Vegetarianism and the Christian

There is a strange and inordinate emphasis in some quarters of the church today in advocating the eating of only vegetables and fruits and avoiding all kinds of meat as a kind of a mandatory Christian diet. Theologically there is no basis for vegetarianism for 2 reasons (although it is not wrong when individually, some may avoid certain food for personal health reasons as advised by the doctor):

Firstly, in Genesis 9:3-4 (this supersedes Gen 1:29) it says. “Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.” Noah and his family were to eat all kind of herbs and living thing except blood which is forbidden as life is in the blood and it is still binding today (see Act 15:29).

This was reinforced on the New Testament in Act 10:11-15 where Peter was corrected by the Lord to eat all kinds of living creatures which were previously considered unclean ceremonially as a spiritual lesson on separation and purity to the nation of Israel.

Secondly, our Lord Jesus Christ is not a vegetarian for he kept the Passover every year and the Passover meal include eating lamb and Jesus ate fish with the disciples along the sea of Galilee (John 21:9-13). We are better off counting our blessings from the Lord than our calories daily; although those who have a medical condition or who are grossly overweight do need to watch their diet and discipline themselves. Above all, Romans 14: 17- 19 says it well, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.”

Mental Health and Fitness

There has been some concern from the authorities here on mental health recently (see The Straits Times, 25 November 2009) as more and more Singaporeans are affected by mental disorders like depression, anxiety, stress related ailments, phobias and obsessive compulsive behaviours and some are even suicidal. These affected people can be ordinary people like teachers, home makers and office workers who are stressed by the throes of life and hence these mental ailments develop. What does the Word of God have to say on this subject if any? Firstly, Paul in 2 Timothy 1:7 clearly says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” The redeemed man has a sanctified and hence sound mind given by the Lord as Paul says in Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

The renewal of our mind through meditation of the Word and frequent prayer with God gives us a healthy mental life. It affects the way we think and gives us the correct mental perspective of life that guides us with peace, comfort and wisdom in the Lord which is not tainted with the fears and doubts of this fallen world. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says there is a part that we must do in promoting good mental health and fitness, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

In the gospel, there was an incident where a demon possessed man was healed by the Lord. Consider how he was described later in Mark 5:15 which says, “And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid” (i.e. he was not in his right minded before this).

This incident reminds us that some mental illnesses or bad thinking habits can be induced of the devil to bring us under bondage and slavery. We need to be careful not to be seduced by the wiles of the evil one and put on the full armour of God all the time. (Eph 6:10-18) The mind is still the great spiritual battlefield today that we need to watch over carefully by the knowledge of God's word and prayer.

Philippians 4:8 gives us clearly some guidelines for a healthy thought life namely, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Medicine and Healing

A quick word about medication and healing for good health and strength. There are proponents in the church that teach that there is healing in the Lord's supper and others who are for man centred faith healing services. Outlandish teachings will abound in the last days as we were warned in Matthew 24:1-24. We need to follow the biblical injunctions of James 5:13-18 and let the church leaders pray for one another in our infirmities. In 1 Timothy 5:23 we note that Timothy was sick and the Paul told him to take some medicinal wine for his stomach infirmities. Paul did not perform supernatural healing on him. Neither did he try to heal Trophimus at Miletus, when the latter was sick (2 Tim 4:20).

To be continued…

By Rev Jack Sin
Sovereign Hope BPC, Singapore

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