Your article about Jesus not being a vegetarian opened my eyes
Question:
Hi! I am 18 years old.
I have read one of your articles regarding whether Jesus was a vegetarian, and how, in regards to the Bible, the idea is all false.
I am thrilled to read this, for I have been long deceived by these lies about Jesus and his relation to the Essences, which are indeed not mentioned in the Bible.
It makes me so angry that for so long I have thought that eating meat or other foods would slow my progress to coming closer to Christ and that I kept things about food in mind when I didn't have to.
Anyway, I hope to come and read some more on your website, but because I stumbled upon right when I was about to leave the computer, I'll have to do it some other time.
Please pray for me, for I want to remain in the faith and walk abiding in the Word of God.
Answer:
I am pleased to have been of some small service as strive to "grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ" (Ephesians 4:15).
Mankind has long had a problem with assuming that deprivation somehow leads to a more spiritual life. Paul warned, "Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations -- "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," which all concern things which perish with the using -- according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh" (Colossians 2:20-23).
It is Christ Himself who indicated that the dietary regulations of the Old Testament would no longer be in place under His law (Mark 7:19). Paul stated, "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).
If I can be of further service, please write again.
Response:
Thank you dearly for writing back, and indeed you've pinned it to a 'T' what I was troubled with. I've come to notice that men, especially some of the Catholic religion in the past, all the ascetic monks took up an imbalanced lifestyle in a desire to strengthen their spiritual life. In my mind, it made sense to me that perhaps it would create a spiritual breakthrough in following an ascetic life, with changing your diet, and such things of the flesh.
I thank God that now I see the lie in all of it because none of my church members really paid attention to that and ate meat and soups and any sorts of meals, and I was against my being separate or different from my brothers and sisters. I didn't want to be like, "Oh, sorry, I'll have something else." Not because I was afraid, but I just knew that it would cause confusion and useless contention. I also knew that Jesus said it's okay to eat anything, for it is what comes out that makes the heart unclean, not what comes in. But, also I had another side saying to me that I'll advance more quickly if I abstain from seemingly fleshy things.
Anyways, I hope that in the future, if perhaps I meet someone with similar troubles I'll be able to admonish them and explain to them that I've been through it and point them to the solution, which is in the Word, where it explains that which you've said regarding it being a false commandment of men.
