With deer/turkey season right around the corner in our area, I thought now would be an appropriate time to look at this question.
The answer is no. Thanks for reading.
The context of the question appears to be hunting, so I’ll approach it from that angle. Hopefully everyone reading this condemns unnecessary cruelty to animals! A person willing to inflict pain on any living thing for no good reason is probably not capable of showing godly love. Hunting (the way most people do it) is not the same thing as animal cruelty.
After the flood humanity was given total control over animals and permission to eat meat. Maybe this was done as a consequence of massive, planet-wide changes. The post-flood environment was nothing like pre-flood, and lifespans were radically shortened. Perhaps eating meat was a way to compensate (through diet) for all of these changes (cf. Gen 9.3). God made it very clear that eating meat (which necessarily means harvesting) was no longer prohibited.
There’s an ethical way to take game and an unethical way. The overwhelming majority of us are very cognizant of this.
Deer meat is a great source of protein and an affordable way to feed a family for several months or more. The same can be said about most of the other forms of game normally harvested in North America. Most hunters I know harvest game for the purpose of providing affordable meat for their families. It’s also a phenomenal time to bond with family and friends!
Hunting is a critical part of conservation, contrary to its usually-negative portrayal in most movies and shows.1
If you have a Christian family member who has strong negative feelings about hunting, maybe don’t strap a deer to your hood and drive to their house (cf. Rom 14.15-17).
If you like fishing, you know it can be fun; and overwhelming sometimes.
One day I was just sitting at home and one of my friends invited me over to go fishing with them, so I packed my gears and went. On that day I did not catch anything, not even a little fish. On the second I got invited over to go fishing but still I did not catch any fish. On the third day I got invited again so I packed my gear and went and I caught a big fish! That third trip taught me something, to never give up.
Just like the story of Daniel as we read about in in (Daniel 6:10). He never gave up. He prayed to God three time a day and he never stopped praying and God delivered him from the lion’s den.
Or the story of Abraham, as we read about it in Romans 4:18-21. He never gave up. He kept believing he would have a son and trusted God.
We can also learn something from the story of Job as we read about it in James 5:11. Job didn’t give up when he was suffering. He kept waiting for God’s help.
Or as we read in Luke 8:40-48 about the bleeding woman. She didn’t give up trying to be healed. She came to Jesus and he healed her.
Or as we read it in John 17:4. Jesus didn’t give up on saving us!
So we shouldn’t give up either; just because you are having a bad day or dealing with a life crisis that shouldn’t stop you or discourage you from praying to God. Leave you worries to God. You know that He will never leave you if you keep on seeking Him first. And stay courageous because there’s a happy ending and endless joy in God’s kingdom!
Do not give up!
(Jermie is a refugee originally from the Congo who came to the International Center in Bowling Green. He obeyed the gospel only a few months ago! He was invited by another new Christian and fellow refugee, Jonas Gwishi, who was invited by one of our young adults, Chase Johnson)
Peer pressure is a topic that is usually directed toward young people. While this is something that is possibly more temping to teens and young people, adults will struggle with it as well.
Since I was in my teens just two years ago, I can still clearly remember all the times I was pressured into doing something dumb. I sometimes hung with a rowdy crowd (my brothers), and ended up paying the consequences. Fishing on a golf course at night is apparently illegal, and that can get the police called on you. Shooting at geese with a slingshot is apparently animal harassment, and park rangers won’t exactly be happy. Stringing a dead beaver over a walking trail is illegal and you can be fined up to 10,000 dollars. These are just a few random examples or hypothetical scenarios…and definitely not something I did personally.
Peer pressure is a problem we will face. Whether we are in high school, college, or at work. Our peers won’t always make the right choices, but the question is whether or not we will participate? Notice with me four steps that will help us overcome peer pressure:
Develop A New Mindset.
1 Peter 4:1 says, “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.” Think like Christ. Do what’s right, even if it leads to suffering. If we say no to peer pressure we won’t be popular, we won’t feel like we fit in, we won’t feel accepted and we may even lose a few friends. But since we are in Christ we focus on what’s truly important. Christ focused on the bigger picture. Instead of listening to the mindset of the day, He stuck to his purpose.
Peer pressure will tempt us to desert Christ. We don’t join in because we have developed a new mindset. We are reborn and no longer live like the world (Rom. 6:1-2; Gal. 5:24).
Make Decisions Based On This New Mindset.
1 Peter 4:2 says, “so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.” We have ceased from sin so that we can make the most of our time on earth. No longer living for ourselves or for human passions, but for the will of God.
How can we avoid the sin of peer pressure? Make decisions based on our new mindset. We have established our reasoning. We now have a higher calling, and now our decisions are based on this new mindset in Christ.
Love The Sinner, Hate the Sin.
