This hymn in the first chapter of the deutero-Pauline Letter to the Colossians (i.e., it is not by Paul himself, but by a disciple of his, who after Paul's death was expanding on his thoughts) is a principal example of "high Christology" in the New Testament (i.e., identifying Jesus as not just a human being, but as the highest of God's creatures, prior to all creation; cf. also the prologue to the Gospel according to John).  Jesus "is the image (literally, icon) of the unseen God, firstborn of all creation, because in him were created all things in the heavens and upon the earth, things seen and things unseen ... "

It is a disgrace that we Christians have generally not taken this doctrine to heart, and apply it in a creation-reverencing manner.  Fortunately there are a few who do, such as Jim Ball and Richard Cizik.

By contrast, those biblical texts which are interpreted as condoning homophobia, even encouraging it, are very few, very marginal, and very much culturally circumscribed.  I would hope that Cizik, Ball and their allies evolve to realize that preaching homophobia is contrary to the Gospel.  And meanwhile, creation care is an excellent subject for them; let them dedicate their preacherly resources to that, more exclusively.

Chickens are our cousins! So are other sensitive animals! Enough is enough! No more factory farms!