Shame on Christians who think God ordained that they should eat meat
Question:
To consume animals that begged for mercy in their own tongue is not conducive to manifesting the fruits of the spirit "as found in Galatians" in fact it is impossible to harm man or beast and still manifest such fruit.
Those who are not merciful will be denied mercy themselves Matthew 5
Also, it is impossible for them to be followers of the Prince of peace, as they are not peaceable and are therefore cannot be the true children of God. Matthew 5
In two thousand years, many Christians have not progressed in love and respect for life, if they believe that it is God-ordained that they should eat meat, then they will also be found adhering to the rest of the so-called divine commands of the Old Testament, bashing juvenile delinquents to death with bricks, buying slaves from the nations, and a multitude of other barbaric acts.
In our attitude toward animals, most Christian denominations have not progressed in the compassion, pity, and mercy that they are very able to do, not in several thousand years instead they have buried their talent in the ground in this respect and have not made it grow.
Shame on such proclaimed Christian denominations.
Answer:
Despite the claim of higher moral ground, let's examine what this person has actually said.
First, he doesn't believe the Bible is God's word. Notice the use of the phrase "so-called divine commands of the Old Testament." Even if he wishes to say that only the Old Testament isn't inspired, he ignores who often Jesus, the apostles, and other writers of the New Testament quoted from the Old Testament to prove their points. When Paul said, "But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (II Timothy 3:14-16), it is both the Old and New Testament which are from the mouth of God.
Second, he thinks that only the Old Testament allows the eating of meat. It is true that the Old Testament is so clear that eating meat is allowed by God that people like this man are unable to deny what is said, so they are forced to deny its authority. "Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs" (Genesis 9:3). But more importantly, he ignores the fact that Jesus did eat meat and even told the disciples to slaughter a lamb for the Passover meal (see "Did Jesus Eat Meat?"). They also choose to ignore the fact that Paul said that God gave men animals to eat. "For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer" (I Timothy 4:4-5). To teach otherwise is a doctrine of demons (I Timothy 4:1-3).
The core problem is that he believes that animals are equivalent to men. Yet the Bible teaches that only mankind was made in the image of God (Genesis 1:24-28). Men have an obligation to treat the animals under their care with kindness, but the fault in his logic is to assume that this kindness means not using animals for food.
While he alludes to phrases from the Scriptures, notice that in every aspect he pulls them out of context making them apply in ways that the original speaker did not believe. He truly doesn't understand what it means to be a Christian because he is focused on his own man-made ideals. "Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation -- as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures" (II Peter 3:14-16). Because others point out that his logic is flawed and that he isn't righteous in his false stand, he deludes himself with claims that his ideals are higher than God's. He believes that because others don't accept his thoughts, then they are barbaric.
I would much rather follow the Creator than such delusional people.
"Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it" (Isaiah 55:6-11).
