Sunday, 05 September 2010
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Why I Am a Christian Herbivore
Technically my diet is ovo-lacto-vegetarian. I eat eggs and drink milk, but eat no form of meat, including poultry or fish. It has been over two years since I have eaten any meat. But I avoid the term 'vegetarian,' because vegetarianism isn't a philosophy to which I subscribe. Rather, I choose to avoid eating meat as a concrete manifestation of my acknowledgement of Jesus Christ as lord. But how does that work, when most Christians, both throughout history and today are quite enthusiastic meat-eaters.Certainly, they are within their rights to. The Bible speaks to meat eating at a few different points, always emphasizing that eating meat is permissible for Christians. To argue for a form of Christian vegetarianism, as I do, cannot mean to argue that eating meat is a sin. Rather, Christian vegetarianism may be seen as a high point of discipleship, a discipline to which some are called even as many ignore or reject it as a calling. So the question becomes, why do I feel called to abstain from eating meat?
First, the most fundamental task for anyone who claims to follow Jesus is to live as though Jesus is lord. The Bible describes what society was like before human rebellion and what it will be like after Christ's victory is manifested, and in both descriptions the eating of meat is notably absent. In Genesis, Adam and Eve live peaceably with the animals, but are given vegetation and fruit and every green thing to eat, and it is not until Genesis 9, after the flood, that God gives permission to eat meat. And the prophets envision God's future by observing that the lion will lay down with the lamb, the wolf with the goat, and "the lion will eat hay like the ox." Vegetarianism in the Bible is thus a sort of shorthand for the peaceableness between humanity and creation only present when "the right God is worshiped rightly", whereas in this time between the times creation is characterized by strife and violence. Life requires death to continue living, but this isn't how it was meant to be.
So while Christians (and all people from a Christian perspective) are free to eat meat, as a natural consequence of the world's fallenness, I don't see why a Christian who is capable would not find it a joy to participate already in the restoration that creation yearns for.
But there's more. A second reason that I do not eat meat is the state of American industrial farming in general. This is a reason that intrudes more on each Christian, that is to say, it's not something Christians can feel free to simply ignore, because all Christians are called to be good stewards, and industrial farming systems are great for creating profit but absolutely inhumane. The Bible is absolutely clear that the welfare of animals matters to God, which means that Christians have no choice but to take stock of their complicity in systems abusive to animals. I don't feel the need to belabor the point, but even if the individual does not feel called to a meat-free lifestyle, Christian communities can (I would argue must) pay attention to their food, and consider alternative sources. Naturally this might include purchasing free-range meat or joining co-ops of local, non-industrial farmers. There are other, more radical, possibilities.
A third reason comes in far behind the first two. But any decision I can make (growing my own vegetables, riding a bike, shopping from local vendors) that can remove me from the thrall of large, faceless corporations has to be a good thing. Of course, there are large faceless corporations who stand to make a profit on vegetarianism as well, such as Morningstar Farms and PETA, so some care is called for all the same.
A fourth reason is the idea of a bridge across time. Many Christian saints and leaders have felt called to various forms of vegetarianism, beginning with James the brother of Jesus, on through the Desert Fathers, the Benedictines, St. Francis of Assisi, John Wesley (who listed it among his means of grace) and Thomas Merton. There is no consistent line of vegetarianism in Christian tradition, but it does spill over into human time from time to time. Not unlike the Kingdom of God.
These are the main reasons I don't eat meat, and I would encourage you (if you are a Christian) to rethink the practice of eating meat.
Greg Boyd, pastor and theologian, has a series on his own decision to give up meat five years ago. There is some overlap, but not a whole lot. Part one, two, three.
Do you or don't you eat meat? Are your decisions based on scripture or own your own personally held beliefs? Do you think the Bible gives some guidance in this area, or is it up to personal preference?
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About the Author
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- From: SirNickDon@xanga
- Name: Nick Don
- Location: Wichita, Kansas, United States
- About Me: I teach English as a second language for an online school based in Russia. I am working toward a Master's in Theology and working (very slowly) on writing my first book, an introduction to political theology.
