Does God want people to be vegetarians?

[GodLovesCats]

Someone posted a verse that implies Jesus does not want people to eat any kind of flesh. He is free of sin, of course, so I am confused about it when considering Leviticus lists meats that can be eaten. Specifically, they are animals that chew cud and do not have split hooves, with those species named, or certain birds that are also named. What exactly is permitted in our diet?

 

[TuxAme]

Jesus Himself gives us His Flesh to eat (John 6, the Last Supper accounts), so I don't think we have to be vegetarian.

And, of course, you listed precisely what meat the Israelites were and were not permitted to eat; and do we even need to mention the Passover lamb?

 

[Loyce KG]

Someone posted a verse that implies Jesus does not want people to eat any kind of flesh. He is free of sin, of course, so I am confused about it when considering Leviticus lists meats that can be eaten. Specifically, they are animals that chew cud and do not have split hooves, with those species named, or certain birds that are also named. What exactly is permitted in our diet?

Anything you want to eat, go ahead.

“One person has the trust that will allow him to eat anything, while another whose trust is weak eats only vegetables. The one who eats anything must not look down on the one who abstains; and the abstainer must not pass judgment on the one who eats anything, because God has accepted him —”
‭‭Romans (Rom)‬ ‭14:2-3‬ ‭CJB‬

 

[GodLovesCats]

That verse is about not judging people who choose what they eat.

 

[ewq1938]

Someone posted a verse that implies Jesus does not want people to eat any kind of flesh.

Jesus ate the Passover lamb and ate fish so he did not promote vegetarianism in fact I can't think of any scripture that shows that he ate vegetables except bread.

 

[LynnSmith]

“The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.

In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.” “No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean. ” But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.”
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭10:9-10, 12-15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

[Jonaitis]

Someone posted a verse that implies Jesus does not want people to eat any kind of flesh. He is free of sin, of course, so I am confused about it when considering Leviticus lists meats that can be eaten. Specifically, they are animals that chew cud and do not have split hooves, with those species named, or certain birds that are also named. What exactly is permitted in our diet?

The dietary laws in the Old Testament were intended for the people of Israel only (and the church that was in her at that time), but it has no application to us. It was in connection to their law, their covenant relationship with God. It separated them from the rest of the nations as a peculiar people to God himself in that particular relationship.

We have a different relationship with God than Israel: they had Canaan, we have Heaven; they were an earthly kingdom, we are an heavenly kingdom; they enjoyed temporal blessings as a consequence of their obedience to his law, we enjoy the eternal blessings as the consequence of Christ's complete obedience under the law and atoning death. We have better promises, with a better covenant, with a better Mediator (Heb. 8:6). Old Testament Christians enjoyed both, looking by faith into Christ they saw in types, shadows, and prophecies, as well as enjoying the privileges under the Law of Moses as members of Israel.

All food is now clean for the Jew, and it has always been clean for the Gentile. Enjoy your liberty.

 

[Ttalkkugjil]

Someone posted a verse that implies Jesus does not want people to eat any kind of flesh. He is free of sin, of course, so I am confused about it when considering Leviticus lists meats that can be eaten. Specifically, they are animals that chew cud and do not have split hooves, with those species named, or certain birds that are also named. What exactly is permitted in our diet?

We can eat anything, but vegetarianism does seem to be the kinder way. Veganism kinder still. Personally, I'm currently transitioning to the latter.

 

[StephenDiscipleofYHWH]

Someone posted a verse that implies Jesus does not want people to eat any kind of flesh. He is free of sin, of course, so I am confused about it when considering Leviticus lists meats that can be eaten. Specifically, they are animals that chew cud and do not have split hooves, with those species named, or certain birds that are also named. What exactly is permitted in our diet?

These are the dietary laws in the New Testament.
All Foods are Lawful to eat:
1. All meats are clean(Matt 15:11,17; 1 Cor 10:23,30; Colossians 2:16; Romans 14:2,3,5,6,14,17,20; 1 Tim 4:34,5; Mark 7:15,18-19; 1 Cor 6:12, 13)

2. All food is made clean only by thanksgiving and prayer(1 Tim 4:3,4,5; Romans 14:2,3,5,6,14,17,20; 1 Cor 10:30). Ephesians 5:20 give thanks for all things in the Name of the Lord.

3. The kingdom of God is not what we eat(Romans 14:14,17,18,20)

4. All meats are clean so none can judge us in what we eat(Colossians 2:16; Romans 14:3,4,10,13)

5. What we eat is not a sin if we are strong in the faith and believe that any food is okay to eat and not a sin(1 Tim 4:3; Romans 14:5,14,20; 1 Cor 10:23)


When/How a Food Becomes unlawful to eat
1. If we eat and it become evil spoken of, it is a sin(1 Cor 10:30;Romans 14:16)

2. If we eat and it brings our brother to stumble or bring him to offence, it is a sin(1 Corinthians 10:25,27,28,29,32; Romans 14:13,20,21,24)

3. If we do not believe and we eat, then it is a sin(Romans 14:15,19,20,21,23)

4. We are to Abstain from eating meat with blood still in it(Acts 15:19-20,27-29; Acts 21:25 )

5 . We are to Abstain from eating meat that has been strangled(Acts 15:19-20,27-29; Acts 21:25)

 

[GodLovesCats]

2. If we eat and it brings our brother to stumble or bring him to offense, it is a sin(1 Corinthians 10:25,27,28,29,32; Romans 14:13,20,21,24)

So if I eat meat and you steal it or tell someone a lie about it, I sinned by eating the meat?

