jakebelder.com
I agree!
Amen.
How does this effect our approach to the current ecological questions? Should we work to create an ecology that denies the circle of life? Should be create large cattle farms where humans never slaughter, and cattle is protected from wild animals? Should we become vegetarian? I mean, we do believe that we need to live the new life already today? What about Jesus eating fish?
From the context of ecology, I would say restoring the circle of life would God's way
Did your comment get cut off at the end there, Cobus? At any rate, that's a good question. I'm not quite sure how to answer. Obviously we can't deny the so-called "circle of life" because sin retains its grip on creation, and we can't just ignore that. And we don't need to be vegetarians because God has given us the right to eat meat (recall Peter's vision in Acts 10:9-16).
What we need to think about here, it seems, is the idea of common grace. Sin has gained a hold on all of creation, but God has not given it free reign. He restrains it by an act of grace so that even though this world is enslaved to sin, it is not as evil as it possibly could be. I think that if evil were given full reign, everything would have been destroyed long ago. But God is continually at work to sustain His creation. So, this circle of life, while not a natural thing, does have some grace working in it to sustain this biological balance of life.
Obviously it is difficult to speculate about these things, especially to try and think about what it was like before and what it will be like when Christ returns.
There's a few things we need to think about. We need to be careful that in understanding common grace to be at work, we don't just let things be. Mankind still has a great deal of responsibility towards creation, and we simply can't let things be and live irresponsibly. What that responsible action on our part should look like is a matter of debate, but the point stands that we have a calling as stewards. Also, we need to be sure we don't come to idolize the idea that we can perfect nature. We can't. That is out of our control. Sin still reigns. We need to realize the limitations we have as fallen creatures in a fallen world, but then work to the best of our ability as stewards of this creation and to God's glory.
What do you think, Cobus? I know you've thought a lot about these ecological questions.
comment did get cutt of a bit yeah, can't remember what came after, but it was just a few more words.
I responded here.
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