The diet appointed man in the beginning did not include
animal food. Not till after the Flood, when every green
thing on the earth had been destroyed, did man receive
permission to eat flesh.
In choosing man's food in Eden, the Lord showed what
was the best diet; in the choice made for Israel He taught the
same lesson. He brought the Israelites out of Egypt and
undertook their training, that they might be a people for His own
possession. Through them He desired to bless and teach the
world. He provided them with the food best adapted for this
purpose, not flesh, but manna, "the bread of heaven." It
was only because of their discontent and their murmuring
for the fleshpots of Egypt that animal food was granted them,
and this only for a short time. Its use brought disease and
death to thousands. Yet the restriction to a nonflesh diet was
never heartily accepted. It continued to be the cause of
discontent and murmuring, open or secret, and it was not made
permanent.
Upon their settlement in Canaan, the Israelites were
permitted the use of animal food, but under careful restrictions
which tended to lessen the evil results. The use of swine's
flesh was prohibited, as also of other animals and of birds and
fish whose flesh was pronounced unclean. Of the meats
permitted, the eating of the fat and the blood was strictly forbidden.
Only such animals could be used for food as were in good
condition. No creature that was torn, that had died of itself,
or from which the blood had not been carefully drained, could
be used as food.
By departing from the plan divinely appointed for their
diet, the Israelites suffered great loss. They desired a flesh
diet, and they reaped its results. They did not reach God's
ideal of character or fulfill His purpose. The Lord "gave them
their request; but sent leanness into their soul." Psalm 106:15.
They valued the earthly above the spiritual, and the sacred
pre-eminence which was His purpose for them they did not
attain.
Reasons for Discarding Flesh Foods
Those who eat flesh are but eating grains and vegetables
at second hand; for the animal receives from these things the
nutrition that produces growth. The life that was in the
grains and vegetables passes into the eater. We receive it by
eating the flesh of the animal. How much better to get it
direct, by eating the food that God provided for our use!
Flesh was never the best food; but its use is now doubly
objectionable, since disease in animals is so rapidly increasing.
Those who use flesh foods little know what they are eating.
Often if they could see the animals when living and know the
quality of the meat they eat, they would turn from it with
loathing. People are continually eating flesh that is filled
with tuberculous and cancerous germs. Tuberculosis, cancer,
and other fatal diseases are thus communicated.
The tissues of the swine swarm with parasites. Of the
swine God said, "It is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of
their flesh, nor touch their dead carcass." Deuteronomy 14:8.
This command was given because swine's flesh is unfit for
food. Swine are scavengers, and this is the only use they were
intended to serve. Never, under any circumstances, was their
flesh to be eaten by human beings. It is impossible for the
flesh of any living creature to be wholesome when filth is its
natural element and when it feeds upon every detestable
thing.
Often animals are taken to market and sold for food when
they are so diseased that their owners fear to keep them
longer. And some of the processes of fattening them for
market produce disease. Shut away from the light and pure
air, breathing the atmosphere of filthy stables, perhaps
fattening on decaying food, the entire body soon becomes
contaminated with foul matter.
Animals are often transported long distances and subjected
to great suffering in reaching a market. Taken from the
green pastures, and traveling for weary miles over the hot,
dusty roads, or crowded into filthy cars, feverish and
exhausted, often for many hours deprived of food and water,
the poor creatures are driven to their death, that human beings
may feast on the carcasses.
In many places fish become so contaminated by the filth on
which they feed as to be a cause of disease. This is especially
the case where the fish come in contact with the sewage of
large cities. The fish that are fed on the contents of the drains
may pass into distant waters and may be caught where the
water is pure and fresh. Thus when used as food they bring
disease and death on those who do not suspect the danger.
The effects of a flesh diet may not be immediately realized;
but this is no evidence that it is not harmful. Few can be
made to believe that it is the meat they have eaten which has
poisoned their blood and caused their suffering. Many die of
diseases wholly due to meat eating, while the real cause is
not suspected by themselves or by others.
The moral evils of a flesh diet are not less marked than are
the physical ills. Flesh food is injurious to health, and whatever
affects the body has a corresponding effect on the mind
and the soul. Think of the cruelty to animals that meat
eating involves, and its effect on those who inflict and those who
behold it. How it destroys the tenderness with which we
should regard these creatures of God!
The intelligence displayed by many dumb animals
approaches so closely to human intelligence that it is a mystery.
The animals see and hear and love and fear and suffer. They
use their organs far more faithfully than many human beings
use theirs. They manifest sympathy and tenderness toward
their companions in suffering. Many animals show an affection
for those who have charge of them, far superior to the
affection shown by some of the human race. They form
attachments for man which are not broken without great
suffering to them.
What man with a human heart, who has ever cared for
domestic animals, could look into their eyes, so full of
confidence and affection, and willingly give them over to the
butcher's knife? How could he devour their flesh as a sweet
morsel?
It is a mistake to suppose that muscular strength depends
on the use of animal food. The needs of the system can be
better supplied, and more vigorous health can be enjoyed,
without its use. The grains, with fruits, nuts, and vegetables,
contain all the nutritive properties necessary to make good
blood. These elements are not so well or so fully supplied by
a flesh diet. Had the use of flesh been essential to health and
strength, animal food would have been included in the diet
appointed man in the beginning.
When the use of flesh food is discontinued, there is often
a sense of weakness, a lack of vigor. Many urge this as
evidence that flesh food is essential; but it is because foods of this
class are stimulating, because they fever the blood and excite
the nerves, that they are so missed. Some will find it as
difficult to leave off flesh eating as it is for the drunkard to give
up his dram; but they will be the better for the change.
When flesh food is discarded, its place should be supplied
with a variety of grains, nuts, vegetables, and fruits that will
be both nourishing and appetizing. This is especially necessary
in the case of those who are weak or who are taxed with
continuous labor. In some countries where poverty abounds,
flesh is the cheapest food. Under these circumstances the
change will be made with greater difficulty; but it can be
effected. We should, however, consider the situation of the
people and the power of lifelong habit, and should be careful
not to urge even right ideas unduly. None should be urged to
make the change abruptly. The place of meat should be supplied
with wholesome foods that are inexpensive. In this
matter very much depends on the cook. With care and skill,
dishes may be prepared that will be both nutritious and
appetizing, and will, to a great degree, take the place of
flesh food.
In all cases educate the conscience, enlist the will,
supply good, wholesome food, and the change will be readily made,
and the demand for flesh will soon cease.
Is it not time that all should aim to dispense with flesh
foods? How can those who are seeking to become pure,
refined, and holy, that they may have the companionship of
heavenly angels, continue to use as food anything that has so
harmful an effect on soul and body? How can they take the
life of God's creatures that they may consume the flesh as a
luxury? Let them, rather, return to the wholesome and
delicious food given to man in the beginning, and themselves
practice, and teach their children to practice, mercy toward
the dumb creatures that God has made and has placed under
our dominion.