Is wasting food a sin?

Question: Hello, Brother in Christ! I recently got into a discussion about the usage of food in certain parlor games and advertisement tactics. In these situations, people would buy food and use it as paraphernalia to perform the game mechanics or as a way to advertise a product. The result of this is that the…

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Give Us Our Daily Bread

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Give-Us-Our-Daily-Bread.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 6:9-13   I.         When God created man, he was placed in a garden that provided his needs – Genesis 2:8-9             A.        But man sinned and was driven from the Garden – Genesis 3:17-19             B.        The basics of sustenance was no longer provided. It had to be worked for – II Thessalonians…

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Why the Old Testament Diet?

by Terry W. Benton Photo by Lily Banse on Unsplash God “imposed” food and drink laws on Israel, not on us (Hebrews 9:10) until the time of reformation. The time of reformation is the New Testament age under Christ. Under Christ, the earthly food laws of the Old Law are not binding (you can go…

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Does “abstain” mean we have the freedom to choose to follow or not?

Question: Good day brother Jeffrey, I need your help with this translation of Acts 15:20-29 because I do not have the knowledge to read this. I just came across one preacher who said the word “abstain” means to choose not to partake. We have the freedom to choose to follow or not, but I strongly…

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Was Jesus a Vegetarian?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/WasJesusAVegetarian.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Genesis 9:1-7   I.         Back in 1999, the Omaha World-Herald had a hilarious article on a then new advertising campaign by PETA. [Bill Broadway, “Jesus Used in Latest PETA Ads,” Omaha World-Herald, 17 March 1999]             A.        They claimed that Jesus was a vegetarian.             B.        Their “evidence”?                         1.         A belief that Jesus was an…

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Can Christians eat animals caught in a trap?

Question: Please, sir, can Christians eat animals caught with a trap? Answer: There are no rules about how an animal is obtained. What is required is that the meat is processed such that blood is drained from the meat. “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no…

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Did animals start eating meat after the fall of man?

Question: Thank you for the wonderful and comprehensive website with so much Bible-based information.  I’m reading it daily and learning so much. Many thanks. One question comes to mind that I did not find an answer to, although the Bible does mention that the first animals in creation ate the grasses of the field.  Were…

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Why do Christians think they can sin and not go to hell?

Question: Hi sir, I am Muslim, and I have some questions. Please do not ignore them. In Pakistan, where I was brought up, I had a lot of Christian friends. I use to visit their homes and I always felt comfortable with them. I have been to their churches and always stared at the beautiful…

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Acts 11 does not prove we can now eat pork

Question: You said we could eat pork and pulled Acts 11 out to debate your cause, but you see that that vision was talking about the Gentiles if you keep reading on. The Bible tells us to get the conclusion of the whole matter. Answer: In “Uncleanness,” I said: “While many of the items selected…

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On Stoning Adulterers and Not Eating Shellfish

by Hugh Fulford via The Fellowship Room Periodically — at least three or four times a year — someone feels compelled to demonstrate his or her lack of knowledge of the Bible by writing a letter to the editor of the local newspaper railing against Bible-believers who oppose homosexuality. (Capital punishment of convicted murderers is another…

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Food, Gimmicks, and Recreation

by Jeff May Problems arise as we strive to serve God faithfully, but God has given us a tree – the tree of Calvary, to be used in such situations, just as Moses cast in the tree at Mariah to resolve the problem of the bad water (Exodus 5), and Elisha cast in the tree…

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Carnal Appeals

by Greg Gwin Free pizza, clowns, hot air balloon rides … you name it, and some religious group has tried it as a scheme to draw folks to their services. These things are fun! Who wouldn’t like to play ball, eat good food, and be entertained? But, here’s the problem — these things all appeal…

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Is it a sin to eat bone marrow?

Question: I would like to know if it is a sin to eat the blood inside the chicken’s bone. Before I got converted I used to eat it, but after I started to doubt if it was a sin or not too, so I would like to know if it’s a sin to do that.…

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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…

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The change in food laws was an act of the Roman Catholic church

Question: I was reading your article you had done concerning Animal Rights and the Bible, and upon reading it you stated that the Most High had given Israel food laws, and then stated the Most High changed the food laws in the book of Acts. Sir, that teaching is totally false and because the Roman Catholic…

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What is gluttony and are all pleasure-seeking activities wrong?

