Was Animal-Loving Discovery Channel Gunman Right About Humans?

On Sept. 1 an armed gunman with explosive devices strapped to his body took three hostages whom he held captive for four hours, until he was shot by Montgomery County Police in Maryland. The gunman, James Lee, apparently had taken issue in the past with Discovery Channel, railing against its environmental programming.

His postings included the following: "I want Discovery Communications to broadcast on their channels to the world their new program lineup and I want proof they are doing so. I want the new shows started by asking the public for inventive solution ideas to save the planet and the remaining wildlife on it." He also wrote: "Nothing is more important than saving...the Lions, Tigers, Giraffes, Elephants, Froggies, Turtles, Apes, Raccoons, Beetles, Ants, Sharks, Bears, and, of course, the Squirrels. The humans? The planet does not need humans."

"Given to the children of men"

While it is vital to preserve and protect our earthly environment, the fact is that God created this planet for human habitation. "The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's; but the earth He has given to the children of men" (Psalm 115:16). God put humanity upon the earth in order that we might "tend and keep it" (Genesis 2:15).

How well have we performed this assignment? The earth was a lush paradise when God first created it. There are still many places of outstanding beauty, but as most anyone will tell you, we have also despoiled much of the earth. The recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is just one example.

Cause for despair

This is all tragic, but the greatest of human tragedies is the way we have corrupted the human soul and psyche. Some years ago, American author Isaac Bashevis Singer (1904-1991) stated that modern man behaves like a wild animal: "The daily news tells us again and again that, with all his knowledge and with all his refined ways, modern man remains the wildest animal... What makes me despair more than anything is that scientists, whom God has given great brains and a lot of diligence, sell their achievements to murderers. Every day we get more and more inventions, and many of them are used for killing our brothers and sisters" (U.S. News and World Report, 1983).

Murder of brother by brother has been happening from the beginning. Cain, the first son of Adam and Eve, killed his brother Abel (Genesis 4:8). As earth's population increased, murder became a constant. As nations became large, the result was manifold slaughter through warfare. This included slaughter of civilians as well as troops on the battlefield.

Beastly behavior

Man is not in actuality an animal. We are made in the image of God, and there is a vast chasm between us and even the "highest" of animals. However, unregenerate humans do exhibit behavior that is so beastly at times that the Bible uses animal analogies in representing our rampaging behavior, particularly that of armies in times of warfare.

In Daniel 7 God used the symbolism of four beasts to represent conquering armies through the ages, because their tactics have been brutal and animalistic. When locked in the grip of war, man is often the wildest of all "animals." Estimates of those killed in the two world wars of the 20th century range between 50 and 70 million.

While we do not agree with James Lee that "the planet does not need humans," man is the most dangerous creature. He has destroyed far more than any four-legged creature has ever done.

Needed: a new heart

We need the attributes of our human heart replaced by those of the heart and mind of God. The apostle Paul wrote: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5).

Paul warned that "the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God" (1 Corinthians 2:14). Regarding the phrase "natural man," the Greek word translated "natural" refers to "the principle of animal life, which men have in common with the brutes" (Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament). This entire chapter emphasizes the importance of rising above the physical realm by means of the Spirit of God. So the Bible also stresses our need to be transformed in our hearts and minds (Romans 12:2; Hebrews 8:10).

James Lee didn't understand God's purpose for humanity. In fact, the most important creature that needs to be saved is man. Our transformation is the real key to ending the violence and restoring the planet.