The mood always seems to feel a little uncomfortable when we say no to participating in sin. Our friends may get upset or call us a wet blanket, or even try and say we are acting “holier than thou.” This is one of the biggest obstacles we will face as Christians.
When we say no we must keep 1 Peter 4:8-9 in mind: “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” How can we overcome peer pressure? Love the sinner, but hate the sin. We love the sinner because we want them to receive the same forgiveness and salvation we received. We hate the sin because it’s ugly and opposed to God and our new way of living.
Build Positive Relationships.
Find likeminded people that won’t tempt you to join in with sin. 1 Peter 4:10-11 says, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
What do we use our gifts from God for? If you’re good at working on cars or lawn mowers are you using it for good? Are you good at cooking? Use it for the glory of God. If you’re a funny person, use it for the glory of God. Each one of us must use what God has given us to build positive and strong relationships, ones that are built on support and encouragement.
How can I overcome peer pressure? Build relationships that are centered around Christ. Around His church. Around His plan. Around His people. Build relationships filled with a mutual love and zeal for God.
I love catfishing. Nothing beats the feeling of getting that tug on your line and reeling up a big fish from the deep. But lately I’ve been running into a problem, a problem that I never really faced while catfishing. The past couple of times that I’ve gone out and thrown my bait in the water, certain fish keep taking my bait away before any catfish even have the chance to get close to it. The culprit? Freshwater drum. Don’t get me wrong. They put up a good fight, but they don’t taste near as good as catfish. I decided to do a little digging so I could learn more about these fish that have been giving me a headache lately. I found out some very interesting facts that (as redneck as this may sound) can be applied to us today.
Freshwater Drum are always active; no matter the season, weather, or water temperature. Unlike most fish that tend to slow down in the winter, or swim to deeper water in the heat of the day, the Freshwater Drum is always active. No matter the circumstances, these fish will almost always bite. Paul in his second letter to Timothy tells us something very similar. “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (4:2). As Christians there is no off season. There should never be a time in our lives where we feel like we can take a break. Freshwater Drum are always active, and New Testament Christians should be given the same description.
Freshwater Drum are unique. It’s the only member of the Drum family that lives it’s entire life in freshwater (hence the name). They stand out from other drum because they thrive in saltless water; a trait that no other Drum has. As Christians we have been called to stand out from the rest of the world. In His sermon on the mount Jesus tells us that we must be unique. He says, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). Freshwater Drum stand out as being different from all other species of Drum, and as Christians we must stand out as being different from the world by letting our lights shine.
The male Freshwater Drum is known for its unique “grunt” sound that it produces. In fact, its scientific name comes from the Latin word grunniens, which means “grunting.” This fish was named after the noise that it’s known to make. Even to this day when fishermen hear about Freshwater Drum they immediately think of its grunt. It’s a distinctive trait that attributed to how it was named. When others think of who we are as Christians, what trait do they immediately recall? The words that we speak will cause others to form an opinion about us. That’s why it’s important for us to guard the “noises” that come out of our mouths. Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” May we never forget the power of our words and the effect that they can have on not only our character, but on others.
As strange as this may sound, Freshwater Drum should be an example for us to follow. They remind us to stay active in our faith, to stand out in this sin filled world, and to choose our words wisely.
P.S. Even though they’re a good reminder for us as Christians, I’m still changing my bait up so they’ll quit taking it…
In July of 2001, Kjell Wilhelmsen was fishing for salmon on the Gaula River in Norway. What he saw in the water took precedence. It was Jens Ovesen, a 246 pound man, who had been swept away by a strong current. Wilhelmsen had fished that river for a quarter-century, so he knew the movements of that current. He ran across a bridge and waited for Ovesen to come his direction. Then, with his homemade lure, Wilhelmsen caught the burly 60-year-old by his rubber waders on his first cast. He “used every fishing trick he knew to reel the big man without breaking his light line” (via Associated Press, 7/29/01).
Whatever previous fishing stories Kjell had, this one topped them all. How often does a fisherman catch a person? Jesus calls for it. He tells His disciples, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Mat. 4:19). How does one succeed at such audacious angling? Much like Wilhelmsen did. Experience is a tremendous help. Fishermen hone their skill by many trips and tries. Knowing the waters is also crucial. Fishermen must learn tides, currents, and trends. Then, there is the effort and desire required. Being willing to exert the energy, whatever it takes, in pursuit is essential. What about landing the catch? It’s one thing to get a bite, but another to land it.
God wants us fishing for men. What will it take? Practice. Experience. Knowledge. Patience. Desire. Wisdom. Endurance. Jesus gave His disciples some early “man fishing” tips by example. In Matthew 4, after calling Peter, Andrew, James, and John, He taught in their synagogues (where the fishing was done), proclaimed the gospel, showed interest in people, and helped them (23-24). How much time are we spending at the “fishing hole,” fishing for men?
The Preacher Pollard Blog 