Dennis L. Finnan Commentator
"The World, the Word & You! Broadcast"

VEGGIE TALES

“DO YOU KNOW WHAT’S THE HOTTEST CRAZE THESE DAYS, EVEN AMONG SOME CHRISTIANS? INDEED, MORE THAN 30 MILLION AMERICANS, FROM TEENAGERS TO ADULTS HAVE EXPLORED THIS AND ARE COMING EVEN TO BELIEVE IT IS OF GOD.”

 I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, The Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment we’ll talk about it…

What’s the hottest craze sweeping our nation in our society today? The answer is VEGETARIANISM! Yes, over 30 million Americans, from teenagers to adults, are turning to a vegetarian lifestyle. These people are doing so for various reasons. Some believe it has been proven to be the most healthful lifestyle, while others are doing so for religious reasons and being led to believe it is even the most Christian thing you can do. In fact, there is a growing teaching today, sponsored by left-wing radical humanist groups, such as People for Ethical Treatment of Animals better known as “PETA,” that claim “Jesus Himself, was a vegetarian!” The problem this has created is that Christians are buying into this. Is it right? Is being a meat-eater bad for you, or worse a terrible evil or sin? Well, after another pause for a musical expression, I’ll tell you all about it, especially as the Bible, the Word of God, has to share on this subject of VEGGIE TALES…

… In the broadest sense, vegetarianism refers to people who have adopted a diet excluding animal products such as red meat, poultry and fish. In place of these dietary foods they’ve substituted grains, legumes, nuts, vegetables and fruit. Most today, from teenagers to adults, do so for religious and philosophical reasons. Even the great Indian guru, Gandhi once said: “I practice vegetarianism for physiological reasons for I believe that animals have souls and spirits too.”

Today radical left-wing organizations like PETA, who so strongly believe eating meat is wickedly immoral, a national evil and now say it’s sinful too. Yes, PETA now is teaching that “Jesus was a vegetarian,” and all Christians should stop eating meat, for to continue to do so is sinful and antichristian. Well, with teachings like that we must answer from the Bible and find out what God really has to say, and whether or not vegetarianism is the new or “old” Christian way.

To begin, we must recognize there are many Christians and non-Christians who have adopted the vegetarian lifestyle, only for what they believe is health reasons. Today, more than one-third of all US teenagers have bought into the teachings of vegetarians and are choosing meat-free diets. Due to this increasing popularity, vegetarian dishes are now appearing in restaurants and grocery stores. Indeed diet and health issues are popular, but also volatile and susceptible these days to political, philosophical activism and consumer fears. However, with the newest and latest teachings that eating meat is not only harmful to you in many ways, the idea that it is un-Christian has joined the ranks. Well what does the Bible say about it?

First of all, we must carefully analyze the religious and philosophical views of those pushing for a vegetarian lifestyle. PETA the radical left-wing group claims to be atheistic and evolutionary; Yet, its concepts border heavily on Eastern religions and philosophies. For instance, Ingrid Newkirk, founder of PETA boldly states: “the smallest form of life, even an ant or a clam is equal to a human being... and there really is no rational reason for saying a human being has special rights.” For decades, the theory of evolution has permeated government schools and colleges convincing young students that people and animals are no different. Therefore man is really just another animal and there is no eternal reality. As a consequence morality is meaningless to an animal, and should be to the human variety too. In this new and unbiblical teaching, the result is animals have been elevated to equal or higher dignity that human life. Again, this is seen in the thinking that results when we accept such false teaching.

University of California professor Kenneth Watt stated: “Human beings, as a species, have no more value (rights) than slugs.” Why shockingly, even Prince Philip of England , World Wildlife Fund leader speaking before the UN said, “I would wish to return as a killer virus to lower human populations levels. What’s happened to us? How did we come to believe that animals and people are on equal status? The answer is the rejection of truth as to who we are as taught in the Bible, God’s holy Word. We now speak today of animal rights which calls first for a vegetarian life style for eating meat of any sort is “murder” equal to that of killing people for food. In addition, radical animal rights groups push to stop all medical research using animals, closing fisheries, stopping all hunting and fishing practices, freeing all animals that are caged in zoos, and allowing all of them to roam freely without fear of any infringement whatsoever.  Furthermore, they want to set aside millions of acres of fertile lands and forests for the protection of animals and to stop the use of them for clothing, shoes, and even food worldwide.

Now back to the issue I’m concerned with and that is the statements coming out today that vegetarianism is the Christian thing to do because Jesus and the apostles were vegetarians.

Does the Bible teach that vegetarianism is the way to go? Well here are some facts you need to know. The Bible teaches,

1.  ALL LIFE ON THE PLANET IS NOT EQUAL – Yes Scripture says that animals and human beings are distinctly different species by creation itself. Of course, any teaching of evolution is not biblical nor true, for God’s Word states:

Gen 1:24-28 (NASB)  “Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind”; and it was so. 25 And God made the beasts of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind; and God saw that it was good. 26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 And God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.””

