Plant-Based Diets: Biblical Or Unholy?

There are differing opinions on whether a plant-based diet is biblical. Some Christians interpret Genesis 1:29-30 to mean that vegetarianism was part of God's original plan. In these verses, God gives humans and animals a plant-based diet, and God declares this creation very good. However, Genesis 9:3, in which God tells Noah that every moving thing that lives shall be food for you, is seen by some as God lifting the strictly vegetarian program outlined in Genesis. Later, the Levitical law distinguished between clean and unclean foods, permitting the Israelites to eat certain types of meat. In the New Testament, Jesus declared all foods clean (Mark 7:18-19), and Paul wrote in Romans 14:2-6 that people should not judge one another based on dietary choices. While some Christians interpret these passages as finalizing the shift away from Old Testament legalism and emphasizing individual conscience, others argue that God permitted the eating of meat as a concession to humanity's fallen state.

Genesis 1:29-30: God's plant-based diet for all creatures

Genesis 1:29-30 describes God's plant-based diet for all creatures.

> Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so.

In the beginning, God gave both man and animals a vegetarian diet. This is supported by the fact that in the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam and Eve plants and fruits to eat.

> Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.

However, after the flood, God told Noah that animals would now be their food, although they were not to eat animal flesh which contains blood.

> Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.

Some Christians interpret this to mean that vegetarianism was part of God's original purpose and plan for both man and the animals. Because of that, they’ve decided that vegetarianism is a necessary part of a redeemed and sanctified life.

Genesis 9:3: God permits meat-eating after the Flood

Genesis 9:3 is often interpreted as God permitting meat-eating after the Flood. The verse reads: "Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything." This is the first instance in the Bible where God explicitly permits the consumption of meat.

Before the Flood, humanity's diet was primarily plant-based, as indicated in Genesis 1:29, where God gave Adam and Eve every seed-bearing plant for food. However, after the Flood, God tells Noah and his family that they can eat "everything that lives and moves about," which includes animals. This expansion of dietary options can be seen as a reflection of God's generosity and provision for humanity's needs in a changed world.

Theological implications of this verse highlight God's sovereignty and authority over creation. By giving permission to eat meat, God reaffirms His role as the ultimate provider. Additionally, this verse emphasizes the theme of stewardship, as humans are entrusted with the responsibility of managing the earth's resources, including its animals.

It's worth noting that while Genesis 9:3 allows for meat consumption, it also comes with an implied responsibility. Just as Adam and Eve were tasked with caring for the plants, Noah and his descendants are now responsible for caring for the animals, even as they use them for food.

The historical context of this verse is crucial to understanding its significance. The flood had wiped out nearly all life on Earth, and Noah and his family were the sole survivors. As they stepped off the ark, they faced a world drastically altered by the flood, with disrupted ecosystems and uncertain food availability. In this context, God's command to eat "everything that lives and moves about" likely served as a reassurance that there would be enough food to sustain them.

In summary, Genesis 9:3 marks a significant shift in humanity's diet, expanding it to include meat. This change reflects God's provision, sovereignty, and the fallen state of the world. It also underscores the importance of responsible stewardship of God's creation.

Leviticus 11: Clean and unclean meats

In the book of Leviticus, God gives laws to the Israelites through Moses and Aaron about which animals are "clean" (lawful for eating) and which are "unclean" (not to be eaten). These dietary laws specify that land animals that can be eaten are those that have divided hooves and chew the cud. Animals that only chew the cud or only have divided hooves are unclean and not to be eaten. This includes the camel, the hyrax, the rabbit, and the pig. Similarly, the Israelites are allowed to eat water animals that have fins and scales, while those that do not possess these features are unclean and not to be eaten. Birds of prey are also considered unclean and are not to be eaten, perhaps because they eat blood.

The reasoning behind these distinctions is not entirely clear, but scholars speculate that animals of each group (land animals, fish, birds, insects) must exhibit certain characteristics emblematic of that group. For instance, a fish must have fins and scales to be considered clean. Other scholars argue that there is an ethical component to these dietary laws, suggesting that the Israelites are to value life, including the lives of animals, and thus only a few "clean" animals can be killed for food.

These dietary laws were later lifted by Jesus, who "declared all foods clean" (Mark 7:18-19).