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Comments (27)
So eating meat is sinful? Is that what I'm hearing when I read this? God allowed people to eat meat out of the hardness of their hearts? So, when Jesus ate broiled fish with his disciples in John 21, was he sinning in some way? Was he wrong to do so, or was it alright for him to do, but less than perfect for the rest of us? Was he practicing soemthing that shouldn't have been practiced? If ti was okay for Jesus to eat broiled fish, if I don't, does that somehow make me better than him?
Just curious....
Actually if you read the article you can't miss the fact that he clearly expressed that eating meat is not a sin. This is a great article and these are also my reasons for being herbivore.
I do like that you emphasize the difference between sinning and forms of discipleship. All of those are good reasons; I just suck at vegetarian cooking.
Thank you for the article! I'm a vegetarian Christian, and wish more people realized how inhumane and cruel the meat industry really is. Why would anyone want to support that kind of thing? Just because dead animal body parts taste good? Come on...
I also like how you mentioned the Genesis examples. People will tell me that God made animals to be eaten, and I'll point them out to Adam and Eve being vegetarians.
Also, in the Bible, you can see that God does care about animals as well as humans. He saved animals during the Great Flood, mentioned the cattle in the book of Jonah, etc.
But maybe you should rethink drinking milk, or at least reduce the amount you drink it. Female cows are repeatedly impregnated to keep producing milk, and their babies are taken away from them. (Can you imagine if a human woman had to go through that??) Cow's milk is for baby cows! Just like breastmilk is for human babies. Soymilk can be substituted for most milk recipes, and in cereal, coffee, etc.
Hmm. I did the Daniel Fast, which is no meat, no animal products, no sugar, no leavened bread, etc.
I really enjoyed it, actually, and after the fast ended it really impacted my normal eating habits and encouraged me to eat a lot healthier than I ever had (although, I haven't been eating as extreme as the fast; I have allowed myself to eat poultry, eggs, milk, cheese etc.) But I am going to pray about this and see if vegetarianism is something God is calling me to, I really wouldn't be surprised if it was.
meat is wonderful, and the suffering of animals makes it even tastier.
i half kid.
I would be interested to see your evidence, that James the brother of Jesus was a vegetarian.
@JandJinJapan@xanga - you have a perfect right to say what you like, but tagging a lie on the end of it is ridiculous. you aren't "just curious", you're critical, and that's completely obvious. which makes you completely obviously a liar. which doesn't help get your point across. i am not saying that it's wrong to be critical - that's part of blogging and commenting. but be a man and be honest about what you're commenting, please.
now, on to my actual thoughts on the article...i've been leaning toward something of this nature as well, for two primary reasons - the way the meat industry and the way we buy meat in America completely separates the food from the animal's life and death, the fact that the majority of the people around the world can't afford meat and that i want to remind myself that it is a luxury. i'm leaning toward eliminating meat except for meat that i know where it comes from (we buy a side of beef every year from a farmer/butcher who we know) and for special occasions.
@cute_sushi@xanga - You are really twisted. I love the way people twist the bible around to meet there own personal feelings
I enjoy hunting the great white tail waiting and waiting for the right shoot. While I'm waiting I'm enjoying and praising God for his wonderful creation, the animals my health and wisdom. As I aim and fire (sometimes missing) gutting that deer and taking it home having it cut into steaks, jerky and vension burger I'm still giving thanks. When I season that steak in a marinate for 24 hours and through that steak on threw grill @ 900 degrees I'm giving thanks. After I make that tender juice steak. I sit down with my family and I again give thanks to God for his blessing and this wonderful steak. My ponit is how many times do you give thanks for your Tofu and your bean curd?
@JandJinJapan@xanga - Certainly not, and I never meant to portray my decision to abstain from meat as somehow making me more justified or more righteous than another Christian who does not feel such a calling. For me it is not a matter of sin, but refraining from meat is a sign of hope in the restoration of creation.
I had the same question as the first comment, what about Jesus? He not only cooked a breakfast of fish for the disciples but 2 times he helped the disciples catch a LOT of fish in nets to be drug ashore and slaughtered for food. OK, I confess, I'm a meat eater. Never even considered stopping. Why? I'm also a missionary, the countries where I work eat meat. There is a mandate from God telling me to eat what they give me. Why? Most of these places find our refusal to eat something they offer not only an offence but a slap in the face. (What I have served you isn't good enough even though I gave you my very best, which is usually meat of some sort)
I think your disipline is exemplary. But the gospel has nothing to do with it.
