Meat Consumption: Sin Or Not According To The Bible?

The Bible has been interpreted in many ways to answer the question of whether eating meat is a sin. Some Christians believe that God did not intend for humans to eat animals, and that a vegan diet brings them closer to God. Others argue that God formally approved the consumption of meat after the Fall of Eden, and Jesus reaffirmed this by declaring all foods clean. While some Christians believe that meat-eating is a sin due to the cruelty of the meat industry, others argue that farming is not inherently cruel and that humans are meant to eat meat.

Jesus ate meat

The Bible does not explicitly state whether Jesus ate meat, but there is evidence to suggest that he did.

Firstly, in Genesis 18:1-8, Abraham serves the pre-incarnate Christ a meal of meat, butter, and milk. This is significant because it indicates that Christ ate meat even before he became human.

Secondly, Jesus grew up celebrating the Passover meal, which typically included the sacrifice and consumption of a lamb (Exodus 12). While some scholars argue that there is no specific verse that mentions Jesus eating meat, it is important to note that meat-eating was a norm in the Old Testament, and Jesus never challenged these dominant practices during his ministry.

Additionally, Jesus is described as serving and eating fish on multiple occasions in the Bible. For example, in Matthew 14, Jesus served fish to his followers, and in Luke 24:41-43, he ate fish himself. He also cooked fish for his disciples, as mentioned in John 21:9.

Some people argue that Jesus may have been a vegetarian or vegan, especially considering his teachings about kindness and compassion. However, the biblical evidence suggests that Jesus likely consumed meat, including fish, during his lifetime.

God's change of heart

In the Bible, God's relationship with humanity changed after the Fall, and so did humanity's relationship with meat. Before the Fall, God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, where they lived in innocence, walking with their Creator and cultivating the earth. They were allowed to eat the fruit of every tree except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They did not eat meat, and God did not permit them to eat animals.

However, after the Fall, sin and death entered the world, and God's relationship with humanity changed. After the Fall, God told humanity:

> "The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands. Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you." (Genesis 9:2-3)

Here, God formally approves the consumption of meat, except for meat that is still saturated with blood. This change in God's stance on meat-eating is likely due to the altered relationship between God and humanity after the Fall.

While the Bible does not specify what people ate between the Fall and the Flood, it is clear that after the Flood, God gave humanity permission to eat meat. This permission was likely a result of the further deterioration of humanity's relationship with God due to sin.

In the New Testament, Jesus "declared all foods clean" (Mark 7:18-19), lifting all restrictions on food consumption and allowing people to eat whatever they wished according to their conscience.

While most people of faith today do not believe that eating meat is a sin, there is a growing number of Christians who believe that being vegan or vegetarian brings them closer to God and aligns with God's original intention for humanity's diet.

The Bible's stance on eating meat

The Bible does not explicitly forbid the consumption of meat, but it does provide guidelines on which animals can be eaten and which cannot. In the book of Genesis, God tells Adam that he may eat the fruits and seeds of every plant but must not eat meat:

> "Behold, I have given you every herb-bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you, it shall be for food." - Genesis 1:29

This passage suggests that God intended for humans to follow a vegetarian diet. However, after the Fall, when sin entered the world, God told Noah that humans could now eat animals:

> "Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat." - Genesis 9:3-4

Here, God seems to be striking a balance, allowing meat consumption but prohibiting the consumption of blood. This could be interpreted as a concession to human carnivorous urges rather than a direct endorsement of meat-eating.

The Bible also provides specific instructions on which animals can be eaten. In Leviticus 11, God speaks to Moses and Aaron, listing the animals that are permissible to eat. These include animals that "part the hoof and are cloven-footed and chew the cud" (Leviticus 11:3), fish that "have fins and scales" (Leviticus 11:9-10), and certain birds and insects (Leviticus 11:20-23).

Later in the New Testament, Jesus declares all foods clean (Mark 7:18-19), suggesting that people are free to eat whatever they wish according to their conscience. The Apostle Paul reinforces this idea, stating that it is lawful to eat anything because Christ has cleansed believers from the inside out (Romans 14:14-16).