So we see that human beings are a special creation uniquely created in the “image” of God Himself. Animals are not made in God’s image. Only Human beings are living souls and spirits. Even Jesus himself, declared the difference when He said,

Luke 12:7 (NASB)  “…Do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

2.  ANIMAL LIFE WAS CREATED FOR THE PLEASURE AND NEEDS OF MANKIND – The Bible teaches that everything in this world was created by God, especially the animal kingdom. They were created for the exclusive use, pleasure and needs of the human race. Again the Bible says,

Psa 8:4-8 (NASB)  “What is man, that Thou dost take thought of him? And the son of man, that Thou dost care for him? 5 Yet Thou hast made him a little lower than God, And dost crown him with glory and majesty! 6 Thou dost make him to rule over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet, 7 All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the field, 8 The birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.”

So, animals were meant for servitude, transportation, warfare, and yes even food and clothing. Why in the Garden of Eden it was God Himself who slew two or more animals, to fashion clothing for the first two human beings He created in His image. Listen to the account,

Gen 3:21 (NASB)  “And the LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.”

Now admittedly, sinful man has abused this right and privilege through cruel and inhumane treatment of animals. This is sin, for God expects us to treat them kindly and respectfully as a part of His divine creation. In using animals for food, clothing or other use, we must carefully protect their lives and even the manner of their death on our behalf. Solomon wrote,

Prov 12:10 (NASB)  “A righteous man has regard for the life of his beast, But the compassion of the wicked is cruel.”

So to teach today, that animals are equal to human beings and having equal rights is not Christian and is false teaching.

3.  ANIMAL LIFE WAS GIVEN TO MANKIND EXPRESSLY FOR FOOD PURPOSES – Admittedly, when God first created human life, He did ordain a vegetarian lifestyle. However, we must note, He did so in a world that was vastly different from today’s earth and living needs. Yet clearly, God changed that for after the worldwide Flood of Noah that completely changed the earth, its environs, and our health needs, God specifically told Noah and his family that from that moment on till God revoked it Himself, man was permitted not only to use and kill animals for clothing, transportation, and servitude, but also for food!

Gen 9:3 (NASB)  “”Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant.”

Therefore it is biblical and right for human beings to eat animal flesh. Moreover, God ordained the elect nation of Israel , that He chose and lead, to eat animal flesh. In fact, the institution of the great Passover Feasts of Israel enjoined everyone, none to be excluded, to eat a roasted lamb. Moreover, animals were countlessly sacrificed on Jewish altars for the pleasure and purposes of God. But the real false teaching out today is that Jesus and the apostle were vegetarians. Really, we discover in,

Mat 26:17-19 (NASB)  “Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” 18 And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.”’” 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.”

Without a doubt, Jesus Christ ate the roasted Passover lamb and meal. Even after His resurrection, He returned and planned to dine with the apostles on broiled fish. We read in the Gospel of,

Luke 24:41-43 (NASB)  “And while they still could not believe it for joy [His resurrection] and were marveling, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; 43 and He took it and ate it before them.”

Furthermore, the apostles were not vegetarians either! The apostle Peter ate the flesh of pig, as Gentiles did, and was further actually commanded to eat animal flesh.

Gal 2:11-12 (NASB)  “But when Cephas came to Antioch , I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.”

Acts 10:10-13 (NASB)  “And he [Peter] became hungry, and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance; 11 and he beheld^ the sky opened up, and a certain object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, 12 and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. 13 And a voice came to him, “Arise, Peter, kill and eat!””

Nowhere in all of scripture is any human being, especially a child of God, to refrain from eating animal flesh by a biblical command, or even suggestion. Anyone who teaches this is anti-Christian. In fact, the Bible warns against those who promote vegetarianism as a means of pleasing God, or being righteous.

1 Tim 4:1-5 (NASB)  “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3 men who… advocate abstaining from foods, which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with gratitude; 5 for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.”

The important truth is, Christians are free to eat meat or not eat meat, but to say Jesus, the apostles and early church were vegetarians is untruthful and sinful.

Now let’s address the idea proposed today that eating meat is harmful for us. First of all, if this was so, then God in His Word would have somehow warned us. The Bible is silent about abstaining from meat eating, rather encourages it and the use of animals for man’s needs.

Much is being said these days by even Christians,  that to adopt of vegetarian lifestyle is healthy and necessary for us today. However, let me quote to you from a popular Internet site called WebMD. This is a health site that is run by responsible medical doctors and the health industry for people’s needs and information. In an article entitled “EATING MEAT: A Little Doesn’t Hurt,” doctors are saying that studies show that meat high in saturated fat and cholesterol can indeed increase the risk of heart disease. However, a recent study published in the June 26, 1999 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, found that a little extra-lean red meat in the weekly diet did not increase the risk for developing heart disease. In short, while the “16 oz steak is gone from recommended diets for today’s human being’s good lifestyle, a 3-ounce serving of lean meat a couples times a week is no problem.

