Would Jesus Eat Today's Meat?

Many SDAs reason that if Jesus ate meat, fish, etc. and offered it to others, then we have every right to eat it today. But would He eat the meat and fish that is available at this time? Indeed, we do not have access to the fish, flesh and fowl that was available in Bible times. We have to settle for what is available now. And from my research and study it is in a sorry state. I simply do not trust the ones who produce and raise the poor creatures that so many depend upon for food. Sick and diseased animals are the norm.

More than this, today's food animals are fed ground up carcasses of other sheep, cows and other animals, including their tonsils, intestines, spinal cords, brains, etc. This in the form of rendered pellets, powder or meal, is part of the daily bill of fare for vegetarian (herbivorous) animals that we call "clean meat." In addition massive quantities of blood meal, bone meal and other animal byproducts find their way into their feed. It is grossly unnatural and dangerous to feed blood and other animal parts to cattle, which are natural vegetarians.

And let us not forget the vast amount of antibiotics, hormones, anabolic steroids (the same used by athletes and body builders), and a vast admixture of legal and illegal medications, chemicals and drugs.

Unfortunely, the ill effects of eating a meat-centered diet are epidemic. Study after study clearly demonstrates that beef, pork, poultry and lamb, even when untainted by disease, contain massive amounts of saturated fats and cholesterol, thus helping to clog arteries, hospitals and cemeteries worldwide. Mounting evidence likewise links meat consumption with strokes, cancer, diabetes, gout, osteoporosis and a host of other infectious and inflammatory diseases.

And so the question remains: Considering the sorry state of today's meat, would Jesus partake of it today? Well, let us turn to the "testimony of Jesus, which is the Spirit of Prophecy," Revelation 19:10: "Subsisting on the flesh of dead animals is a gross way of living, and as a people, we should be working a change, a reform, teaching the people that there are healthful preparations of food that will give them more strength, and better preserve their health, than meat." --Ellen White, Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 409.

It should be mentioned here that Ellen White, was a person of like passion as so many of us and struggled with this very issue--meat eating. By the grace and help of the Lord she eventually obtained the victory here and offers inspired counsel on the subject.

Indeed, it is our privilege to benefit from the counsel she gives. Take any one of her books and be thrilled, encouraged, strengthened and uplifted, and yes, for me anyway, shed a few tears. She speaks on many, many subjects--all direct messages from the Lord and I am humbled, thankful, and astounded that God loves and cares for us to the extent as expressed in her many books. And simply by reading her writings, I have been redirected to the Bible and the life-giving message there.

Read The Ministry of Healing for a balanced viewpoint on how to take care of our bodies. This includes sufficient rest, exercise, fresh air, sunshine, stress relief, proper diet, etc. and it points us to the only one who can direct and guide our lives--the Lord Jesus Christ.

Read The Desire of Ages for a magnificant inspired commentary on the life of Christ. Read The Great Controversy for a most enlightening glimpse of last day events. Read the Testimonies, for practical instruction on every-day Christian living. And be prepared to gain a new and exciting appreciation of your Bible. The Spirit of Prophecy is indeed, the lesser light leading to the greater light.

Suzanne

An interesting article appeared in the Spring 2002 issue of [i]EarthSave Magazine. Here Sister Agnita Hill, a 79 year old Catholic nun who has been a vegetarian for many years praises this diet for its many health benefits. This impassioned and articulate spokeswoman for eating low on the food chain, found that after adopting a vegan diet, her angina disappeared and she was able to get rid of 8 different pharmaceutical medications.

Furthermore she started to realize something she had never before been exposed to--that there were serious ethical and moral implications involved with eating meat and dairy. Reading the works of vegetarian theologians and religious leaders like Thomas Berry, Sis. Agnita became acutely aware that the diet she believes literally saved her life also benefited the earth, the people and the animals of this planet.

She quickly subscribed to the words of Thomas Berry that "vegetarianism is a way of life that we should all move toward for economic survival, physical well-being and spiritual integrity."

She believes the scriptural words that the body is the "temple of the Lord," and for both physical and ethical reasons she refuses to deviate from her diet and is fitrmly convinced that if born in this day and age, "Jesus would be a vegan."

