Is Eating Meat a Sin?

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                                     Is Eating Meat a Sin?

Is eating meat a sin? What does the Bible say about eating meat? In this article, you will learn more about the Christian view on eating meat.

Vegetarians avoid meat for various reasons – some people are vegans because they believe that animals are living creatures who feel pain and suffering just like humans. These people believe that killing these animals and taking away their lives is sinful.

In Christianity, it is believed that God gave humans the responsibility to take care of the earth and its inhabitants. This has led to a debate on whether or not eating meat is a sin or not.

Pastor Rob Munro, who is the founder of Saint Francis of Assisi Parish of The Humanitarian Church, believes that any Christian who eats meat stands a chance of blocking his blessings from God.

Also, Marc Gellman in one of his articles wrote:

"It is clear God does not want us to eat meat. The fact that man is made in the image of God and animals are not does not mean we are allowed to kill animals for food. If killing another person is a capital crime and sin, then killing animals for food is also a sin'' [1].

  Many Christian sects believe that eating meat is a sin. Some Christians believe that eating meat has negative consequences on one’s faith . In response, other Christians point to scripture in which God gives man and beast as food, as well as Jesus’ example of eating fish and honeycomb in Luke 5:1-3.

What Does The Bible Say About Eating Meat?

In the Bible, the book of Genesis (1:29) states that God gave humans and all animals green vegetation, fruit trees, and seeds as food. Later in Genesis (9:3) Noah is given permission to eat meat after God’s universal flood.

Genesis 9:1-3 (New Living Translation)

''All the animals of the earth, all the birds of the sky, all the small animals that scurry along the ground, and all the fish in the sea will look on you with fear and terror. I have placed them in your power. I have given them to you for food, just as I have given you grain and vegetables''

Is Eating Meat a Sin?

The quick answer is No. Eating meat is not a sin according to the Bible. There is no verse in the Scriptures that suggests Christians are committing sin by eating meat. The idea that eating meat is a sin is one of the many attempts by vegetarians to discredit meat eaters. They do this by twisting certain verses of the Bible

We know the Bible forbids the Children of Israel to eat certain types of animals deemed unclean in the Old Covenant, but that does not mean eating animals in general is a sin.

Leviticus 11: 1-8 (KJV)
  And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them, 2  Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. 3  Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat. 4  Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 5  And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 6  And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 7  And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. 8  Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you. 

We are also told later in the New Testament that Jesus himself declared all foods clean.

Mark 7:18-21  (KJV)
  And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; 19  Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? 20  And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

Do Catholics Eat Meat?

Catholics do eat meat just like any other Christian. Catholics are prohibited from eating meat on Fridays during Lent, which is the 40-day period prior to Easter. Catholics believe that Jesus, who was flesh and blood, died on Friday, so people should not consume animal flesh on that particular day. However, the Church permits the consumption of of fish on that day.

The Catholic does not teach that eating meat is a sin. Historically, no Catholic ever taught that eating meat is a sin according to the Bible.

Were Adam And Eve Vegetarians?

Some have claimed that Adam and Eve were vegetarians and did not consume meat. While it is true that the first human ate only plants, we read from the Scriptures that God instructions on eating meat changed after the global flood in the days of Noah.

Some scholars even argue that the Lord did not forbid the consumption of meat entirely during the Pre-Noahic flood. According to them there is no Biblical evidence that suggests Adam and their progeny ate only plants. 

What Prevents a Christian From Eating Meat?

Most Christians do not consume meat due to certain reasons. For some, it is for their health since consuming too much meat has negative effects on the body.

Another reason a Christian may not eat meat is their faith. Christians are told in the Scriptures not to consume food offered to idols.

Acts 21:25  (KJV)
But concerning the gentiles who have believed, we wrote, having decided that they should stay away from meat offered to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication.

Revelation 2:14  (KJV)
But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immortality.

New Testament Verses About Eating Meat

1 Corinthians 8:3-5 (KJV)
 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.4  As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. 5  For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 

Revelation 2:14 (KJV)
But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immortality.

1 Corinthians 8:12-13 (KJV)
  But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 13  Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. 

Romans: 20-21  (KJV)
  For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. 21  It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak

Conclusion

Is eating meat a sin? We can see from the above scriptures that there is nothing wrong with eating meat. Christians who eat meat should not worry about their salvation. You are not sinning against the Lord by eating meat.

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Online Source

[1] https: //www.t henewsstar. com/ story /news/ local/ blogs/2018 /06/22/ bibles- stance-eating-meat-may- surprise-you /721359002/

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