TITLE:  For Food and Fur
TEXT:  Genesis 9:3-6
PROPOSITION:  Animals have a purpose for man.
QUESTION:  Why?
KEY WORD:  Purposes
READING:  Same
 

INTRODUCTION:

1. There are many animal rights activists – protect the snail darter, save the whales
2. Anti-fur – don’t eat meat – don’t wear leather shoes or clothes
3. While I am for the protection and care of all living things – the Bible is not anti-meat or fur.

Personal note:

1. I have no ax to grind – I do not hunt or fish
2. All I shoot is golf (not very well)
3. I certainly believe that we must:
   1. Use our resources (including food) with wisdom, not wasteful
   2. Not just kill for the sake of the “hunt”
   3. Protect ourselves from unhealthy situations (roaches, rats, termites)

God said:

1. Everything that lives shall be food for you. (3)
2. Even as you can eat every green herb (3)
3. Not eat the blood – but eat the flesh (4-6)

Other passages:

1. Genesis 1:30 – every beast of the field is for food
2. Genesis 3:21 – God made coats of skins for clothing for them
3. Exodus 36:19 – Ram’s skins for covering of tabernacle
4. 1 Timothy 4:3-4 – nothing refused if received with thanksgiving
5. Colossians 2:16; 21-22 – not judge in respect to meat, taste not
6. 1 Corinthian 10:23-26 – eat and ask no questions
7. Romans 14:3; 14-20 – vegetarian or meat eater – both give God glory
8. Acts 10:12-15 – do not call any meat unclean
9. John 4:8 – went into city to buy meat (food)