146. Q. Do brute animals have “understanding” and “free will”?
Have you ever wondered what makes us, as human beings, different from animals? Why are we able to learn, grow, and make choices, while animals seem to follow the same patterns throughout their lives? This special difference lies in two unique gifts that God has given to humans: understanding and free will. In the Baltimore Catechism, this is explained clearly:
Let’s explore what this means, why these gifts are so important, and how they shape our lives in ways that are both inspiring and empowering.
What Are “Understanding” and “Free Will”?
Understanding is our ability to think, to reason, and to gain knowledge. It’s what allows us to learn from our experiences, to grow in wisdom, and to change our lives for the better. For example, if a child touches a hot stove and gets burned, they understand not to do it again because they’ve learned it’s dangerous. This ability to learn from experiences and make decisions based on that knowledge is a sign of understanding.
Free will is the power to make choices. It’s what enables us to decide between right and wrong, good and bad. It’s the freedom to choose our actions, even if those actions have consequences. For example, we can choose to be kind to others or not. We can choose to forgive someone who has hurt us, or we can choose to hold a grudge. Free will means that we are not forced to act in a certain way; we have the ability to choose our path.
Why Don’t Animals Have These Gifts?
Animals, or “brute animals” as they are sometimes called, do not have understanding or free will. This is because they live their lives according to instincts. An instinct is an automatic response or behavior that an animal is born with and does not change. Let’s look at a few examples to understand this better:
Birds Building Nests: Birds build nests the same way every time. They never decide one day to try a new method or use different materials. They don’t go to “bird school” to learn how to improve their nest-building skills. They just do it because it’s their instinct.
Dogs Barking at Strangers: A dog barks at a stranger because it’s its natural instinct to protect its territory. It doesn’t stop to think, “Is this person really a threat?” It just reacts based on its instincts.
Bees Making Honey: Bees collect nectar and make honey in a specific way. They don’t decide to try new recipes or change their method. They continue to do what they have always done, generation after generation.
How Are Humans Different?
Humans, on the other hand, have the ability to reflect on their actions, learn new things, and make changes in their lives. We can choose to be better, to improve ourselves, and to grow in knowledge and virtue. This is what sets us apart from animals.
Learning and Changing
When we learn something new, we use our understanding to apply it to our lives. For example, if we learn that eating healthy food and exercising makes us feel better, we can choose to change our habits and start living a healthier lifestyle. An animal cannot make such a choice because it doesn’t have the understanding to learn or the free will to change its habits.
Making Moral Choices
Free will is what allows us to choose between good and evil. When faced with a decision, we can consider the consequences, the impact on others, and whether our choice aligns with what God wants for us. An animal doesn’t have this ability. It cannot choose to do good or evil because it simply acts on instinct.
For instance, if a dog bites someone, it’s not because it has chosen to do something wrong; it’s because it’s reacting based on its instinct. Humans, however, can think about their actions and choose to do what is right, even if it’s difficult.
The Responsibility of Having Understanding and Free Will
With these gifts comes great responsibility. Because we have understanding and free will, we are accountable for our actions. We can’t just say, “I couldn’t help it” or “It’s just my nature” when we do something wrong. We have the ability to choose, and with that choice comes the responsibility to choose what is good.
This doesn’t mean we won’t make mistakes—we all do. But it means that we have the ability to learn from our mistakes and make better choices in the future. God has given us understanding and free will because He believes in us and wants us to use these gifts to grow closer to Him and to become the best versions of ourselves.
Using Our Gifts Wisely
So how can we use these gifts wisely? Here are some practical steps:
Seek Knowledge: Use your understanding to learn more about God, about the world, and about yourself. Read, ask questions, and be curious. The more you know, the better equipped you are to make good decisions.
Pray for Guidance: Ask God to help you use your understanding and free will in a way that pleases Him. Pray for wisdom and the strength to make good choices, especially when it’s hard.
Reflect on Your Actions: Take time each day to think about your actions. Did you make good choices today? If not, what can you do differently tomorrow? This kind of reflection helps us to grow and learn from our experiences.
Make Choices That Reflect God’s Love: Use your free will to choose kindness, patience, forgiveness, and love. These choices not only bring you closer to God but also help others to see His love through you.
Accept Responsibility: When you make a mistake, don’t be afraid to admit it and ask for forgiveness. God’s mercy is always there for us, and each mistake is an opportunity to learn and grow.
Encouragement for Everyone
Don’t be discouraged if you find it hard to always use your understanding and free will in the best way. We all have moments when we struggle to make the right choice. What’s important is that we keep trying and keep asking God for help. Remember, God gave us these gifts because He believes in our potential to do good and to be a light in the world.
Each day is a new chance to use our understanding to learn something new and our free will to choose what is right. By doing this, we become more fully who God created us to be—His beloved children, made in His image, with the power to think, to choose, and to love.
Conclusion: Embrace Your Gifts
Understanding and free will are incredible gifts from God. They are what make us truly human, able to learn, grow, and choose love over hate, good over evil. Let’s be grateful for these gifts and use them to make the world a better place. And remember, no matter how difficult the choice or how great the challenge, God is always there to guide us and give us the strength to do what is right.
Call to Action: Take a moment today to thank God for the gift of understanding and free will. Think about how you can use these gifts to bring more love, kindness, and goodness into your life and the lives of those around you. Share this message with someone who might need encouragement to make better choices, and let’s support each other in using our gifts to honor God and to bring light to the world.
Comments
Post a Comment