How far should a Christian go in making sure meat was properly prepared?
Question:
How far does God expect Christians to go in determining if meat has been properly prepared for consumption (i.e. the blood has been drained and the animal has not been strangled)? I know that I Corinthians 10:25-31 talks about not asking questions for (the other person's) conscience' sake, but to what degree do you think this applies? While it is not strictly a sin to eat things sacrificed to idols (if done with proper understand and without offense), animals with the blood still in them should not be eaten.
For example, if I go to a fish fry, should I ask the host if they bled their fish? Also, what about meat sold at the store? Surely it's next to impossible to determine how the meat was processed.
Thank you for your diligence in the ministry of the faith!
Answer:
Under the Old Law, the rule for proper bleeding of meat stated, "Therefore I said to the children of Israel, 'No one among you shall eat blood, nor shall any stranger who dwells among you eat blood.' Whatever man of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who hunts and catches any animal or bird that may be eaten, he shall pour out its blood and cover it with dust; for it is the life of all flesh. Its blood sustains its life. Therefore I said to the children of Israel, 'You shall not eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off'" (Leviticus 17:12-14). Generally, the process of butchering meats allows the blood to be drained.
In the United States, meat sold in market places must be properly prepared and stored, this includes bleeding. If you are served an animal cooked whole, it would clearly be a case of not eating it. But even with fish, they are gutted prior to cooking, which does allow any blood to flow out of the meat.
Of greater concern to Christians is avoiding products that purposely include blood, such as blood sausages.
Response:
Thank you very much!