I do pray that you will add some 'meat' to your disiplines and use this as a way to spread the gospel. Visit Maharastra or the Jain community and spread the gospel. They need to hear of the Love of Jesus. They would admire your stance on meat, but don't stop there, tell the real gospel. They already abide by the veggie thing!
Hmmm, so you think you know me and these words well enough, porcelain_alice@xanga, to call me a liar ot my face? I sincerely wanted to know what the author's basis was for the his first reason for not eating meat. He said it was a Jesus Christ thing, and my perception of this is that if he is doing it for a Christ reason, then why is it that Christ ate meat and was fine with it, but he wasn't? Why don't you, in turn, be a bit more grown-up, and take the time to ASK people what they mean, instead of giving out labels that is both inaccurate and unkind, something Jesus also spoke against, most particularly in Matthew 5? Perhaps my questions were a bit critical, but they were questions meant to be answered none the less, and, yes, I was (and still am) quite curious.
Thank you, SirNickDon@xanga, for taking the time to clarify what you meant. I sincerely appreciate it.
@JandJinJapan@xanga - i am not saying that you didn't want your question answered. nor am i saying that curiosity wasn't a partial motive. or that you didn't really want to know the author's basis. but your motive for the questions was not pure neutral curiosity, which is what "just curious" means. that is what i was questioning. your comment was perfectly valid, and intelligent besides. that's why it bothered me that you tacked a false "just curious" onto it. if you had ended with "it doesn't make sense to me, and i want to understand," or something like that, i wouldn't be calling you untruthful.
Now you're a mind reader, porcelain_alice@xanga? Interesting. First you label and cast accusation, now you indirectly proclaim that you're a mind reader. My questions were pure neutral curiosity, but read into them and infer what you like. As the author has answered these questions, I'll not comment further, but the next time someone posts something that borthers you, why not TALK to them, instead of labeling them something they're not (God forgave me and cleansed me from being a liar at the age of 7, and I've lived my life since then striving not to be one)? Ditto that for someone who ends a question in a way that "bothers" you....
@JandJinJapan@xanga - i still maintain that neutral curiosity was not the ring of your questions. however, i will try to be better about giving people the benefit of the doubt, remembering that tone often comes through poorly over the internet, and that people sometimes phrase their sentences in a way that implies something they don't mean.
And that is all that I ask, porcelain_alice@xanga. The Blessings of the LORD be yours today...
@catman517@xanga - what are you talking about? Read Genesis and the last line in Jonah. I'm not twisting anything. And yes, I realize that being a vegetarian is a privelege that some people don't have, so I am thankful to my tofu and non-meat foods. ;)
Are you adventist?
I literally have goose bumps!! Thank you for sharing this. I have been a lacto-ovo vegetarian for over half my life. I do periods of veganism too. I have just always been sickened by the concept of eating animals. My blood type is A- and apparently that means I should be a vegetarian/vegan so go figure that I never liked meat.
I am a follower of Christ so this post really touched my heart. I never realized there was a link. I have been to Greg Boyd’s church and I didn’t know he was a vegetarian or had written about it. Thank you so much for sharing! God bless!
@JandJinJapan@xanga - Uh. Didn't this person just say it wasn't a sin. Good grief. READ.
@Cryin_inside_88@xanga - I'm not, and I've really been involved with any 7th Day Adventist church or group.
I've heard that Adventists refrain from meat, but my understanding is that it's part of an overall lifestyle of self-discipline, as they also refrain from alcohol, tobacco and caffeine.
@SirNickDon@xanga - Yeah. My husbands family is adventist.
@Cryin_inside_88@xanga - Sounds like a rigorous commitment.
@JandJinJapan@xanga - Sounds of a meathead choking a chicken...(roaring) sooooo, are you insulting us meatheads? I'll tear the gizzards out with my bare hands if I want too and eat them rawwwwww...how dare you challenge my tongue...I'll just haul off and slap you with it. Don't you know that Jesus said to feed my sheep.