our need to feed greed

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 23:21:57 -0400

According to the dictionary on the os-x system, agriculture by definition is “the science or practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops and the rearing of animals to provide food, wool, and other products.” Recently I started and since stopped reading a book, “Let Them Eat Precaution”. The author, a microbiologist supports the scientific technology of genetically modified agriculture. I use the term agriculture instead of food here, because in case you didn’t know the cotton you’re wearing on your body right now is most likely genetically modified. I don’t want to get caught up in the argument of secular verses religious rights and wrongs of biotechnology. Why? The Vatican and The Church of England have been quoted supporters of genetically modified goods if it provides aid to the less fortunate (3rd world country citizens), but Christian groups like Christian Aid, and Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility are positioned against the technology for the lack of research on the long term effects of producing and consuming such goods. “Let Them Eat Precaution” states the positives of genetically modified agriculture as a way to, “make things easier.” But we humans, creations of a living God, are not here on earth to live “easy” lives, not even when it comes to the primeval science of agriculture. During the fall of mankind God speaks to Adam saying, “cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread.” We learn from this passage; Genesis 3:17-19 that we’re going to experience pain in farming, we’re even gonna sweat! The word continues in vs 23, “God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken”, we’re instructed to work, and with that work comes hardships as we deal with the thorns and thistles. Is genetic modification making things easier, or is it an act of turning away from God, and a turing to ourselves and desires.

A statement ensuring mass production “makes things easier” may be true to some extent, but when ‘things’ are easy what what happens physically to our body, mind, and heart? (side note on the heart, food does not feed the spiritual heart only the Fathers spirit). Our ease in agriculture enables us to feed our greed. In this culture we want more for less; more food for less money in a value meal, more clothing for less money in a blank-mart, we even want more health for less effort in trendy diets, prescription drugs, bypass surgeries. This ‘less’ becomes ‘more’ and more less as mass production feeds our greed and our greed demands mass production. Don’t believe me, good! Let’s turn to some scripture. Isaiah 5 speaks of the Israelites who produce wild grapes which are sour -this passage is not about food but is an allegory, to understand its meaning read Christ’s words in John 15. I want to look at vs 8-10 which speak on the subject of greed, “woe to those who join house to house, who add field to field, until there is no more room”, according to the notes in the ESV because God gave land to specific Israelites who had fallen on hard times, for the people to then conduct business with a lack of care for God’s grace led the people to greed and God’s wrath (vs 5-6). Because I respect the writings of our theological scholars, I quote their footnotes on the word, “by accumulating more and more land, the powerful are driving the weaker members off the land that God allotted to them, and all for greed. But God sees to it that these landowners who force others out not receive the profits they expect” (as reflected in vs 10).

We can see this passage as a parallel to today’s hot topic. How? The factor of greed, genetically modified agriculture is not just a reflection of the consumers greed, but also the greed of the producers and manufactures. Companies like Monsanto are able to patent seeds, grains, produce, whatever they genetically modify. Doesn’t sound like a big deal, right? Well when the majority of soy bean and soy bean byproducts consumed on a daily basis in this country is owned by one company, greed and the consequences of our actions are evident. Some advocates may say “we have the freedom to decided to hurt ourselves in this way if we desire”, but what about when we are hurting others? Monsanto who has received funding from the drug giant AstraZeneca to work on a genetically modified rice called “golden rice”. The product is modified white rice with a gene from daffodil and some kind of bacterium, it is modified to enrich diets in third-world countries with beta carotene (which is only going to help if other vitamins are present in diet for carotene to convert to vitamin A). It’s one thing for Monsanto and any other ag-corporations to desire to humbly serve the citizens of third world countries, but when a company patents seeds, and requests governments to sign absurd contracts on farming their seeds, we witness the greed of “accumulating more and more land, the powerful driving the weaker members off the land that God allotted to them”. Why not teach and train men of this countries to plow and farm the land? Why take their land, charge money for the services, and penalize broken contracts? Do these companies truly care for the welfare of the less fortunate? Possibly, but I believe they care far more about filling their pockets more and more “until there is no more room”.

But revenge belongs to God, and so “ten acres of vineyard shall yield but one bath (22 liters), and a homer (220 liters) of seed shall yield but an ephah (22 liters).” With this knowledge let us not be ignorant to the greed that lies in our hearts and the hearts of these mass producing giants. Let us deny ourselves and desires -that may include abstaining from genetically modified agriculture and the companies that feed our greed. Let us teach the less fortunate how to plow and farm the land that God gave them. The prophet Jeremiah writes God’s instructions to the exiles, “build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce” (29:5). My final thought; like people, when science goes away from God and his desires it withers and dies. As genetically modifying anything is a reflection of turning away from God, as one will not depend on Him but on science, we are like Israel in Amos 4:6-13, for God has blessed us and taught us His way but still we do not return to Him. But, “prepare to meet your God, O Israel! For behold, he who forms the mountains and creates the wind, and declares to man what is his thought, who makes the morning darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth- the Lord, the God of hosts, is his name!

eat this not that

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:51:48 -0500

food in the word

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:10:23 -0500

what’s hermeneutics and why do I want to eat with it?

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:40:54 -0500

I decided to start this blog in question of the right and wrong in the production and consumption of food. Not for the sake of legalism, but in an effort to glorify our Creator- healthily. Recently I’ve begun to question my right in advising others on what and what not to eat, “nutrient-lacking soda and ammonium processed burger, no thanks”. The many scientific and politically based views on agriculture, and nutrition do not discern biblical truth in our practices of farming, processing, and consuming foods. So unlike a number of food-blogs out there this one is based on biblical perspective.

I believe in the inerrancy of scripture- that is to say God’s word is the ultimate Truth, therefore I will look to biblical scripture for the truth on our role and practices as related to food-issues. Think of it as a light unto our path (Psalm 119:105). In . This blog aims to honor God’s word in Deuteronomy 8:3, and Matthew 4:4 “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God”. With that said, hermeneutics is the interpretation of scripture. My interpretation of the scripture may differ from the interpretation of others (as is the case with division in the church), so I admit here that it is God’s word which is the ultimate truth, and not my interpretation. I am not a theological scholar, nor an apostle, I am a simple student desiring wisdom, thankfully the Word imparts understanding to the simple (Psalms 119:130), and this understanding is discerned through the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:6-16).

Eating with hermeneutics- is to say that I aim to eat with a biblical perspective. Food is vital to our livelihood, it nourishes the body, yet there is a variety of food in this country that effectively produces more harm than good. Should we ignore the negative health effects of some foods? Or the damage done to the environment in the over-production of others? And what of importing foods from abroad- our purchase may provide the citizens with a livelihood, but what of sustainable agriculture? This and more I question, and pray to seek answers through scripture, knowledge of gifted writers and theologians. We hear the world-view daily, but I would like to see and share a biblical perspective.