Question: I recently stumbled upon a Wikipedia article on the Seven Deadly Sins, one of which is gluttony.  I had always thought of gluttony as an immoderate consumption of food, but Catholicism apparently expands this definition to include: 1) eating too soon 2) eating with condiments 3) eating too expensively 4) eating with pleasing the palate…

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Is it a sin not to eat meat?

Question: I am a vegetarian, I am also Catholic. I read a page on your web site: Did Jesus Eat Meat? This subject has always been a struggle for me. My question to you is: Would you agree that when we are judged will we also be judged upon our merits and what is in our…

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When and why did humans start eating meats?

Question: When and why did humans start eating meat? Answer: When the world was first created, mankind was given vegetables to eat. “And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall…

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Are there medicinal foods?

Question: In my readings and Bible studies, I have seen that there is mention of certain items of food that were to be included in the Passover meal. In particular, I am wondering about ‘bitter herbs’. Do you know, or does the Bible clarify, what these herbs were? And why would they be included in…

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Should Christians avoid unclean foods?

Question: I read your article and liked it very much! I would like to make a comment though about eating unclean meats. I am not saying that by eating them a person will not be saved, because we are saved by grace. But if we want to be free from disease and sickness, then we…

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How do you present an attractive meal for a five-year-old child?

Question: How do you present an attractive meal for a five-year-old child? Answer: My first thought was why would a parent want to cater to the whims of a child? Is it for a special occasion? Or is the child ill and not eating well? Or are you as the adult trying to win points…

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Notes on Food

Early diet for men and animals was plants – Genesis 1:29-30; 3:18 That included fruit – Genesis 2:16 Man’s diet was changed to include meat after the flood – Genesis 9:3 Beans Beans – II Samuel 17:27-29 Lentils – II Samuel 17:27-29 Bread Cakes – Genesis 18:6-8 (note: kneading shows gluten in the flour) Flour…

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Don’t you feel any compassion for the suffering animals?

Question: Thank you for your reply. I do appreciate it; however, you have not answered my question: do you feel any mercy or compassion for those animals’ suffering? How do you think it would feel to have been killed with a bow and arrow? Also, I note your extreme defensiveness and hostility toward me in…

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I’m offended that you defend eating meat

Question: I would just like to say that I am a Christian and a vegetarian.  I was kind of offended by your defending of eating meat.  You made it sound like anyone who doesn’t eat meat is ridiculous.  And your implication that vegetarianism is a departure from Christianity is very wrong and offensive.  I also don’t think…

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Evidence that meat is acceptable food offends a reader

Question: It is very strange for you to promote the most horrible farm animals’ suffering by support meat/dairy/egg consumption in our society of factory farms and meatpacking plants where terrified, trembling animals are on one side and cut up meat comes out from another side! Your messages are the reason why so many people want…

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Does Abel’s sacrifice prove meat was eaten before the flood?

Question: I read your article on Jesus eating meat. You make the point that God gave plants to be eaten in the beginning. Then you state that was changed at the Ark. However, Abel was a keeper of sheep (Genesis 4:2) and he sacrificed the sheep with the fat (Genesis 4:4). Though it is not…

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What did Jesus eat while he was on earth?

Question: Where would we find in the King James Version of the Bible what Jesus ate while he was here on earth? Answer: The particular version of the Bible will not make a difference in answering this question. There is an article located on this website that deals with your question. Please see the article,…

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Isn’t vegetarianism the ideal for man?

Question: Hello. I recently read your article and was very intrigued at your points of view. I would like for you to address two points for me: First of all, the Lord’s prayer says, “on earth as it is in heaven.” The Garden of Eden was the perfect creation. There was no sin at all.…

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Was Jesus a Vegetarian? Did Jesus Eat Meat?

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton On March 17, 1999, the Omaha World-Herald reprinted a hilarious article by Bill Broadway of the Washington Post. It seems the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have launched a campaign to claim that Jesus was a vegetarian. Billboards stating “Jesus was a vegetarian. Show respect for God’s creatures…

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Animal Rights and the Bible

by Darryl G. Treat (With special thanks to Jeff Hamilton and Dana Treat) Is it morally wrong to hunt, kill and eat animals?  Do you or someone you know believe that it is?  Some animal rights activists have even made the claim that Jesus was a vegetarian, and in order to show respect for God’s…

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