My wife and I were having a discussion this evening about deer hunting. She asked me why I thought God is OK with me hunting and killing his animals? I really do not have an answer or at least one good enough she will accept.
Gen 1:28 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.
Gen 1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
Gen 1:30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
But I'm gonna crash now . . .I wonder how many verses there are that can relate to this thread!
__________________ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
The Bible does not address sport hunting in any sense. The issue of sport hunting was not a common practice in those days. The reason for this is the fact thatman hunted for food. In order to put food on the tableyou either had to grow it, hunt it, and in some cases buyor trade for it. Furs were sold for money in order to purchase things with, in many cases the furs of animals were currency. ForearlyAmericans, this was the case. You simply did not sport hunt in those days. It is hard to make a sport out of something you did everyday.
Today is a lot different. Hunting is simply not done as a way of life, with few exceptions. Markets are readily available andcivilized cultureshave currency. Sport hunting has evolved simply because man has always hunted, and it is in his nature. Scripture does notindicate either way whether it is ok or not ok to hunt animals for fun or sport nor does it indicatea principlethat wouldassume it as a sin or ungodly practice. Sport hunting does notindicate an evilness of man nor does it producethat attitude. In Genesis we read that animals were created for the benefit of man. Adam was given the pleasure of naming them and they were there for his enjoyment, help, and later on as a source of food.
At the beginning of creation, animals mainly served as helpers and enjoyment andnot food becauseAdam and animals alike did not eat meat, but were vegetarians (Genesis 1:29-30). Note also that man was to rule over the earth and subdue it. The earth and all thatit had was meant to serve the needs of man. It wasn't until after the fall of man in Genesis 3 did meat become a source of food for both animals and man. Since the animals and the plants of the earth were put under the control of man, God gave the responsibility to man to learn and to use them to his pleasure.
Sport hunting has it purposes also, although different by far in meaning.Conservationists would all agree that sport hunting is healthy in keeping the population of a lot of animals in check, healthy, and in a lot of cases more tolerable. I would simply say that there is nothing Biblically wrong with it, however, it is also an issue that each person must make for them self. In the Christian life, it is under the liberty of Christians to do it or to not do it. If you do not feel comfortable with it, then search out why that is and sustain from it. If it is something that you enjoy and wish to continue then fine. The only caution here is for either viewpoint to accuse the other of wrong attitudes concerning this subject. In either case, Paul would say, you are both right.
Thanks for the replies. I have hunted for 10 plus years. I believe I am a very responsible and ethical hunter who does not or would not harvest an animal that I was not going to eat. I have on occasion harvested animals and donated them to some Amish friends of mine.But never for the pure pleasure of killing or removing only "trophy" parts.
Gen.9:2-3
[2] And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.
[3] Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
__________________
Jesus said, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mark 13:13.
Live Life in such a way that those who do not know Christ will come to know Him because they know you
my 2cents:
God gave us dominoin over the animals/birds,etc... that includes making sure that they are managed properly. Nature, if left alone, would devestate...and more than likely decimate the entire population. we've taken their habitat needed to allow nature to run it's course. hence ,we must make sure that the available habitatisn't over-populated, leading to diseases and starvation. God made us responsible for His creations, and we should do everything within our powers to fulfill that responsibility.....which includes harvesting/culling,etc. Call it "sport" hunting if you will...I won't, for there's nothing sporting about taking a life from something God created....including fish. they are an enjoyable venture alot untertake. great! so do I.... but it's more than a Sport to me. hunting is as engrained in human beings(city-dwellers,too) as is singing/humming/laughing...it's just not excersized thru choice, or necessity these days...but engrained nonetheless.
edit: I also wanna add, that "Trophy" hunting has to be disgusting in Gods' eyes... where it's about the $$$$$$(greed)..and EGOS....and NOT about what GOD did...HE made the animal.....HE gave it the genes.... HE allowed it to live by feeding it...and watering it..... what did MAN do? ....he fired a gun, or shot an arrow... that took it's life(which is acceptable practice,make no mistake)..but it's ALL man did...even if he planted food plots,etc............who made the"crop" ?
Can some give a logical answer