 

[StephenDiscipleofYHWH]

So if I eat meat and you steal it or tell someone a lie about it, I sinned by eating the meat?

That's not what it means at all sister.

If we eat something in front of our brother that he deems unclean then we bring him to offense by our meat, and we also put a stumbling block and an occasion to fall in his way. Because in eating this meat he deems to be unclean in front of him we may end up provoking him to eat out of unbelief and therefore we lead him to eat the meat in sin. Whatsoever is not of faith of sin.
Romans 14:
13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.


Another example is eating food offered to Idols bringing our brethren to offense or causing them to stumble by our eating.
1 Cor 10:
27If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
28But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:
29Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?
30For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
31Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
32Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
33Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

1 Cor 8:
7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.


If meat causes our brother to stumble or bring him to offense it is a sin. If our eating some kind of food leads a brother to sin then for the sake of our weaker brethren we should not eat that which offends our brethren.

 

[FireDragon76]

We can eat anything, but vegetarianism does seem to be the kinder way. Veganism kinder still. Personally, I'm currently transitioning to the latter.

Albert Schweitzer was a vegetarian. As a youth he had an experience while hunting with a friend, his friend shot a bird and he heard church bells ring and "thou shalt not kill" stuck in his head, and it had such a profound impact on him he became a vegetarian and pacificst. But I think he saw that as something that was just his personal calling.

Fred Rogers (of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood) was also a vegetarian, but he did so for environmental reasons after reading a book about the environmental impact of raising animals for meat.

 

[Ttalkkugjil]

Albert Schweitzer was a vegetarian. As a youth he had an experience while hunting with a friend, his friend shot a bird and he heard church bells ring and "thou shalt not kill" stuck in his head, and it had such a profound impact on him he became a vegetarian and pacificst. But I think he saw that as something that was just his personal calling.

Fred Rogers (of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood) was also a vegetarian, but he did so for environmental reasons after reading a book about the environmental impact of raising animals for meat.

Interesting about Schweitzer. I'd heard of Rogers' vegetarianism in a documentary about him. For me, I do think it's the kinder way to go, and it's also about health.

 

[GodLovesCats]

I did not know that about Fred Rogers. I now Jane Goodall is a vegetarian (probably vegan) and that is all about being a huge animal lover.

So I should not eat meat in front of someone like her, I guess.

 

[Loyce KG]

That verse is about not judging people who choose what they eat.

Exactly. You are free to choose what you want to eat.

 

[eleos1954]

Someone posted a verse that implies Jesus does not want people to eat any kind of flesh. He is free of sin, of course, so I am confused about it when considering Leviticus lists meats that can be eaten. Specifically, they are animals that chew cud and do not have split hooves, with those species named, or certain birds that are also named. What exactly is permitted in our diet?

Leviticus spells out for us what is food for us (speaking animal-wise) and what is not. Some (the nots) are very understandable, such as predators or garbage feeders. Regardless it would seem best to follow as stated in Leviticus as the Lord knows best.

Beyond that being a vegetarian is a personal choice.

Appears in the new earth we will all be vegetarians as well as the animals.

Isaiah 65:25

The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but the food of the serpent will be dust. They will do no harm nor destruction on all My holy mountain,” says the LORD.

We are ... however ... reminded:

Romans 14

3 The one who eats everything must not belittle the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted him

Let your own (each ones conscience) be the guide.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Someone posted a verse that implies Jesus does not want people to eat any kind of flesh. He is free of sin, of course, so I am confused about it when considering Leviticus lists meats that can be eaten. Specifically, they are animals that chew cud and do not have split hooves, with those species named, or certain birds that are also named. What exactly is permitted in our diet?

Not everything permitted is good.

From the heart, things done not by faith in truth, but opposed to Scripture, result in death.

Everyone who seeks the truth, who seeks Yahuweh's Kingdom, and keeps seeking,
will find it.

This is the promise of His Word. (along with the curse(s) also, for those who never enter nor even see His Kingdom).

 

[kcnalp]

"doctrines of demons"

1 Timothy 4:1-4
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;

 

[ewq1938]

I thought this was better to be hifghlighted:

"every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving"

Pigs are good to eat

"doctrines of demons"

1 Timothy 4:1-4
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;

 

[Kaon]

Someone posted a verse that implies Jesus does not want people to eat any kind of flesh. He is free of sin, of course, so I am confused about it when considering Leviticus lists meats that can be eaten. Specifically, they are animals that chew cud and do not have split hooves, with those species named, or certain birds that are also named. What exactly is permitted in our diet?

The Adamic diet is the ideal diet for physical representations of the Most High God (sons of God). The body is fed first-rate producer energy which gets its energy from the sun. This is the most efficient way to "eat energy" - which is hat a perfect body would use as fuel (energy).

When the flood happened, (of course the Most High) God knew that not only would the earth change, but people would change. He allowed man to eat animals for denser energy sources (genetic changes and such) - specifically animals that fed primarily on first-rate energy sources (like plants), or have a digestive system that would deposit the least amount of toxic waste into the flesh.

The food laws aren't a burden; they are a medicinal and spiritual blessing. If you keep eating animals that feed on excrement and dead flesh, you may eventually feel the effects - acutely or chronically. The Most High God, after all, created this body. He knows what is best for it - no matter what we say.