What are Christians views on killing and eating animals?

Question

I could be wrong but I don't think the commandment 'Thou shall not kill' (pardon me if this is not the exact wording) says anything about this being in mere reference to humans. Killing is the ending of a life, animals have life too. They have thoughts, emotions.....does God find this acceptable? Why would he make them live just so we could kill them? He could have provided a nutritious form of food similar to animal flesh without having to end the life of the creature each time smoeone is hungry

I don't want this to be a discussion on the ethics of eating meat, just wanting to know why God's law does not apply here.

And if there is another verse in the Bible somewhere saying it is acceptable to do so, then why does this contradict the commandment?

Help appreciated

Nexus - Ok fair enough. But then (I am NOT intending to be offensive/crude/horrible etc... I am trying to understand the logic) is it acceptable in God's eyes to commit beastiality because he gave us dominion over the animals?

Scott B - you have missed my point. Yes,I understand the nutritional value of eating meat. Thats why I pointed out that God could have created a food source that provided the same nutritional value but without having to take a life

Pam - How do you know 'Thou shalt not kill' refers to humans? The Bible says 'Thou shalt not kill', not 'Thou shalt not kill humans, but thou shalt kill and eat animals'

Dusty - "As it is written: "Everything that lives and moves will be food for you".....so we can eat people? Thats what God's word is?

Would someone like to explain how it is not possible to 'murder' an animal?

Lix - that is noe of my points. At one point God says that it is ok to eat animals....but the commandment says you shouldn't kill/murder.

You are only interpretting that the commandment refers to humans because it suits your belief. If you read the text (the so called Word of God) you will see it does not say 'Thou shalt not murder humans'

Answer 1

Allow me to explain the Hebrew word that is translated "kill." It is the word "ratsach," (Pronounced raw-tsakh') and is Strong's Reference # 7523. It is a primitive root; properly, to dash in pieces, i.e. kill (a human being), especially to murder. You cannot "murder" an animal.

Further, after the Flood, God gave people the animals to eat, rather than the vegetarian diet.

As it is written: "Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything." (Genesis 9:3)

In fact, God's requirements for sin forgiveness in the Old Testament specifically required the killing of an animal, and the eating of its meat.

Beef! It's what's for dinner!

RESPONSE TO YOUR ADD'L DETAILS: You apparently didn't even read the definition of kill. It means "murder," and as I explained, that means human life, not animal life, so no, you can't eat humans. The reason that killing animals is not murder is because God gave the animals for us to kill and eat.

Answer 2

The command is "Thou shalt not murder", I don't think it applies to animals. God seems to have no problem with humans eating meat or killing animals.

Genesis 9 v3 God gives Noah permission to eat meat "Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants."
Exodus 12, God orders the Hebrews to kill and eat a lamb as part of the first Passover.

However it seems vegetarianism was the norm before the Fall, Genesis 1 v29-30, speaks of every living thing eating "green plants". But then again, it doesn't really explain when carnivorous and omnivorous eating habits came into the natural world.

Answer 3

In Genesis 9:3 God tells Noah that every thing that moves upon the earth shall be food for him and his family just like the plants. This and several other verses where God instructs His people to eat things such as the Passover Lamb tells us that God did not mean for animals to be included in the commandment that says "Thou shalt not kill". God fully intends for people to eat animals. That is probably the reason animals were created in the first place. Thou shalt not kill refers to the shedding of innocent human blood. It could be translated "thou shalt not murder". God has used instances of wars and capital punishment all through the Bible to show that this commandment does not refer to these practices. You must not take the commandment out of the context of what God is teaching. God uses wars to punish nations. He endorses capital punishment to punish criminals. He provides meat for our table through the animals. He abhors people who kill someone without cause. If God were against the killing of animals, why does the lion eat the roebuck or the spider eat the fly. While it is true that someday the lion will lay down with the lamb, it will not happen until the Prince of Peace sets up His kingdom. Until such time, enjoy your steak.

Answer 4

The Bible does not contradict anything it has to be prayerfully studied as a whole not just by one verse. I believe God gave us certain animals as nourishmeant and no I do not think it is wrong to kill them if they are being used for that purpose! Jesus fed fish to 5000 and I really believe the commandment is ment for people. Animals do not have souls! and yes I am an avid hunter and I still have a peaceful relationship with God. I donate alot of good, nutritious meat to charities to help feed the poor and its not junked up will all the additives we find in today's grocery stores.

Answer 5

Although animals are alive they, unlike humans, dont have souls. Until the time of Noah humans were vegetarians but after the Flood God told Noah he could kill and eat any animal he wanted.

God didnt create animals just 2 be eaten He created them 2 play a part in His creation but God put humans in charge of looking after the animals so if we need food we are entitled 2 kill and eat them.

The commandment not to kill, applies only 2 humans because only humans have souls.

Hope this helps =]

Answer 6

Sorry but the commandment only applies to killing humans. If you took time to read the bible, God actually gives us listings of animals we can eat and those we should not. Read Leviticus. Your logic is kind of strange anyway. If you want to include animals in one commandement, you have to include them in all. Just how do you covet a donkeys wife, or steal from a pig. Even God says the smell of cooking lamb is a pleasing aroma!

Answer 7

God gave humanity permission to eat meat after the Flood (Genesis 9:3). In the Old Testament law, the nation of Israel was commanded to not eat certain foods (Leviticus 11:1-47), but never commanded against eating meat. Jesus declared all foods, including all kinds of meat, to be clean (Mark 7:19). As with anything, each and every Christian should pray for guidance as to what God would have them eat. Whatever a person decides to eat is acceptable to God as long as we thank Him for providing (1 Thessalonians 5:18). 1 Corinthians 10:31 declares, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

Answer 8

You are correct if you are talking about just killing.

BUT

God said, Thou shalt not

MURDER.

There is a big difference between murder and killing. We have to kill animals in order to have any meat.

AND,

God gave us everything

INCLUDING,

animals to eat. Eating animals is a personal choice. It does not mean we are wrong if we kill animals and gorge on their meat; provided we do not include the Blood. That is way I like my stakes

medium-WELL

done; the key being on the well done part.

Answer 9

I believe Jesus even ate meat and references several times about a common practice of his day which was the sacrificing of animals. His story about the prodigal son includes the image of the father killing the fatted calf for the feast. My own belief is that God places animals in the world for various functions including food for man. It is the way of the world. Indiscriminate killing of animals would be wrong, but native americans would not have survived the winters without hunting buffalo. When we took animal fat out of the diets of eskimos they started freezing to death, clearly there are reasons to eat animals. Thus justification for killing them.

Answer 10

Think of the animal chain,
about the commandment, thou shall not kill, mean a human life. God created animals so that we human can have food to survive. if you read the bible carefully you will see scriptures where they slaughter lamb and sheep to eat.