The human story began in the beautiful Garden of Eden, which was to be the vision for this earth. The emphasis on vegetarianism in Genesis seems to be generally understood as having an ecological purpose (Genesis 1:29). Plant-based eating and living in harmony with nature were extensions of faith in God.
Perhaps the suggestion presented in Daniel 1:12 points us beyond fad diets to a meaningful way of eating at the “time of the end”—a dietary choice that manifests the Creator’s intentions for greater health and compassion, an eschatological diet, as it were, that is persuasive to those of other faiths. Perhaps it’s time for a new diet much like Daniel’s.
Every time I eat, I am invited to celebrate God’s good creation and redemption. My health message should be part of the gospel of how a compassionate God works to heal and restore our bodies and the Earth.
There are several reasons why I choose to skip the turkey this year and celebrate a plant-based Thanksgiving.
In case you are wondering, my decision to follow a plant-based diet comes down to how I treat God’s creation—animals, humans, and the earth. I am a plant based vegetarian because of my belief in the Bible.
Given the traditions of my Jewish and Hindu friends and the sensitivity of my vegan friends who demand compassion for all creatures, they would be highly offended if I consumed factory-farmed pigs and cows while advocating and otherwise adhering to Biblical principles of love, mercy, and compassion.
Every day, we vote for the world we want to live in through the choices we make. Picking up the fragments and living within our means are good choices.
The tree, with it leaves mediating “healing to the nations,” is our mission (Revelation 22:2). It helps us choose how we orient our hearts and live our lives here and now.
I long for a theology of divine compassion and love in this world. God cares for us deeply, but His compassion isn’t for us alone.
“Do no harm. Do all the good you can. Stay in love with God.” — John Wesley
Theological InTents 