Foundation
Doctrine #8: Animal Thinking
Doctrine #8
Doctrine #8 Read
Animals are constantly in "survival mode." A mother bear will eat her children if she is hungry enough. A wolf will kill their brother in order to be the alpha male. A dog will get beaten by their master and will keep their tail between their legs every time they see another person.
We, as people, have the option to function like animals. Are there people in your life who are ruled by the patterns and commitments they have made; people who are only surviving?
Overview
Animals have knowledge without effort. This is called "cognition" and is accomplished with the unconscious brain. However, no matter how much effort they exert, they do not have understanding and wisdom. Animals don't have a conscious brain. Animals do not use words. An animal does not have "meta-cognition": the ability to intentionally remember or imagine. An animal focuses only on the WHAT.
Discussion Question
Do you believe there is any area in your life where you think like an animal?
Scripture
1Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, 2How long will ye hunt for words? Consider, and afterwards we will speak.
3Wherefore are we counted as beasts, And are become unclean in your sight?
4Thou that tearest thyself in thine anger, Shall the earth be forsaken for thee? Or shall the rock be removed out of its place?
1Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
2How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.
3Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight?
4He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?
Commentary
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verse 1
Like the First Round, Bildad spoke second in the Second Round.
Commentary · verses 2-3
Bildad blamed Job for the inability of the three "friends" to help.
Commentary · verses 4-7
Bildad was saying that Job was wicked. This was Bildad's justification for the three "friends" to not help him.
20Man that is in honor, and understandeth not, Is like the beasts that perish.
20Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
Commentary
Psalm 49 stated a man who didn't understand was the same as an animal. Are there things that you are trying not to understand? Things that you don't want to understand?
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verses 14-20
Commentary · verse 20
The next psalm was by Asaph. We saw Asaph was the leader of the choir and led the procession to bring up the Ark...
Daniel 4:15-17
ChapterRead the ChapterChanges this passage only. Set your default for every passage.
15Nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven: and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth: 16let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
17The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the lowest of men.
15Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:
16Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
17This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
Commentary
Nebuchadnezzar was given a beast's heart so that he would know God was the Most High. Animals operate completely upon facts (WHAT's), so they have a pattern in them that only operates based upon reality. Also, animals cannot lie because lying requires operating outside of reality or outside of their patterns. God being the Most High is reality!
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verses 10-18
Verses 10-18: the dream of the tree.
Commentary · verse 16
Notice, the heart of a man would be changed to a beast's heart. "Seven times" was equal to seven years.
Commentary · verse 17
The WHY behind the dream.
34And at the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth for ever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation;
34And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
Commentary
When Nebuchadnezzar lost his beast's heart, his understanding returned. Animals recognize that there is something above them, something "higher" than themselves. They have fear that they will be destroyed by something that is bigger or higher on the food chain than themselves. We also have fear. How are we different? We can choose to see ourselves as higher than anyone, even God.
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verses 34-36
Nebuchadnezzar stated that his understanding had returned to him after the seven years. He recognized that God was supreme over all.
1 Corinthians 15:32
ChapterRead the ChapterChanges this passage only. Set your default for every passage.
32If after the manner of men I fought with beasts at Ephesus, what doth it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.
32If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.
Commentary
Paul compared people who didn't understand and make wise choices to beasts. In fact, he showed that beasts weren't able to profit. Remember, an animal can only survive, therefore their external actions are not profitable.
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verse 32
Remember, Paul wrote this letter while he was in Ephesus. Beasts have no understanding. Paul was pointing out that without Christ's resurrection, Paul's difficult discussions (that he must have been having at the time of this writing) meant nothing. Furthermore, if Christ was not resurrected, everyone ought to become beasts and focus on the physical: eat and drink.
6And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.
7For every kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed by mankind: 8but the tongue can no man tame; it is a restless evil, it is full of deadly poison.
9Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God: 10out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
Commentary
Animals don't speak words. Consequently, they can't be profitable or unprofitable spiritually. Words can create or destroy spiritually. These doctrines are tools which can be used to either carve a sculpture or as a weapon to hurt those around us.
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verses 5-6
James' conclusion was that the tongue was a fire. Words are powerful and can destroy or create. Destructive words have a wrong or no HOW/WHY. Words that create have a right HOW/WHY and they are profitable, even to the maximum which is perfect.
Commentary · verses 7-8
James used a natural example to contrast the inability to completely tame the tongue. Man's tongue is untamed, unruly evil, full of deadly poison. The only way to tame the tongue is to speak grace unto others, to allow the Holy Spirit to speak through us which would result in the maximum profitability: perfection.
Commentary · verse 9
James referenced Genesis 1:26. Notice, James' point was that we were made after the appearance of God, not having the causes of God in and of ourselves but the appearance of Him.
Commentary · verse 10
When we curse others, we are cursing beings made after the appearance of God. The tongue is able to do seemingly contradictory things. James stated it was not right for us to use our tongues to do contradictory things. James supported this with more natural examples...
Titus 1:10-16
ChapterRead the ChapterChanges this passage only. Set your default for every passage.
10For there are many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision, 11whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
12One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons.
13This testimony is true. For which cause reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.
15To the pure all things are pure: but to them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.
16They profess that they know God; but by their works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
10For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
11Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
12One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
13This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
14Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
15Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
16They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Commentary
Beasts are idle, unsound, and have a defiled mind. They still have knowledge but they don't have understanding or wisdom, which is the same as being vain or a deceiver.
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verses 10-11
One reason the bishops should exhort and convince vain talkers and deceivers was to silence them.
Commentary · verses 12-15
Those who were defiled and unbelieving were impure, even their minds and conscience.
Commentary · verse 16
Great summary for this chapter! The deceivers SAY (right WHAT) they knew God but their actions (DO) denied God, their HOW/WHY was wrong. Again, Paul used the word adokimos (reprobate) to solidify this point. We saw Paul used this word in Romans 1:28, 1 Corinthians 9:27, 2 Corinthians 13:5-7, and 2 Timothy 3:8. This word referred to a coin that represented a value (right WHAT), but actually was worth something less (wrong HOW/WHY) than what was represented. This entire chapter stressed truly having the right HOW/WHY for the right WHAT that was represented. Having a right HOW/WHY for your right what makes you able to identify and correct deceivers.
Closing Thoughts
Understanding and wisdom are the keys to being more than an animal. God has given everyone the pieces to be something more than an animal. But before one has understanding, they need to know how important words are. How would you feel about someone only wanting facts from you; someone who wasn't trying to understand you? Do you think God wants us to gather facts about Him, while not trying to understand Him?
Bildad stated that intentionally searching for words and speaking is what man does. Beasts don't intentionally speak and they don't use words. Words ought to be spoken with understanding, we ought to "consider" what we say. The word consider comes from two words, "con"="with" and "side". Animals only have one perspective, but humans can argue for another side than the one they originally see.