She points out that "meat an dairy production are not good ways to use the gifts that God has given us. I'm concerned about the land and water pollution, the waste of food in animal feed that could be used to feed people, and inhumane treatment of animals" in modern factory farming. "If you know the reasons for it, there is a moral responsibility to follow a vegan diet."

She also firmly believes that everyone should only buy GMO-free foods and that factory farming "is a moral issue which should be addressed" by the Catholic Church.

Sis. Agnita follows in the footsteps of other great religious and spiritual leaders in histoty who have followed a vegetarian diet for ethical reasons. She agrees with St. Francis of Assisi who said: "If you have people who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have people who will deal likewise with other people."

Suzanne

I can see how a vegan would object, but if one sees nothing wrong with eating meat, should one object to GMO foods?

Genetically Engineered Food

Also known as genetically modified organisms (GMOs), this food is causing concern in some circles. Indeed, it should perhaps concern all. Since the first genetically engineered food--a new breed of tomato--hit the market in 1994 , the issue has at times dominated headlines in Europe, caused protests, and led to vociferous public debates.

Yes, many are wondering whether this type of food presents ripple effects that we can't anticipate--or reverse. To create a GMO, scientis inject a host organism (a plant) with a foreign gene that will help it resist pesticides, pests, or freezing. Scientists also inject a virus or bacteria to encourage the foreign gene's invasion and an antibiotic marker gene to determine if the process worked. Because debate over the safety of GMOs continues, the FDA provides test and regulation updates. But the U.S. government doesn't require labeling of genetically modified foods. The only way to be sure you're not eating GMOs is by choosing products from certified organic producers who, compliant with USDA guidelines, do not use genetically modified seeds or ingredients.

Nations of the European Union, Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand, and many other countries require mandatory labeling of foods that contain genetically modified ingredients.

Transferring a gene from one species into another may result in unpredictable changes. Indeed living things are very complex and all the components interact. So when one gene is changed, a whole slew of other things change as well--and scientists can neither predict those changes, nor control them.

Indeed, many questions remain that should be of concern to all.

Suzanne

But, for those who eat any and everything, should it concern them?

I, for one, am concerned when eating tomatoes that I don't get frog genes, bacteria genes, or who knows what. But then, I would not eat frog. But for someone who does eat frog, swine, rotting meat full of bacteria and poison, should it concern them?

Sure, as a vegan or vegetarian, or at least a clean meat eater, consuming injected genes from random animals would be a high concern. While a pure gene transfer could be analyzed and determined not to do harm, that technology doesn't exist. There are bits and pieces (or even large amounts) surrounding the target gene and then there are bits and pieces of the bacteria used to insert it that no one really understands what it does. I wouldn't want to be consuming those sort of things when trying to eat a plant based diet. Why.... it would be like feeding meat to cows!

But, if someone is going to eat snake, swine, and squid, what does it really matter to them?

kland,

The issue with animal proteins injected into our vegetables does not concern me on the point of cleanliness. The unclean meats were unclean because of their diseases. An individual protein or DNA isolated from the unclean animal cannot give us worms, parasites, germs, bacteria, or other pathogens.

However, where I see a big problem is more in the realm of general body chemistry. Suppose, for example, that you have developed an allergy to cows' milk. What happens if you eat a new strawberry hybrid called "Cream Strawberry" into which biologists have managed to splice the protein casein, or one of its derivative forms such as sodium caseinate, calcium caseinate, etc., which is the milk protein to which you are allergic?

God was so careful in giving the Israelites regulations on purity as to tell them not to sow their fields with diverse kinds of seeds. In other words, keep the plant genetics pure! Since nature has no way of pollinating plant flowers with animal gametes, and since God even asked the Israelites to keep plants pure from other plant types, it follows that God is opposed to this type of genetic manipulation. It represents impurity of another form.

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

I agree with your thinking, Suzanne...I do not believe Jesus would eat the meat of the day.... If we believe the Spirit of Prophecy, then we must believe that He would not eat what He has counseled us not to eat...

Again, circumstances would dictate what Jesus would do. Obviously He would not violate a "thus saith the Lord". However, in certain parts of the world, where fruits and vegetables are in dire short supply, it seems reasonable to believe Jesus would supplement His diet with the best available meat.

The plant and animal kingdom have been deteroriating since the fall of A&E. Is it possible vegetables need our help?

Outreach for vegetables?
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