Christian Perspective

Did you know, according to the Biblical account of Creation, one of the very first jobs mankind ever undertook was Taxonomy, the classification of animals!

Genesis 1:26 and 2:19 (New International Version) say,

"Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'"

"He [the LORD God] brought them [all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air] to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name."

Humans are made to interact with animals.  We are designed for it.  God expects us to not only interact with them, but to rule over them, to care for and protect them.  This is a fundamental part of what being human means.  As people, we are built with a need "to be supported, receive intimacy affection and physical comfort as well as have opportunity to care about other living things" (Alach, 2003, p.25).  Animals, while not meant to take the place of other human interaction by any means, should hold a valid part of our relational lives.

Therefore, as a Christian Early Childhood Educator, part of my teaching role is to encourage children to interact with animals, to learn to nurture them, to co-exist here on planet earth with the multitude of other species God has also placed here.

God cares about his creation.  In the book of Matthew he tells us that "not one sparrow falls to the ground" without his knowledge (Matthew 10:29, NIV).  Have you ever been to a country that does not have sparrows???  They inhabit nearly every space on earth.  They're robust, chirpy, dirty little things surviving most probably in the billions.  Yet their Creator values them.  As His followers, we should value his Creation too.  We should seek to understand it, for in looking at what He has made, we find glimpses of Himself.  We see His character in the intricate design patterns on a spider's back, and in the way a mother bear protects her young.

God has a very strong interest in good stewardship.  Jesus spoke several times about the need for His followers to be good at looking after his investments (see Matthew 25:14-28 for instance).  Earth is our home, and our stewardship of it is important.  Involving young children in interacting with animals helps them realise that we are responsible for how we choose to treat animals (and indeed everything and everyone around us).  Just as Romans 10:14 speaks of people not being able to believe in one they have not heard about, so too children cannot act in ways they have not been shown.  It is our job as teachers to model compassion, interest, and godly rulership of the animal kingdom.

Furthermore, animals, as part of God's creation, are good (see Genesis 1:31).  Positive engagement with them can help us to think about "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely..." (Philippians 4:8, NIV).

I hope this website has encouraged you to interact positively with an animal today!  Amy.