Sunday, August 10, 2008
What the bible says about hunting
8:13 AM | 
Posted by
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As you may be aware I run a few hunting websites and a while back I got a interesting email from an animal rights activist:
I love these types of emails. Not because I like to argue but because it makes me think about what I believe and why. This particular email made me dig into my bible to try and understand what the bible actually says about hunting and here is what I found:
Genesis 10:9 -
Genesis 27:3 - Now then, get your weapons—your quiver and bow—and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me.
Genesis 27:30 -
Leviticus 17:13 -
From the verses above you can clearly see that hunting is accepted by God but here is the ultimate verses in support of hunting:
Genesis 1:26 (King James Version)
And this one two verses later:
Genesis 1:28 (King James Version)
I believe hunting is a activity that God has ordained and the traditions of hunting date back to the beginning of time. Besides if God didn't want us to eat animals he wouldn't have made them meat flavored
I am not a religious person, but one quote from the bible has always stuck in my mind "The Meek shall Inherit The Earth", god help the likes of you if the "Meek" turn out to be of the animal kingdom, I've got no worries on that score, how about you!
I love these types of emails. Not because I like to argue but because it makes me think about what I believe and why. This particular email made me dig into my bible to try and understand what the bible actually says about hunting and here is what I found:
Genesis 10:9 -
He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; that is why it is said, "Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the LORD.Being a good hunter was a attribute that was admired in the bible.
Genesis 27:3 - Now then, get your weapons—your quiver and bow—and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me.
Genesis 27:30 -
After Isaac finished blessing him and Jacob had scarcely left his father's presence, his brother Esau came in from hunting.-Hunting was an accepted practice even in the early days.
Leviticus 17:13 -
Any Israelite or any alien living among you who hunts any animal or bird that may be eaten must drain out the blood and cover it with earth,- Hunting in the old testamint was prevalent and the Hebrews established rules for eating the meat.
From the verses above you can clearly see that hunting is accepted by God but here is the ultimate verses in support of hunting:
Genesis 1:26 (King James Version)
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
And this one two verses later:
Genesis 1:28 (King James Version)
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
I believe hunting is a activity that God has ordained and the traditions of hunting date back to the beginning of time. Besides if God didn't want us to eat animals he wouldn't have made them meat flavored
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7 comments:
I have to say that I agree with you view. I have placed a link to your blog on mine, www.onthegroundoutdoors.blogspot.com
If you like you can do the same.
Thanks for not being timid about stating what is right.
what about:"How long will the land lie parched and the grass in every field be withered?
Because those who live in it are wicked, the animals and birds have perished." Jeremiah 12:4
Hey Anonymous,
I guess that verse is related but I'm failing to see the connection between that and what the Bible says about hunting. Hunters and anglers are lead the conservation movement.
— To the modern outdoorsman or woman, the absence of abundant game and fish species is incomprehensible. There was a time, however, when these species were hard, if not impossible, to find throughout the nation. Hunters and anglers are primarily responsible for the comeback.
'How can those who take wildlife be giving back?" - Habitat Restoration- A federal tax on sporting firearms and ammunition and archery equipment raises money for habitat and game management.
In the 1930s, habitat loss was widespread and natural resource management and law enforcement was in its infancy, and market hunting in the late 19th and early 20th centuries had taken its toll. Thanks to the modern hunter and some good laws and taxes from the goverment even non hunters can enjoy state and national wildlife areas and see game in those areas.
I've abandoned Christianity a long time ago because the Bible apparently does support hunting. The practice of eating meat disgusts me, and I don't think very highly of a religion that has so much violence in it.
Cetude,
I'll be praying for you at dinner time before I sit down to a big steak. Your religious beliefs must not have been to strong to begin with to give them up over eating meat??? Don't worry though, I get my meat from the grocery store where no innocent animals are harmed for my sustenance.
Acts 10:10-16 (New King James Version)
“Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.”
The Bible does seem to give clear support for hunting for food. The Bible however is not so kind to sport hunting;
Proverbs 12:27 (New King James Version)
“The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, But diligence is man’s precious possession.”
But lets not miss the big picture here. Being a true Christian is not about doing something because you can or because you are justified in doing it, true Christianity is about showing the love of Jesus Christ to everyone in all we do. In John 13:35 Jesus says “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
cetude, I agree with you there is a lot of violence in the world and in the history of the church for that matter, but if one focusses on the symptom of evil in the world they can miss the truth about Christianity, that God sent His son Jesus to pay the price for our sin, and He did this not because He is violent but because God is Loving. It would be a mistake to turn away from God because of the imperfection of man.
It does not matter is you hunt or not, it does not matter if you eat meat from hunting, from the grocery store or not at all, the only thing that matters is the heart in which you do it, that is what God looks at. In Matthew 15:10-11 Jesus says “. . . “Hear and understand:Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” In other words it is what is in your hear that defiles you.
The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:23-26 lays out the ground rules “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being. Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness.” He drives home the point at the end of the chapter, 1 Corinthians 10:31-33 “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense, either to the Jews [your friends] or to the Greeks [non-Christians] or to the church of God [other Christians], just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.” (Brackets are mine to explain the context of the culture in which Paul is writing)
I like what Augustine says “In necessariis unitas, In dubiis libertas, In omnibus autem caritas.” In essentials unity, In non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.
As Christians we are to stand up and fight boldly for the essentials of our faith without compromise, in things that are not essential (like hunting or eating meat) we are to exercise our liberty carefully, seeking not to stumble our brothers and sisters. But above all, in all things we do we are to show the self-sacrificing love of Jesus Christ.
Nathan,
Excellent points. Thanks for sharing!
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