Response:

Thanks for asking.

I do not believe that the Bible teaches that meats are forbidden to believers. In looking at some of the arguments given by some of these "Christian Diet" organizations, I find that their Biblical proof is lacking. However, before I go any further, may I say that, if a person wishes to go on a fruit and vegetables-only diet, that is certainly their right. I have known people who benefited from such a diet. However, to attempt to mandate such a diet from the Scriptures in improper.

I went to the Hallelujah Diet web page (www.hacres.com) to see what their Biblical support was. Only one verse was given; Genesis 1:29:

"And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. "

In answer to a question, the author, a Rev. George Malkmus, said, "For many years I have had great difficulty understanding why God would teach one thing in one place - originally telling man he was to be a raw vegetarian as He did in Genesis 1:29 - and then telling man it was 'OK' to eat meat as He did in Genesis 9:3. If we took these two teachings at face value, it would certainly appear to be a contradiction. However, I do not believe there are any contradictions in the Bible! Only our inability to understand. So here is my personal belief based on years of searching the Bible: First, there is no question that God's Original Diet for mankind was completely vegetarian as clearly set forth in Genesis 1:29! That man ate his food raw for an extended period of time after creation would be a natural conclusion. And thus, the consuming of vegetarian food in a natural raw state had to be God's original plan for man. If we look at the rest of the animal kingdom that God also created, apart from man, even to this present day, the animals in the wild still consume their food in the natural raw state as served up by nature. This is how God designed His animal kingdom, including man, to be nourished. Even the flesh-eating animals, to this present day, still consume their food in a natural raw state."

Here are a few comments on Rev. Malkmus' position. 1. He seems to be unable to distinguish human beings from the animal kingdom. To place man as a higher form of animal does great disservice to men, who are created "in the image of God" (Gen. 1:26-27). 2. He assumes that man ate vegetables in a raw state, but gives absolutely no Biblical or historical evidence. 3. Thus, his statement that "the consuming of vegetarian food in a natural raw state had to be God's original plan for man" has no merit. 4. He teaches that, since animals don't cook their food, man shouldn't cook his food. Either he has a very high opinion of animals, or a very low opinion of mankind. Either way, his argument at that point is foolish.

Rev. Malkmus then admits his confusion over the difference between Gen. 1:29 and Gen. 9:3. I am thankful that he realizes that there are no contradictions in God' Word. However, there needs to be no confusion. In Genesis 1:29, man could only eat herbs because death had not yet come upon planet Earth. Romans 5:12 states that death came upon earth as a result of sin. Since there had been no sin at that point, there could be no death, and thus no hunting of animals for food. However, after sin came in, and after the Flood, God clearly gave permission to eat meat:

"Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things."

This should clear up Rev. Malkmus' confusion over Christ giving His disciples meat to eat in John 21:9-13, which reads,

" As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise."

Christ cooked flesh, ate flesh, and gave flesh to His disciples to eat because there is nothing wrong with eating meat, cooked or uncooked.

Rev. Malkmus hypothesizes that perhaps God gave permission for man to eat meat after the flood in an attempt to shorten men's life spans. Obviously, this did happen. However, the change in diet was not the only change on earth after the flood. In addition to numerous geological changes, the "vapor canopy" which held the waters which rained down upon the earth for 40 days and nights was gone (Gen 7:11). This would change not only the weather on earth, but also the effect of the sun on the earth's surface. Thus, to say that man's shortened lifestyle is proof that meat is bad for you is to play fast and loose with the Scriptures.

Rev. Malkmus also claims that I Timothy 4:3-4 ("Forbidding 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. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving") has no bearing upon his beliefs, because "meats" should be translated "certain foods". While the Greek word there does not have to be restricted to "meat" in its normal sense, the fact is that Rev. Malkmus is guilty of telling people that they should abstain from "certain foods", like meat! Therefore, that passage does apply to him. He also rejects Peter's vision of the sheet filled with unclean animals in Acts 10 as having any reference to eating meat. He states, "Regarding the vision of Peter in Acts 10, I do not believe God was advocating the eating of meat, but was using the dietary laws of the Old Testament as an illustration so that Peter could understand that he should take the Gospel to the Gentiles. Immediately after Peter saw the vision, Gentiles, who were considered 'unclean' by Jewish believers, were knocking at Peter's door. I do not believe this verse gives anyone justification to eat those flesh foods God condemned in the Old Testament." While it is obviously true that the Lord was preparing Peter for the arrival of the "unclean" Gentiles, it is equally obvious that God told Peter to "kill and eat". Was God instructing Peter to violate Biblical principles? Of course not. In fact, since the dietary laws of Moses were part of the law, they were no longer in force, because Romans 7:6 states,

"But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. "

Paul writes in Ephesians 2:15 that

"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace".

Thus, not only is Gen 1:29 not binding upon mankind, but Mosaic dietary laws are not either. In fact, I Corinthians 8:8 states,

"But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse."

Again the Greek word there is not necessarily "flesh", but has reference to "food (literally or figuratively), especially (ceremonially) articles allowed or forbidden by the Jewish law:--meat, victuals." (Strong's Concordance). Listen also to the words of Romans 14:1-2,

"Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs."

Notice that it is the weaker brother who believes that he is forbidden to eat meats. Paul continues,

"Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth...He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks".

Even Christ said,

"And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?" (Mark 7:18-19).

Clearly, eating meats, or dairy products, or other such foods is not forbidden by the Bible.

By the way, it is interesting to note that Genesis 18:1 states that the Lord appeared unto Abraham one day. The Bible says that when the men (who most believe to be Christ and two angels), appeared to Abraham, that

"Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it. And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat."

Thus, the Lord on that occasion ate both beef (or veal) and dairy products, both of which Rev Malkmus says are not part of God's dietary program for mankind.

Also, please note that God instituted the Passover, which involved eating cooked meat (Exodus 12:8-9: "And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.").

The bottom line is this: people are welcome to go on a vegetarian diet if they so choose. However, to try to teach that the Bible forbids eating meat or dairy products, or to teach that not eating meats somehow indicates a higher level of spirituality, is completely false.

By Pastor Dr. Mark Montgomery Ambassador Baptist Church 1926 Babcock Blvd Pittsburgh, PA 15209 (412)477-3210