is it a sin to not eat meat?

Question

some people today were telling me that jesus doesnt love me because i dont eat meat. they sadi that jesus put animals on the earth for us to live, and by not accepting his gift im sinning.

im really confused because i thought that jesus put animals on earth to live like the rest of us do.

Answer 1

NO

1 Corinthians 8:13
Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.


It's not a sin to eat meat either.

1 Timothy 4:1-4
1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

Answer 2

We are to eat meat in moderation, it says that in the scriptures. Some say eating TOO much meat is sinning. I love meat, I'm not going to lie. But just because you choose to eat meat doesn't mean Jesus doesn't love you! Jesus loves everyone, even people who say horrible things like that.

God put animals on the earth because they are wonderful creations, yes he put them here knowing we would eat them, eventually, but that is not the soul purpose they are here.

Answer 3

Nope... have a salad or a steak! Jesus talked about the fact it is not the food that we eat!

The words of Jesus...
Mark 7:18-23 (New King James Version)
18 So He said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him,
19 because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?”
20 And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.
21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.
23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”

The old testament had this restriction to meat but doesn't say you must eat it!
Genesis 9:3-5
3 Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.
4 "But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it.
* The only restriction is that the blood must be drained from meat.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%209:3-5;&version=50;

In the New Testement it talks about meat and wine offered to idols and to not eat or drink of the foods that will make the conscience or our brothers and sister discomfort. Tell them to read this and that it bothers you to eat meat and maybe they should listen to the words in the Bible and not eat meat around you.

Romans 14:20-22
20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.
21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2014:20-22;&version=50;

So if your friend feels that it is a sin to eat meat AND it bothers them that you are eating it then

1) Just don't talk about it.
2) If you don't want a burger or steak don't go to luch with them.
3) Sit down with the Bible and debate it with them but make sure that feelings aren't hurt and that they will repect your right to disagree. (* Caution may be required here depending on attitudes etc. These people seem to be fools looking for an argument more than searching for wisdom!)

God Bless
Todd

Answer 4

I don't know who is telling you this, but they have a very sad view of Jesus. The truth is, way back in the Garden of Eden, when God created Adam and Eve, there were NO meat eaters. Not even the animals. Why? Because there was no death. No death; no killing. We were not originally created to be meat eaters and eating meat or not eating meat is a personal choice and has very little to do with your salvation. God gave us (originally) fruits and vegetables, nuts and grains to sustain us.

Jesus' love for you is not based on what you eat or don't eat. John 3:16 reads: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life." No where in that verse does it read "For God only loved the people who eat meat..."

God and Jesus love you beyond belief. God loves you so much that He sent His beloved Son to redeem you and Jesus loves you so much that He died so you could be redeemed.

Don't listen to the people that are telling you this nonsense. I don't think they know God very well if this is what they think. It's not Biblical. My advice is to pray for understanding and read your Bible. God has given us the answers we need in His Word.

God bless you and His peace be with you.

Answer 5

I'm not an expert, but I would say that it's not a sin, but that it's just not smart. Animals were put here for our gain, and you're body, in order to be healthy, needs those nutrients that meat comes with. Granted, I do believe that meat should be eaten in small amounts. Also, Jesus always loves you, I can't believe anyone would say that.

Answer 6

Whoever told you that Jesus doesn't love you because you don't eat meat is misinformed. I suspect that such a comment is the result of a chain of free associations: vegetarians tend to be liberals, liberals tend to not be Christians, therefore vegetarians are not Christians. (lousy reasoning, to be sure!)

If you read Genesis, God created the animals to be companions of humans (as you yourself refer to) and tells Adam and Eve to eat of any FRUIT (except one). It is only after the flood that God tells Noah to eat meat from "clean animals." Meat eating is a sign of the fallen nature of the world after Adam and Eve's sin. We are no longer in harmony with God's creation, no longer in harmony with the animals.

So you can respond to those critics by saying that as a vegetarian, you are responding to a higher calling that is in keeping with God's original plan for creation. In addition, since a vegetarian lifestyle is more ecologically efficient than a carnivorous one, you can also say that you are in keeping with the new testament injunction to be 'faithful stewards' of what God has given us. And by not ingesting all that animal cholesterol, you are honoring the body God gave you.

By the way, I eat meat . But I do eat meatless meals on occassion, and I know it would be good to do so more often.

Answer 7

Not a sin not to eat meat - who ever told you that needs to develop a relationship with Christ Jesus.

I am a Christian and I'm allergic to meat - can't eat it. There are many in the world who are too poor to eat meat and survive on what is grown, rice, whatever they can find. It's just silly.

Answer 8

I'm just guessing at this, but I'd say that these guys are just messing with your head.
Jesus made it clear that what we eat does not defile or souls, but it is what we say and do that does.
Personally I am a meat eater, and because Jesus practiced the passover, I'm guessing that He did too. But that's not to say you should. I do ask however that you accept the fact that by refraining from eating meat doesn't make you a better person than those who do.

Answer 9

Bible Leviticus
11:7-8 And the swine, because it parts the hoof and it cloven footed it does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. Of their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch; they are unclean to you.

Deuteronomy 12:16
Only you shall not eat the blood; you shall pour it upon the earth like water

Leviticus 19:26
You shall not eat any flesh with the blood in it.

Quran
Sura 2. Al Baqarah
173
he has only forbidden you animals which die of themselves, blood, swine and animals sacrified for others besides Allah. But if one is forced by necessity and not wilful disobedience nor transgresson, then there is no sin on him. Truly, Allah is the forgiving most Merciful


From above we conclude , if we eat forbidden things then we do a sin.

Read the Quran once in your life time . You have only ONE life to decide.

Answer 10

thats crap! not eating meat isnt not a sin. God put you on this earth to learn for yourself. Its a personal decision to not eat meat, god said thou shalt not kill so your contributing to not killing animals. You follwing the 10 commandment and i dont think that not eating meat is a sin by any means.