Looking Out

What Should I Eat?

Many members of my husband’s family are Buddhists and they follow a strict vegetarian diet (abstaining even from onion, garlic and shallot). Three of them migrated to Australia in recent years and we have gathered over meals from time to time. Observing what they ate caused me to reflect on my own diet.

About ten years ago, I started to eat more nuts and berries, reduced my meat intake by 30% and doubled the vegetables to combat my cholesterol problem. In two years, I successfully brought it down from 6.8 to 5.3 without the use of medication, but was never able to go beyond that. I know a cholesterol level that is below 5.0 is better for my health, so, should I further cut back on meat? Should I just go vegetarian? Cholesterol apart, as I age, I do feel more and more for the animals which are slaughtered for human consumption. Does eating animals please God? Is vegetarianism part of the Christian tradition?

I looked to the internet to help me understand these issues. I was surprised to know that William Cowherd, who founded the Bible Christian Church in 1809, helped establish the world’s first Vegetarian Society in 1847. In fact, vegetarianism has deep roots in the history of the church. The desert ascetics during the early church era adhered to a sparse and plain diet, they lived mainly on plants, but some ascetics also ate honey, insects and fish etc.

Over the centuries, various church leaders have recommended vegetarianism. Apart from William Cowherd were John Wesley (founder of the Methodist Church), William and Catherine Booth (founders of The Salvation Army) and Ellen G. White from the Seventh-Day Adventist. Some religious orders, such as the Trappists, practise pescatarianism (a vegetarian diet plus fish, no meat or poultry).  

Christian vegetarians often point to the Book of Genesis (1:29-30) to prove that it is God’s intention that all creatures on earth, humans and animals, should have green plant for food. Some took the view that a vegetarian diet will help to set ourselves apart for God, citing the example of Daniel who refused the royal food and ate only vegetables (Daniel 1: 8-20).

However, I remember when God made a covenant with Abraham, he asked Abraham to bring him a cow, a goat, a ram, a dove and a pigeon. Abraham cut them (except the birds) in half and placed them opposite each other. When evening came, a fire pot and a flaming torch suddenly appeared and passed between the pieces of the animals (Genesis 15: 9-11).

To me, this passage shows that killing animals itself isn’t something detested by God. In fact, at the first Passover, the Israelites were told by God to roast a sheep or a goat for dinner and prepare for God’s rescue. When the Israelites were in the desert and wanted meat, God sent them quails. In Leviticus (1-2), God told Moses the rules that he wanted the Israelites to follow when they offered him animal or grain. So, it seems to me that God is pleased with both kinds of offerings.

In the four Gospels, Jesus was mentioned having meals with people from various walks of life, but we don’t know what he ate.

Looking Out Cotinued

All four gospels reported Jesus feeding thousands of people with loaves and fish. Luke (24: 42-43) and John (21:12-14) noted the risen Lord shared fish with his disciples.

In Romans 14, the Apostle Paul said people of “weak faith eat only vegetables”, but he also warned both meat-eaters and vegetarians not to judge one another on the issues of food.

So, what do all these mean to me?

I am aware of my role to care for God’s handiwork. As my initial steps to find a balanced path, I will further reduce my meat intake and replace it with non-meat food items of comparable or higher nutritional values. Being someone who isn’t allergic to seafood, I can turn to creatures of low-consciousness such as fish and shellfish (many of which are loaded with zinc and iron that are found in meat). I believe God doesn’t mind whether I make myself a hamburger or a salad as long as I choose my food with prudence, consume with gratitude and serve him with dedication. In the spirit of love, I should never judge people by their diet.