Mark 7:18-19: Jesus declares all foods clean

The question of whether a plant-based diet is biblical is a complex one, with various interpretations of Scripture influencing people's views. Some Christians interpret the creation account in Genesis as an indication that vegetarianism was part of God's original plan. In Genesis 1:29-30, God tells humans that they have been given "every plant yielding seed...and every tree with seed in its fruit" for food, and that "every green plant" is given to the animals "for food". This passage suggests that God's original intention was for all creatures to follow a plant-based diet.

However, after the flood, God tells Noah that "every moving thing that lives shall be food for you" (Genesis 9:3), marking a shift from the strictly vegetarian diet outlined in Genesis. Later, the Levitical law made distinctions between clean and unclean foods, permitting Israelites to eat certain types of meat (Leviticus 11).

In the New Testament, there are several passages that are relevant to the discussion of a plant-based diet. One key passage is Mark 7:18-19, where Jesus addresses the issue of dietary restrictions:

> "Are you still so dull?" He asked. "Do you not understand? Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him, because it does not enter his heart, but it goes into the stomach and then is eliminated." (Thus all foods are clean.) He continued: "What comes out of a man, that is what defiles him..." (Mark 7:18-20)

This passage has been the subject of much debate and interpretation. Some Christians interpret Jesus' words as a declaration that all foods are clean and, therefore, permissible to eat. They see this as a shift away from the dietary restrictions of the Old Testament and an affirmation of Christian liberty and individual conscience.

However, others argue that Jesus' statement is not about dietary choices but about the Pharisees' tradition of handwashing before eating. In this interpretation, Jesus is saying that what goes into a person's mouth does not defile them because it passes through the body and is eliminated. The focus, they argue, is on the distinction between external rituals and internal purity, with Jesus emphasising that true defilement comes from within.

The original Greek manuscripts of this passage do not include the phrase "in saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean", which has been added by some translators for clarity. This addition has been the subject of debate, with some arguing that it changes the meaning of the passage and is not supported by other Gospel accounts.

Another relevant New Testament passage is Acts 10, where Peter has a vision of a sheet containing all kinds of clean and unclean animals. He hears a voice saying, "What God has made clean, do not call common" (Acts 10:13,15). Christian vegetarians and vegans interpret this passage as being about who the Gospel is for, rather than about dietary choices. They argue that God is reminding Peter to "remove barriers of fellowship and to reconcile with those from whom we have been separated" (Sarah Withrow King).

In summary, the interpretation of Mark 7:18-19 and other relevant passages is a complex and ongoing discussion within Christian communities. While some interpret these passages as a declaration that all foods are clean, others argue that the focus is on internal purity rather than external rituals. Ultimately, each individual must make decisions about their diet that align with their understanding of God's will, even if others disagree.

Acts 10: God tells Peter not to call any food common

In the tenth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, there is an account of a vision given to the Apostle Peter. In this vision, Peter sees a large sheet being lowered from heaven by its four corners. The sheet contains animals of all kinds, and Peter then hears a voice (which he interprets as a command from God) saying, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat". Peter refuses, saying, "I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean". The voice then says: "What God has made clean, you must not call profane".

Some Christian vegetarians and vegans argue that this passage is not about which animals one may or may not eat but is about who the Gospel is for. According to Laura Hobgood-Oster, "The vision, it seems, is not about eating animals; rather it is about extending hospitality to all humans. While animals in sacred texts are often real animals and should be considered as such, in this particular case, it seems that in Peter’s vision, animals symbolized human categories that exclude other humans from the community."

Sarah Withrow King writes that God uses this vision to remind Peter that he is to "remove barriers of fellowship and to reconcile with those from whom we have been separated in order to further the reign of God on earth.... The vision is one of radical inclusion." John Vujicic agrees with King, observing that, after receiving the vision, Peter did not eat anything. Vujicic writes, "In the sheet were also so-called CLEAN animals. Peter could have at least selected some sheep or cattle and killed them, but he didn’t." According to Vujicic, the reason Peter didn't simply take and eat a clean animal was because Peter was, in fact, a vegetarian. Peter is reported as describing himself as a vegetarian in the apocryphal Pseudo-Clementine Homilies.

However, some disagree with this interpretation, arguing that God was, in fact, telling Peter that he could eat any animal. For example, one source states that "God told Peter not to call any food profane or unclean, meaning that he could eat any animal". This source goes on to say that "Peter was very hungry and God was telling him to kill and eat the animals that were in the sheet".

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