolution, here is what God, two Atheists and the author of this website say about it:

God:

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” Psalm 14:1

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 1 Corinthians 1:20

Two Atheists:

Atheist: G. Richard Bozarth

“It becomes clear now that the whole justification of Jesus’ life and death is predicated on the existence of Adam and the forbidden fruit he and Eve ate. Without the original sin, who needs to be redeemed? Without Adam’s fall into a life of constant sin terminated by death, what purpose is there to Christianity? None. . . . Christianity has fought, still fights, and will fight science to the desperate end over evolution, because evolution destroys utterly and finally the very reason Jesus’ earthly life was supposedly made necessary. Destroy Adam and Eve and the original sin, and in the rubble you will find the sorry remains of the son of god. Take away the meaning of his death. If Jesus was not the redeemer who died for our sins, and this is what evolution means, then Christianity is nothing!” G. Richard Bozarth, American Atheist Magazine, Feb., 1978.

Atheist: H.G. Wells

“If all the animals and man had been evolved in this ascendant manner, then there had been no first parents, no Eden, and no Fall. And if there had been no fall, then the entire historical fabric of Christianity, the story of the first sin and the reason for an atonement, upon which the current teaching based Christian emotion and morality, collapsed like a house of cards.” (Atheist – H.G. Wells, H.G., The outline of history — being a plain history of life and mankind, Cassell& Company Ltd, London, UK, (the fourth revision), Vol. 2, p. 616, 1925. /// [Herbert George Wells (1866–1946), mostly known as simply ‘H.G. Wells’, was a well-known pioneer of science fiction novels (The Time Machine, War of the Worlds), a prominent Fabian Socialist, historian and eugenicist.]

This Author:

The “Theory of Evolution” is an illogical, unscientific and godless fantasy, most accurately described as ‘the intellectual rebellion of man.’ In the realm of evil lies and philosophies perpetrated by and upon different societies, it is absolutely one of the worst! Using this theory as justification, various people and groups have committed incredible acts of evil against each other—including wide-spread theft, enslavement, and murder (by the millions)—and countless numbers of them have rejected God and are now burning in Hell. To learn all about this, read:

The Second Most Incredible Book about God, Life, Death, Heaven, Hell, Satan, The Theory of Evolution and The Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence”(available free on this website).

For a quick logical debunking of this theory, read:

True Brilliance, Evolution Exposed” in the “Poetry with an Attitude” section on this website.

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For a PDF copy of this article click the following link.

http://solidrockpoetry.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Man-Animal-Manimal-1.pdf

iFor the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 2 Timothy 4:3,4

iiGod is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24

iiiBefore the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Psalm 90:2

ivBut will God really dwell on earth with men? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. 2 Chronicles 6:18

vIn the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

viHear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Deuteronomy 6:4

viiWho has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and the name of his son? Proverbs 30:4 /// Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit . . . You have not lied to men but to God.” Acts 5:3-4

viiiIn the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

ixFor this is what the Lord says- he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited- he says: “I am the Lord , and there is no other. Isaiah 45:18

xGod blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” Genesis 1:27,28

xiFor you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13

xiiSo it will be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. 1 Corinthians 15:39,40,42-44

xiiiSurely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Psalm 51:5

xivSo I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. Galatians 5:16,17

xvAll the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:16 /// Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” Luke 22:34

xviHe is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. Deuteronomy 32:4

xviiThe LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. Psalm 145:17 /// God is love. 1 John 4:16

xviiiFor the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

xixIn the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. John 1:1 & 14

xxTherefore the LORD himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Immanuel means “God with us.”) Isaiah 7:14

xxiBut he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.  Isaiah 53:5

xxii He stepped into our world to be ridiculed, scorned, spit upon, slapped, punched in the face, pierced with thorns, beat with a staff, shredded with a whip, and to be physically nailed to a cross–where He hung until He died–to take the justly-required punishment for all that we have done wrong.   Ridiculed, beaten with staff, spit, thorns  (Matthew 27:29,30) / Ridiculed, scorned (Matthew 27:39-42) / Spit, punched, slapped (Matthew 26:67) / Whipped (Matthew 27:26) / Nailed to cross (John 20:25)

xxiiiFor Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 1 Peter 3:18

xxivHow great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1

xxvWhoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him. John 3:36 /// The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:14,15

xxviHe will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. Revelation 14:10,11

xxviiThe fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10

xxviiiThe LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. Genesis 6:5

xxixHow great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1

xxxSo God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

xxxiThe creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. Romans 8:1921

xxxiiThen I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. Revelation 21:1

xxxiii God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. Genesis 1:31 /// “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, “You must not eat of it,” Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” Genesis 3:1719

xxxivGod blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Genesis 1:28

xxxvWording partially taken from Institute for Creation Research [ICR.org]

xxxviThe LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. Genesis 3:21 /// Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you will fall upon all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air, upon every creature that moves along the ground, and upon all the fish of the sea; they are given into your hands. Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Genesis 9:1-3

xxxviiWording taken from Institute for Creation Research [ICR.org]

xxxviiiLet the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16

xxxixThe man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. Genesis 2:25 //// He (Adam) answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And he (God) said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” Genesis 3:10-11 //// The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. Genesis 3:21

xl Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Genesis 9:3