December 23,1996
Dear Br. Wheeler:
Have you ever gone hunting? In East Tennessee, where we live, there are many deer, coon, and bear hunters. I have never even had the thought of going hunting. Even if I did, I probably couldn’t hit the side of the proverbial bran door, so wild animals have nothing to fear from me. Besides I don’t even own a gun and probably wouldn’t know how to use one.
However, many men derive great joy and satisfaction from hunting
innocent animals whose only desire is to be left alone to live
in peace. I don’t know wether you are a hunter or your attitude
toward hunting, but many men, who call themselves good Christians,
enjoy the sport of tracking and killing God’s creations.
No, I am not an environmentalist, or an animal rights enthusiast.
God is not pleased when we hunt his animals for sport but some
men might object to this care for wild animals, by saying that
they are needed for food. There are, indeed, some parts of the
country, where animals are hunted for food but this can hardly
be because they are needed for food. With so much welfare and
food stamps available the hunting of animals for food appears
to be a solution looking for a cause.
I wonder if it is truly possible for a man, who enjoys hunting,
to be a sincere Christian? When a man takes up a gun and searches
the woods for game only to kill and perhaps to abandon his kill
or mount it over his fire place as a trophy, is he exhibiting
the love of the Lord? While it is true that Christ ate fish and
did not condemn the practice of fishing by those who fished for
a livelihood, this was not His original will and is not His ultimate
will. As you know, those who are preparing for translation from
earth to heaven will give up the use of meat as food thus they
will no longer have any excuse for hunting or fishing.
My concern is not so much for the pain and fright experienced by animals who are being hunted but to the destruction of the image of God in men who indulge in this so called manly sport. As Christians, preparing to meet our God, how can hunting or fishing develop the character of Christ in our lives. Everything we do, say, eat, think, read, see, or play should be done with reference to our eternal home. In times past, there may have been some justification for hunting and fishing but times and seasons change. Now, we must ask ourselves, will this or that activity promote or retard the development of a Christ-like character and the love of the Lord? How can we take delight in killing God’s animals on the one hand and love our brothers and sisters on the other hand. Does not the one effect the other and does not the other preclude the former?
When we kill for pleasure and sport are we not reflecting the
character of Satan who was a murder from the beginning?
As I said earlier, I am not a radical environmentalist, but I
desire to ascertain to what extent we should modify our lives
in preparation for the second advent of Christ. I cannot believe
that the Christian man who is eagerly looking for his Lord’s
soon return will be found stalking through the woods, rife in
hand, in search of a deer, coon, or bear to kill? I think such
activities are incompatible with Christ’s character of love.
What was once permitted in former ages and former times may no
longer apply in these days. We are called to an infinitely higher
standard then any previous generation, the standard of sinless
perfection and a perfect reflection of Christ’s character.
No, I should modify that statement, every generation has been
called to this state of perfection but ours will be the first
in human history to attain to the full height of perfection of
character through the grace of Christ. Then let us put away the
hunting of animals and, instead, respond to Christ’s invitation
made to Peter to fish for men. How much nicer to catch men in
the Gospel net then to catch fish only to throw them back after
our picture has been taken with our trophy dangling helplessly
from a hook. Here is an activity that will not ruin the soul or
bruise the image of God which He placed in us. Here is an activity,
the effects of which will last throughout eternity.
Let us question every aspect of current life that we may ferret
out those activities that may seem harmless and inoffensive but
in the light of the cross and the nearness of the end of time,
may no longer be expedient for those who are looking for Christ’s
immanent return.
May the Lord bless you with a full realization of his agape. Your
brother in Christ.
Allen A. Benson