From annoying contestants and gross challenges to eating live animals, some find the TV show, ‘I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here’, to be appalling television. The so-called celebs who take part in the programme perform various tasks and some of them are really distasteful. The question has to be asked, ‘Do these people really need to perform these tasks in front of the viewing public, to increase their popularity and win votes? Why do so many viewers get gratification from this programme?

With regards to the question of animal cruelty, the celebrity contestants have a choice to take part in the various tasks ahead of them, whereas the animals taking part have no choice. For example, the clip of Noel Edmonds and Harry Redknapp dressed as Romans putting various creatures in their mouths was most distasteful. Does the viewer never question the cruelty these creatures have to go through and all in the name of human entertainment? They may be just spiders, worms, rats, snakes etc, but to use them in various challenges set for the celebs is barbaric. These creatures have a God-given right to life and should not be treated like this.

It may be 21st Century entertainment but the use of animals in programmes like ‘Im A Celeb….’ smacks of the ancient Roman style of entertainment in the arena, where animals were made to take part in barbaric acts of cruelty, along with people who were often forced to do this. This can be argued to be a slippery slope in the entertainment industry where programmers think up all kinds of horrors just to keep the viewing figures.

Although God made us (according to scripture) to have dominion over this planet, it does not mean that we abuse those creatures under our care that God created alongside us.

Humans use animals in many ways for food, for sport, and also as pets. The Lord requires us to give these creatures the best of care and attention, whilst treating them humanely. This is summed up in the prophetic picture of the future in Isaiah 11:6 – 9. Here we read of a time where humans and animals will live in harmony: “A wolf will reside with a lamb, and the leopard will lie down with a young goat, an ox and a young lion will graze together, as a small child will lead them along. A cow and a bear will graze together. A lion and an ox will eat straw. A baby will play over the hole of a snake; over the nest of a serpent, an infant will put his hand. They will no longer injure or destroy on my mountain. For there will be universal submission to the Lord’s sovereignty, just as the waters completely cover the sea”.

Proverbs 12:10 instructs us: “God’s people take care of their animals, but even the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel”. Also Ecclesiastes 3:19-20: “Humans and animals have the same destiny. One dies just like another. All of these have the same breath of life. Humans have no advantage over animals. All life is pointless. All life goes back to the same place. All life comes from the ground, and all of it returns back to the ground”.

So, in summary, as Christians, it behoves us to read these holy scriptures and act accordingly with our fellow creatures upon this planet”.

God bless you xx.