Other fears often proposed such as eating animal flesh is unhealthy and deadly ¾ are all unfounded propaganda of the vegetarian promoters who vehemently reject animal flesh for food, clothing and servitude of any sort for anti-Christian religious reasons. The point here is ¾ moderation in all things is always right. So, eating meat is not wrong biblically, morally, nor health wise, but over indulgence is! Why even Solomon wrote forcefully,

Prov 23:2 (NASB)  “And put a knife to your throat, If you are a man of great appetite.”

Lastly, there is one more thing to note about animals in the Bible.

4.  ANIMALS WERE USED BY GOD FOR ETERNAL & SPIRITUAL PURPOSES -

We discover most clearly, that animal sacrifices were used by God to illustrate the greatest human need, the salvation of the human race. Even in the Garden of Eden, God first slew two or more innocent animals, to provide protective clothing for the sinners who were leaving God’s special environment (Gen 3:21 ). “Coats of skins,” were fashioned by God Himself for them to wear to protect them from the hostile environment they were about to enter. From that moment on, God placed in their hearts that animals were to illustrate the need for man to be protected from the hostile elements of the world. Furthermore, God told them to kill animals for sacrifices, so as to point them to see the need for a substitute for their sins. You see my friend, the Bible says when Adam and Eve sinned against God, they came under the universal death penalty God decreed upon all creation. The only way we could be saved was to have a substitute die for us in our place to pay that penalty.

Ezek 18:4 (NASB)  “”Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die.”

Innocent animals had to die in our place, until God himself would provide the greatest sacrifice that would finally pay for the sins of the human race. God pictures in the animal sacrifices the truth He would one day again provide for man’s needs but this time against the hostile wrath of God. Yes, it was the blood-death of the Savior God, the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world.

There on the cross at Calvary 2000 years ago God raised up a human being, the infinite God Man Jesus Christ to die in our place. Thus, all the animal sacrifices down through the ages were ordained by God to teach man His need for a savior to die in our place. Since we are created in the image of God nothing short of a human being could qualify to take our place. Yet, all human beings are sinners.

Rom 3:23 (NASB)  “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

 So God had to fashion a new human being who was not a sinner and never would be, and whose life was not finite but infinite! Who could qualify? The answer is no one, save God Himself. Friend, that is the wonderful story of God’s love! He came to earth, miraculously born a human being, but never losing who He was and is ¾ HE IS GOD! He then offered His perfect life as the substitute for the sins of the world, and everyone who trusts in God’s plan and believes it with all their heart in thankfulness ¾ receives God’s pardon for sin, and applies Christ’s death to our sin penalty and account.

Yes, animals were used to show us the way back to God, to point to the fact that sin is awful and the shedding of blood on the Jewish altars was necessary to bring man to see His terrible need to be saved from the penalty of sin coming, which is eternal death in a place called Hell.

So my friend, I ask you, have you received the Lamb of God who died for your sins? Do you reject all animal sacrifices and slaying of them for these purposes? If you do, then you  have no means ever to be rightly related to God, and one day you will suffer the greatest sacrifice, yourself, to die for your sins.

Now it’s not wrong to be a vegetarian, but only if by personal choice. It is not wrong to eat animal flesh, for God ordained it till He Himself changes that. Let’s be careful though to honor and care for all creation God has given us. Yes, man is to rule over the creation and all animal life. They are in our hands and God expects us to treat them kindly and lovingly. Indeed, some ranching methods of raising and keeping animals for slaughter are questionable and even wrong. Others waste animal life purely for hunting pleasures such as big game hunting. Others kill animals strictly for the lust of money it will bring. God sees this, and will deal with anyone who abuses His creation. But, we who are Christians must not fear the use of anything for God’s command still stands,

Gen 9:3 (NASB)  “”Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant.”

Let us not adopt godless ways, often based on pagan philosophies and even doctrines of demons as Paul states in the Word, to justify animal rights that debase humanity. Indeed, we should be concerned about diet these days too. Eating less meat can be good for you, and eating more fruits and vegetables. But you decide what diet, and let God’s Word stand. Most of all you decide which sacrifices will stand for you? Will it be the animals slain on the altars of time, or God’s lamb, Jesus Christ? On that decision hangs your destiny.

·         Radio talk #0202

·         Broadcast date: January 13, 2002

·         Speaker: Dennis L. Finnan, Commentator

·         Program: The World, the Word & You! Radio Broadcast

·         Address: P.O. Box 40133 Grand Junction, CO 81504

The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures. A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request. These weekly radio commentaries are not exhaustive studies of any particular subject due to the time limit of broadcasting. Actual broadcasts can be heard in selected areas around the nation, as funding provides. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for over 22 years, and serves as General Director.

These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are actual radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of recent messages is available upon request also.

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