A very interesting blog post from Three Hierarchies about the desire of vegetarians (and others) to change the world, and the challenges inherent in their position. He brings in some very interesting contrasting thoughts from Buddhism as well. Perhaps most interesting are his thoughts regarding God giving humanity permission to eat plants and animals. It is an interesting insight and, I believe, has some consequences for how we view stewardship.
Like all world-changers, vegetarians are convinced that with a few simple adjustments, a life without inflicting harm on anyone are within our grasp. I have my doubts. Maybe it is because I sometimes feel uneasy swatting mosquitoes or crushing ants in my house. (And then I do it anyway and feel uncomfortable.) And when I have planted a plant, I have a deep-seated reluctance to kill it; especially if it seems to have a strong desire to live, despite frequent blows.
Maybe I’m just nuts, but I also have a feeling that the permission granted men and animals to eat plants worldwide in Genesis 1:29-30, and for Adam to eat Eden’s plants in 2:16, and the extension to animals (including creeping things like worms and insects) of Gen. 9:2-3 was not just pro forma, that without God’s specific permission it really would be wrong to eat plants. After all He made them and they are also our fellow creation. Do they actually belong to us?