While the Bible does not explicitly prohibit eating meat, some Christians interpret it as God's ideal standard for non-violence and compassion towards animals. They believe that abstaining from meat brings them closer to God and aligns with the prophesied Peaceable Kingdom in Isaiah.

In conclusion, the Bible's stance on eating meat is nuanced. While it allows meat consumption, it also sets guidelines and encourages compassion towards animals. Ultimately, it leaves the decision to the individual's conscience and their interpretation of Scripture.

Animals are capable of moral behaviour, empathy and attachment

Animals are capable of moral behaviour, empathy, and attachment.

Moral behaviour

Anthropomorphism is the human tendency to see human characteristics or mental states in non-human agents, such as animals. This is a key aspect in the formation of the human-animal bond and the practice of pet-keeping. It allows people to identify and address the needs and psychological states of animals in a context of reciprocal beneficial interaction.

Empathy

Empathy is a key component of interpersonal relationships and a central aspect of the human-animal relationship. It promotes social interactions, motivates prosocial behaviour and caring for others, inhibits aggression, and is an affective/cognitive prerequisite for moral reasoning and behaviour.

Empathy is considered a fundamental component of human emotional experience and has an essential role in human social life and interactions. It is associated with prosocial behaviour and a reduced acceptance of animal cruelty in children, adolescents, and adults.

Attachment

Attachment is a particular emotional bond that a person or animal establishes with another individual perceived as stronger or wiser. It is a typical characteristic of human beings and represents a profound need with biological bases and evolutionary roots.

Attachment to pets is associated with empathy, attitudes, and prosocial behaviour towards animals. It is also linked to anthropomorphism, which is the human tendency to see human characteristics or mental states in non-human agents.

The cruelty of the meat industry

While the Bible does not explicitly state that eating meat is a sin, there is an increasing number of Christians who believe that being vegan brings them closer to God. This is based on the interpretation that God did not intend for humans to eat animals when He created the world.

However, the meat industry is responsible for immense animal suffering and death. Factory farming, in particular, has been called the largest cause of animal abuse in history. Here are some insights into the cruelty of the meat industry:

The meat industry inflicts relentless cruelty on various animals, including pigs, sheep, cows, chickens, ducks, and geese. These animals endure suffering and torment throughout their short lives, often spending them in filthy, crowded, and unnatural conditions.

Intensive Confinement

Animals on factory farms are subjected to intensive confinement, crammed into tiny spaces with limited movement. For example, pigs are kept in cages so small they cannot turn around, and egg-laying hens are kept in small wire cages, often stacked on top of each other. This lack of space causes frustration and stress, leading to aggressive behaviour and health issues.

Deprivation of Basic Needs

Animals in the meat industry are deprived of their basic needs and natural instincts. They never experience the sun, fresh air, or socialization. They are unable to engage in natural behaviours such as rooting around in the soil, building nests, or interacting with their parents. This deprivation can lead to psychological trauma and abnormal behaviours.

Inhumane Treatment

Farm animals are often subjected to inhumane and painful procedures. For example, chickens may have their beaks amputated with an infra-red laser, and pigs may have their tails cut off and teeth ground down, often without painkillers. Additionally, force-feeding ducks and geese for foie gras production involves pumping massive amounts of food into their stomachs through long tubes, causing intense suffering and health issues.

Lack of Veterinary Care

In factory farms, many animals suffer and die without receiving proper veterinary care. Sick or injured animals may be tossed into trash bins, killed with hammers, or thrown against walls. The focus on maximizing output and minimizing costs often comes at the expense of animal welfare.

Transport and Slaughter

Animals are transported for miles to slaughterhouses, often without food or water and exposed to extreme weather conditions. At the slaughterhouse, they may be ineffectively stunned, resulting in conscious animals being slaughtered, skinned, or plunged into scalding-hot water. The entire process is terrifying and stressful for the animals, who are fully aware of the fate that awaits them.

The cruelty inflicted on animals in the meat industry is undeniable. The conditions they endure are far from the humane and happy image often portrayed. It is essential to recognize that these sentient beings deserve better and that we, as consumers, have the power to make more compassionate choices.

Frequently asked questions