The world of agriculture, and the food that all people eat, has been forever changed with development of Genetically Modified crops. Many Christians have pondered whether or not GMO crops are a legitimate form of exercising dominion. I would like to examine a couple of areas that Christians should consider.
The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof. Psalm 24:1
The whole earth, every atom of creation, belongs to the Lord. He created it, He owns it. Fallen man always attempts to make himself god and claim sovereignty for himself. We see this everywhere in today’s culture and very specifically in mans attempt to patent life and claim total ownership of it and all its offspring. Should man be able to patent life? This question is very much at the core of the GMO dilemma.
The Law of Divers Kinds, Lev 19:19
Most of the work in GMOs is in direct violation of the Laws and principles of concerning the mixing of species. It is commonplace for scientist to mix the genes of plants, animals and bacteria. In one extreme case they placed human genes in rice plants, not only violating Lev 19 but also make people into unwilling cannibals. There are many differing opinions as to what Lev 19:19 means for us today, even among theonomists. Some argue there is no modern application. Some would argue that principle of this verse probably pertains to preserving genetic diversity, and if this is its purpose, GMOs still violate the statute.
Containment and liability
The courts in our country and around the world have broke with biblical law and centuries of legal precedent. The Bible places responsibility on the owner of agricultural lifeforms to contain them. Examples are found in Exodus chapters 21 and 22. You are required to keep your cattle, for instance, in there own pasture and out of your neighbor’s crops. It is not his job to keep your cattle out of his crops! Since pollen from GMO crops (carrying patented genes) can blow into your crops, it should be the responsibility of the owner to keep the pollen to himself. He should be liable for contamination. The opposite is true in our courts. The man who’s crops are contaminated by GMOs is sued for patent infringement and bankrupted in the process. Man in his attempt to be god and control the world is making great progress in controlling food, and through food, all of mankind.
These are just a few areas within the larger GMO debate that need thinking through in light of scripture. Thoughts and comments welcome…
Posted by Stephanie on January 26, 2011 at 5:05 am
Well, I read this shortly after you posted it and didn’t feel I had much to offer, but made a note to come back to read the comments. I’m bummed. I was hoping to read a rousing (if small) discussion here in the comments!
We are working on being GMO-free. It is important to us, in part for the reasons you have already mentioned, Scott. And we are grateful, that, as usual, scientific study continues to support Scripture (but where are the Christians? Why do they think ‘cheap food’ is ‘OK’?)
Just the *cost* difference for us with chicken feed will be 50-60 cents per pound. We haven’t done the math on turkeys yet and we are half-way with eggs (and choking on where it looks like those costs are going). Owen, 14, is working on a longer term plan to get the hogs off corn because GMO-free corn is out of reach for what we can sell a hog for here.
It is also important to make the switch as soon as possible, because if this last year is any indicator, yields of even GMO crops could drop and even GMO prices could come up to non-GMO levels… wouldn’t that be something.
I know none of these reasons are ‘biblical’ reasons… I’m sure interested in others thoughts and observations.