Vegans & Carnivores Didn’t Get Along in Jesus’ Day Either (Romans 14)
“What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.” — Ecclesiastes 1:9
“Grass-fed, pasture-raised, free-range burgers!” “Are these fries vegan?” Between the vegans and the meat-eaters who are constantly at odds with each other, you’d think that this war of the forks is something of a new invention, something born out of the luxury of choice that comes with living in the modern age — but you’d be wrong.
2,000 years ago, written on parchment and sent to a church in Rome, Italy, the Apostle Paul was mediating an argument between new and weaker-in-faith Christians who felt that they shouldn’t eat meat, and established Christians who ate meat.
Yes, Paul was having to calm a squabble over church food. People really haven’t changed.
Can I even live?
When it comes to vegetarianism, veganism and meat-eating, can Christians ever come to an agreement?
Let’s see what the Bible says on this situation, because Paul spoke about it specifically.
Romans 14
I already did a video on it, but in the context of beauty, so you can check it out or skip ahead and read my answer tailored to veganism:
“1 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” — Romans 14:1–4
We see that it is the person who is weak in faith who “eats only vegetables.” That’s fine to be weak for the time being as we all have to start somewhere in our journey of faith.
People Don’t Change
What’s so interesting is how Paul describes the behavior of each party towards the other.
“Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.” — Romans 14:3
People don’t change and meat eaters and vegetarians have ALWAYS been at odds with each other. Look at those descriptors!
Carnivores Despise Vegans
The stronger in faith, the meat eater is not to DESPISE the weaker in faith, the non-meat eater.
Vegetarians and Vegans tend to have a bad reputation for being pushy, obnoxious and self-righteous. Many people hate the attitudes of Vegetarians and Vegans and DESPISE them. Think I’m lying? What pops into your mind when I say “Vegan wedding reception?”
The Greek word in this verse for “despise” is “ἐξουθενείτω” (exoutheneitō) meaning to treat with utter contempt.
“eksouthenéō (from 1537 /ek, “completely out from,” which intensifies outheneō, “bring to naught, reduce to nothing”) — properly, cast out as nothing; set at nought; “to count as nothing, to treat with utter contempt, i.e. as zero” (WP, 2, 281); “set at nought, despise utterly” (A-S); to regard something as lacking any standing (value).” -1848. ἐξουθενέω
Paul commands the meat eater to not DESPISE the non-meat eater, but he doesn’t stop there, oh no!
Judgmental Vegans
To the weaker in faith, the non-meat eater, he commands them to stop JUDGING the stronger in faith, the meat eater.
The Greek word in this verse for “judging” is “κρινέτω” (krinetō) meaning to make a decision on this action like they’re reaching a moral verdict.
2919 krínō — properly, to separate (distinguish), i.e. judge; come to a choice(decision, judgment) by making a judgment — either positive (a verdict in favor of) or negative (which rejects or condemns).
J. Thayer comments that “the proper meaning of 2919 (krínō) is to pick out(choose) by separating” (as also used in Homer, Herodotus, Aeschyl., Xenophon, Plato). 2919 /krínō (“distinguish, judge”) typically refers to making a determination of right or wrong (innocence or guilt), especially on an official (legal) standard. We only judge (2919 /krínō) accurately by intelligent comparison and contrast based on God’s word, i.e. to approve (prefer) what is correct and reject what is inferior (wrong). — 2919. κρίνω (krinó)
These weaker in faith, these non-meat eaters are taking it to the extreme and acting like they’re in a court of law judging moral issues! It’s absurd because they’re the weaker in faith!
Do Vegetarians and Vegans judge meat eaters? ABSOLUTELY! It’s not meat eaters storming vegan restaurants to stage protests, and it’s not meat eaters telling vegetarians that they are murderers and violent for simply eating food that God allows.
Paul goes all in on the weaker in faith and continues;
“Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” — Romans 14:4
Right there Paul tells the weaker in faith that the meat eaters answer to God, not them AND that God has already upheld the meat eaters because eating meat is not a sin.
I guess this is good-bye?
So what now? Should the meat eaters and vegetarians break off into groups to avoid offending and being offended by the other? God forbid, no!!!
Christians are to continue fellowship and recognize the liberty we each have in Christ to eat meat, or if we so choose, only vegetables. But, and this is a BIG but, if you’re eating only vegetables because you think it makes you more righteous, you’re wrong. Jesus Himself said;
“it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” — Matthew 15:11
Recognizing Freedom in Christ To Choose
If a person feels led by the Holy Spirit to abstain from eating animals or they don’t feel comfortable eating animals for moral reasons, BUT RECOGNIZES THAT IT IS NOT A SIN TO EAT MEAT, then that person is free to abstain from eating animal products. Likewise, the meat eater is free to eat animal products as each person is eating in thanks to God.
“5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.” -Romans 14:5–6
Nobody has any business trying to argue for more restrictions in Christianity because if God has said abstaining or partaking are both acceptable options, leave it at that! Both of you should be convinced in your own mind that what you’re each doing, you’re doing unto God.
Stop offending me!
Now Paul goes in on the weaker in faith, those who judge, again, and tells them that they, the weaker in faith, are not to put a stumbling block in front of the stronger in faith.
“Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.” — Romans 14:14
How would a weaker in faith person put a stumbling block in the way of a stronger in faith person, in regards to food?
- “You can’t eat that meat around me.”
- “If you’re serving meat, I’m not going to come!”
- “These vegetarian options aren’t good enough for me.”
A Stumbling Block: The Weaker Brother’s Ultimatum
The weaker in faith puts a stumbling block in front of the stronger in faith by giving an ultimatum — “stop exercising your liberty in Christ or I’m going to break fellowship with you!”
Likewise, stronger Christians are not to coerce a weaker Christian into violating their conscience by eating meat if they already know that that person is a weaker brother. How would they do that, in regards to food?
- “We’re having a church BBQ and everyone is REQUIRED to take part in a taste test.”
- “Why are you so weak? Stop being difficult and just have a burger.”
- “If you’re not going to eat meat, don’t bother coming to the event. It would be rude for you to bring your own vegetarian food to eat.”
Everyone is to be convinced in their own mind and not coerced, either in abstaining or partaking, into violating their own conscience.
“14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. 22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” — Romans 14:14–23
While you fellowship together, let the meat eater eat meat while the vegetarian eats vegetables.
Don’t destroy fellowship and the work of God over non - sin issues.
Apply this to your life
This teaching can be applied to other issues THAT ARE NOT ALREADY DEEMED SIN. If the issue has already been called sin, then this teaching is not applicable.
Non- sin issues that we have liberty to practice or abstain from include, but are not limited to:
- Dancing
- Eating meat
- Having children
- Jewelry
- Makeup
- Marriage
- Not eating meat
- Styles of clothing
- Taking a husband’s last name
This teaching DOES NOT apply to things listed as sin, such as, but not limited to:
- Infanticide
- Murder
- Occult practices
- Paganism (Including repurposing paganism to worship God.)
- Sexual immorality
- Theft
