A Fleshless Diet From a Biblical and Christian Standpoint
By D. H. KRESS, M. D.
THE Bible nowhere states in so many words that men should not eat flesh; it nowhere states that men should not use tobacco or drink whisky; but it lays down principles which will lead men to forsake tobacco and everything else that is injurious. In regard to what we should eat, the Bible command is, “Eat ye that which is good.” There are certain foods which the Bible pronounces good, and there are those which are pronounced evil. After man was created, he was placed in the garden, and lest he should put forth his hand and eat that which was not good, 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.” This was the meat given to mankind by the Creator, “and God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” Gen. 1:29, 31. Man was good, and the food created for him was good. This, then, is the proper food above all foods, created to be received with thanksgiving by them who believe and know the truth, for it is sanctified (set apart for man’s use) by the word of God. True science agrees that all the food elements needed by man are to be found in these simple and natural foods, and in a purer form than it is possible to obtain them elsewhere. There are two other foods which may be classified as natural foods—milk and eggs. One forms the natural food for the young mammal, the other for the young bird. Both are, therefore, natural foods, and may be used by man, but even these are more or less subject to disease, and not so well adapted for man’s use. It is true, flesh may be used as a food, for it contains food elements; but it contains in addition uric acid poison and other impurities and body wastes, which make it impossible to term it a good food. In addition, disease itself frequently lurks in it, for few animals are free from disease. When the Lord took the children of Israel out of Egypt to lead them to the land of Canaan and establish them there a healthy and holy people, he attempted to wean them from the use of flesh food. It was accordingly withheld, and food which was most conducive to health and to the development of a righteous character was provided for them. “But with many of them God was not well pleased.” They lusted after flesh, and would have it at any cost. Their desire was granted, but it brought with it disease and leanness of soul. The apostle Paul, in referring to this experience, says, “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.” 1 Cor. 10:6. Had the children of Israel submitted to God’s plan and not lusted after evil things, the statutes regulating the eating of flesh would never have been necessary. God had to take short steps by their side. He could lead them no faster than they were willing to follow his instruction. When they were determined to eat flesh, statutes were given them that they might differentiate between the more harmful and the less harmful, or between clean and unclean animals. It is true Christ fed the multitude on bread and fish. He gave them their accustomed food; he merely took what they had and multiplied it. Forced reforms are of no benefit. Reforms must be the outgrowth of conviction and education in order to be a blessing. Food to be of value must appeal to the mind as well as to the organs of digestion. He gave to this multitude what they longed for, probably the only food that would satisfy them. Inferior food with a satisfied mind, is better than the best food with discontent. God grants us permission to-day, as he did to Israel anciently and to the multitude, to eat what we desire, but he still desires all to become intelligent on the food question, and to eat “that which is good.”