The intent of this essay is actually for personal reasons.  For several years, I have been wanting to organize some thoughts on the topic of eating animals.  The impetuses for this come from the professional challenge of counseling patients on sound nutrition (especially expectant mothers) using evidence-based information, from friends and family choosing a non-animal diet for various reasons, and from a desire to be true to Biblical revelation.  What the Bible has to say about this topic will be the thrust. If you read this, it is obvious that another reason for writing this is to share any insight that I might have. “Sharing” can so easily be tainted with a desire to argue or to manipulate; as a Bible student and teacher for around fifty years, I so badly want to avoid those traps.

Let us start with some defining concepts.

Vegetarianism: “The practice of consuming a diet that does not include the flesh of animals and is mainly composed of plant parts (such as leaves, roots, fruits, nuts, and seeds), along with fungi, and sometimes eggs and dairy products.” ¹

Veganism: “A vegetarian who eats plant products only, especially one who uses no products derived from animals, as fur or leather.” ¹

Pure definitions are helpful, if not necessary, for communication on this topic; but they do not get to the motives.  The motive may be simply nutritional, it may philosophical, it may be spiritual. Motives may be neutral, but in the philosophical and spiritual arenas, they may not be benign.  Spiritual motives for any activity can be difficult to express unless they are disciplined by a canon, “A basis for judgment; a standard or criterion.” ¹  So, let’s get into the canon of the Bible and my understanding of how it impacts this discussion.

1. God ordained the sacrifice of animals, the use of their skins for clothing, and the specifics of which ones to eat in the Old Testament Economy

Genesis 3:21 “And the LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.” ²

1. The first sacrifice of an animal was for clothing for Adam and Eve after the fall.

Genesis 4:4 “And Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering.” ²

1. God was pleased with Abel’s offering of an animal from his flock.

Leviticus 1-9: This long section details how to make animal and grain sacrifices to the Lord.  Based on guidelines, the priests were to eat portions of the sacrifices.  Leviticus 11:1b even says: “And the priest shall offer it up in smoke on the altar on the wood which is on the fire; it is a burnt offering, an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the LORD.” ²

2. God ordained and was pleased by these sacrifices. He made it part of Israel’s worship.

Leviticus 11 (1,2 as a beginning): “The LORD spoke again to Moses and to Aaron, saying to them, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘These are the creatures which you may eat from all the animals that are on the earth.” ²

1. There was no question in the minds of God’s people that certain animals were to be eaten and that they were to appreciate this provision.
2. Jesus and His disciples ate meat and fish.

With the New Testament revelation that the final sacrifice was made in Jesus, we no longer make animal or grain sacrifices.  But there is no Biblical command or even suggestion that man is now to stop eating animals for nutrition.

Matthew 15:32-38

1. Jesus feeds over four thousand people with bread and fish. Jesus not only provided sustenance of bread and fish, But He also blessed that provision for the crowd, His disciples, and himself.

Acts 10:12-15: “And he beheld the sky opened up, and a certain object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, “Arise, Peter, kill and eat!” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.” And again, a voice came to him a second time, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.”

1. This passage has to do with spreading the Gospel to non-Jews.
2. Peter took pride in his dietary restrictions.
3. God would not have commanded Peter to kill and eat if that were against His character.
4. Using the analogy of food, God opens the door to the gentiles.

Mathew 26:17-21

1. Jesus celebrates the Passover with His disciples. This included the eating of the Passover lamb.

Matthew 15:10,11: “And after He called the multitude to Him, He said to them, ‘Hear, and understand. It is not what enters into the mouth defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.’ ”²

1. From a spiritual point of view, this principle eliminates the expectation that eating something or not eating something will make a person more obedient or closer to God.
2. It is clear that Jesus, the Creator, the sinless One, the God-Man, partook gratefully of God’s provision for mankind.

In conclusion, for the Christian believer, the practice of vegetarianism or veganism must be evaluated from the perspective of what defines the Christian faith, i.e. the Bible. The Christian cannot and dare not try to modify the spiritual principles therein.  One can allow for nutritional preferences, although the health benefits of these diets are questionable.  But if one begins considering animals to be something spiritually special and should be protected, that person should remind himself/herself of the stark contrast between the “wisdom” of the world and the wisdom of God.

1. The American Heritage Dictionary
2. The Lockman Foundation. Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible (NASB 1977 edition) (Kindle Location 204). The Lockman Foundation. Kindle Edition.