The Human Animal
As I watch what happened yesterday at Virginia Tech and read about what others think about it, I notice a theme popping up.
Was that guy even human?
Well yes.
Man is a unique animal in so many ways. A rat seems incapable of choosing to be moral; one has to wonder if the concept of morality is even present in a rat. Notice however, that a rat would not go on a killing rampage killing everything in sight because of some slight. On the other hand, rats don't open up soup-kitchens and foodbanks to help the less fortunate either. A rat does what a rat does. Yes they can spread death and disease but they do not do so intentionally. Their only interest is survival.
Look at the greatest evil in existence, the father of lies, Satan. He is not a fallen animal but a fallen angel, something far greater than man, and a result when he sank, he sank even lower than man can go. The higher something is the lower it can fall. What cannot perform great evils is also incapable of great goodness.
Man creates great works of art and poisonous garbage of every sort. We orbit the earth and sink into dens of iniquity. We feed our hungry neighbors and murder them out of personal spite, or sometimes even "just the hell of it."
An animal made in the image of God. The ability to make choices, and a creativity that, unlike other animals, results in unique creations from each person.
When we rise to the heights that we were designed for we do things that other animals cannot even imagine as we sail to the moon, study the atom, transplant a heart, or compose a symphony. When we sink we sink to levels lower than any animal as we destroy merely for the sake of destruction.
Sometimes it is necessary to destroy, but the wise know when to do it and when to draw the line and stop destroying and start building.
Each moment I and each of us are rising to the heights or sinking to the depths. We are changing from a special animal with unique potential (which is what we are at conception) to either a creature of Heaven or a monster of Hell, and all too many will show what they are before death reaches them. Each action, each little thought contributes to what we are becoming.
In the end, each of us will be either a glorious saint of God or a beast far below the worst vermin of the animal kingdom. You are becoming that right now.
Was that guy even human?
Well yes.
Man is a unique animal in so many ways. A rat seems incapable of choosing to be moral; one has to wonder if the concept of morality is even present in a rat. Notice however, that a rat would not go on a killing rampage killing everything in sight because of some slight. On the other hand, rats don't open up soup-kitchens and foodbanks to help the less fortunate either. A rat does what a rat does. Yes they can spread death and disease but they do not do so intentionally. Their only interest is survival.
Look at the greatest evil in existence, the father of lies, Satan. He is not a fallen animal but a fallen angel, something far greater than man, and a result when he sank, he sank even lower than man can go. The higher something is the lower it can fall. What cannot perform great evils is also incapable of great goodness.
Man creates great works of art and poisonous garbage of every sort. We orbit the earth and sink into dens of iniquity. We feed our hungry neighbors and murder them out of personal spite, or sometimes even "just the hell of it."
An animal made in the image of God. The ability to make choices, and a creativity that, unlike other animals, results in unique creations from each person.
When we rise to the heights that we were designed for we do things that other animals cannot even imagine as we sail to the moon, study the atom, transplant a heart, or compose a symphony. When we sink we sink to levels lower than any animal as we destroy merely for the sake of destruction.
Sometimes it is necessary to destroy, but the wise know when to do it and when to draw the line and stop destroying and start building.
Each moment I and each of us are rising to the heights or sinking to the depths. We are changing from a special animal with unique potential (which is what we are at conception) to either a creature of Heaven or a monster of Hell, and all too many will show what they are before death reaches them. Each action, each little thought contributes to what we are becoming.
In the end, each of us will be either a glorious saint of God or a beast far below the worst vermin of the animal kingdom. You are becoming that right now.
posted by shoprat at 4:06 PM
9 Comments:
You can be quite eloquent when you want to be, Shoprat. This post is awesome. I liked all of it but especially this part: "Each moment I and each of us are rising to the heights or sinking to the depths. We are changing from a special animal with unique potential (which is what we are at conception) to either a creature of Heaven or a monster of Hell, and all too many will show what they are before death reaches them. Each action, each little thought contributes to what we are becoming." So many humans sink to the very apt description "a monster of Hell." We certainly know that Tuesday's killer of those unfortunate people at VA Tech fit's that description perfectly. We also know where he will wind up!
Well said, Shoprat, well said.
Excellent Shoprat, and there isn't anything anyone is ever going to do to change it. All we can do is learn from things to minimize impacts.
That duality is exactly the reason free people must arm themselves. We must give the saints among us the power and ability to fight back against the demons. Liberals view gun control (those who just want to reduce crime) as a means to disarm the good in hopes of disarming the bad. It is the science of degrading everyone, treating everyone like a criminal, in order to attempt to control everyone. Unfortunately, the criminals are not as quick to comply with the law as are the law-abiding citizens and thus, the good people become prey for the wicked.
That was a great post, by the way.
deep - really deep - - good post!
I don't disagree with anything you said, but I do disagree a bit with the conclusion.
This sad event didn't happen just because man can choose to be good or evil ... it came about because the disease of rampant liberalism has removed from society any control over acceptable actions. Before liberalism managed to drive out christianity and any expectation of moral behavior, people didn't grow up thinking that they had no responsibility to "fit in" and live an acceptable life. Sure, people who lived outside accepted mores existed, but they were not accepted as members of "polite society." People with bad manners weren't invited to be celebrities and role models.
Today, we have several generations that believe "whatever feels good" is a valid lifestyle ... but do understand how wrong they are. Witness how few of these truly vile people take their own lives to avoid having to face the music.
Great post, Shoprat. Things haven't changed since Cain and Abel.
Hi Shoprat,
This does remind of the great importance of introspection. We must be willing to SEE inside of ourselves to know the direction we are going,make the proper adjustments according to the written word of God.
I once was suffering from tremendous stress and my doc prescribed a 'mood enhancer'. After five days I cut myself off. I felt I was becoming something other than me. After just five days... really weird.
JR
I should have read this later in the day when I was fully awake. I think it's hard to appreciate as much as it should be when I'm not.
Great post, as always.
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