Q&A: Are Christians Allowed to Eat Meat?

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=168 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="129a11c3.png"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Welcome to the Heart4God Website!"><U><B><IMG SRC="4b55a500.png" border=0 width="90" height="80" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Writings of Joseph Herrin"><U><B>Writings by Date</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id212.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Writings of Joseph Herrin Organized "><U><B>Writings by Topic</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.heart4god.ws/Audio/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.heart4god.ws/Audio/index.htm"><U><B>Audio Files</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id690.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Videos"><U><B>Videos</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id323.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Writings of Others"><U><B>Other Authors</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id324.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id339.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Questions and Answers"><U><B>Q&A</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id328.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Heart4God Email List"><U><B>Heart4God E-mail List</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.parablesblog.blogspot.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.parablesblog.blogspot.com"><U><B>Parables Blog</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id306.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="File Downloads"><U><B><IMG SRC="2b264140.png" border=0 width="100" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <bR> <div> <B>Q&A: Are Christians Allowed to Eat Meat?</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="c2827160.png" border=0 width="807" height="22" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> This series of writings on the morality of a vegan diet was precipitated when a Christian sister wrote and asked me to endorse her website and a book she had written on the topic. As many saints are looking into this issue, I felt this correspondence should be posted for the instruction of the body. This sister's words are in blue.</div> <bR> <div> Dear J.,</div> <bR> <div> In your writing you are advocating a totally vegan diet, and you are treating the eating of all kinds of flesh as immoral. You are using language that condemns and vilifies eating meat, such as describing it as ingesting the dead carcasses of animals. On your picture page you state: </div> <bR> <div> you can see how uncomfortable and pathetic looking I was as a carnivorve/omnivore... Once I quit eating animal corpses and body fluids (dairy), my body naturally adjusted to a healthy state and attractive weight. </div> <bR> <div> Additionally, many of the books and links on your site are very outspoken in condemning all the eating of animals, birds and fish as being cruel and immoral. Now, if the Scriptures also say that eating meat of any kind is to be condemned as cruelty, then I would encourage you in the things you are saying and advocating to others, but I cannot find ANY Scriptural support for such an assertion. Saying that this will be the manner of eating in the Millennium is not Scriptural proof, for we are not yet in the Millennial Age. This would be like a Jew under the age of the Law saying that He was not going to keep the Sabbath or offer the required sacrifices because an age was coming when such things would be fulfilled in Christ. We have to live according to the age that we are currently in. </div> <bR> <div> There are a number of Scriptures that stand in stark opposition to any teaching that would say that eating meat is immoral. We would even have to condemn Yahshua as a cruel and immoral person if we teach such things. </div> <bR> <div> Luke 24:41-43<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; and He took it and ate it before them. </div> <bR> <div> Matthew 15:34-36<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> And Yahshua said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they said, "Seven, and a few small fish." And He directed the people to sit down on the ground; and He took the seven loaves and the fish; and giving thanks, He broke them and started giving them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. </div> <bR> <div> John 21:10-13<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> Yahshua said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have now caught." Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. Yahshua said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples ventured to question Him, "Who are You?" knowing that it was the Lord. Yahshua came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish likewise. </div> <bR> <div> Now consider your words again: </div> <bR> <div> you can see how uncomfortable and pathetic looking I was as a carnivorve/omnivore... Once I quit eating animal corpses and body fluids (dairy), my body naturally adjusted to a healthy state and attractive weight. </div> <bR> <div> Can you see that your words are a condemnation of both Yahshua and His disciples? Yahshua was clearly an omnivore. He was not on a vegan diet. Would you describe His diet as "eating animal corpses and body fluids"? To use this language is to cast this activity in the most unflattering light, yet our Savior participated in this behavior. </div> <bR> <div> Matthew 11:18-19<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> 18 "For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, "He has a demon!' </div> <div> 19 "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, "Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds."</div> <bR> <div> Yahshua revealed with these words that people will find fault whether one does a thing, or does not do a thing. Yet it is God before whom we stand or fall, and we must be careful to judge with righteous judgment. Yahweh chose to describe the glory of the promised land with the words, "It is a land flowing with MILK and HONEY." Yahweh used these words in the most positive sense, yet there are many writings on your site that condemn drinking milk. I would agree with you if you would merely point out the way man is corrupting and polluting the milk we drink. But drinking milk is not wrong, and there are some milks that are much healthier than cow milk, such as the goat milk that the majority of the world drinks. This milk is a source of life and nourishment for a large part of the world. </div> <bR> <div> The Scriptures are extremely clear about how we should approach this issue of diet. We are not left without instruction. We are told: </div> <bR> <div> Romans 14:2-3<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. </div> <bR> <div> Notice that this Scripture says that the person on a vegan diet is the one whose faith is weak. His faith and belief does not allow him to eat meat. Paul makes it clear that this person is "not to judge one who eats, for God has accepted him." If God has accepted Him, then how can we condemn such a one? In the same way, the person whose faith is strong and allows him to eat meat without violating his conscience is not to look down on the person who does not eat meat. </div> <bR> <div> Seeing that the Scriptures are so plain on these things, do you not see that you are going BEYOND what the Scriptures teach by condemning such actions and painting them in such a negative way. Paul gives us these further words: </div> <bR> <div> Colossians 2:16-17<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> Therefore<I><B> no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink</B></I> or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day -- <I><B>things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. </B></I></div> <bR> <div> You have asked me to consider endorsing your book and even making a link to your site from the Heart4God site. I would like to do this, because I feel that what we eat is an important matter, and that many saints could be helped by having a good resource on this topic. I think you have some very valuable things to share. Yet my conscience will not allow me to provide this endorsement as long as your teachings exceed the word of God in this matter. I do not want any saints to feel condemned for eating meat, or drinking milk, or to be offended by having such practices described as eating animal corpses and drinking body fluids, when they are doing nothing other than that which our Lord and Savior also did. </div> <bR> <div> Even as I would not condemn you for choosing personally to only eat vegan, I cannot endorse teachings that will condemn those whose faith allows them to eat meat. If the Bible stated that it was a sin to eat meat, then I would agree, but it says just the opposite, and it tells the saints to not let anyone act as their judge on regard to eating meat. </div> <bR> <div> There are so many good and true things that are contained in writings on your website. The saints could profit greatly by learning about the way food products are polluted today with chemicals and hormones and blood and so forth. Such information, along with encouragement to a healthier diet along with recipes and preparations methods, could prove tremendously helpful. But condemning that which God does not condemn is detrimental to the body. </div> <bR> <div> I hope you will not be offended by these words. I always desire to speak the truth in love, and I do love you both, knowing that you are precious in God's sight. </div> <bR> <div> May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days, </div> <bR> <div> Joseph</div> <bR> <div> E-mail: </div> <div> website: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Georgia" ><A HREF="http://heart4god.ws" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://heart4god.ws"><U><U>http://heart4god.ws</U></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>