Why can animals be used for food, but not men?
Question:
If "Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs" according to your post on PETA's statement that Jesus did not eat meat - what prevents people from eating each other? I am a vegetarian who eats fish. I am not a follower of PETA because I don't like the way they treat people. I'm just peaceful to all living things - the difference for me with fish versus land animals is that fish are not nursing their young - they don't sing to their young as pigs do, they don't nurse their calves as cows do, they don't sit on their eggs as chicken do and Jesus references fish often for meals (not whales). I am curious about your thoughts on this. I am not attacking you, just simply want to understand your perspective a bit further.
Answer:
"Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs. But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man's brother I will require the life of man. Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man" (Genesis 9:3-6).
The same covenant that allows mankind to eat meat also forbids the killing of human beings. Men were created in the image of God, unlike the animals. Men have spirits like God, animals do not.
A whale isn't mentioned by Jesus for the simple fact that it isn't an animal typically found in the Mediterranean -- just as raccoons or kangaroos are not mentioned either. This does not lead to the conclusion that such animals are sinful to eat.
As noted in the article, Jesus would have eaten lamb because it was required as part of the Passover celebration -- and Jesus kept the Law perfectly. The fact that sheep nurse their young does not enter into the question of whether lamb is a meat that can be consumed by humans.
"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).
You place more limitations on your diet than is required by God. Such is your choice, but understand that it is a personal choice -- not one built upon reason from the Word of God.
