Commentary on "The Environment"

STEVE PITCHER

 

Day 5: Wednesday, April 28, 2010

 

Today’s lesson is about "Our Responsibility for the Environment" and is a direct follow-up to the lesson from yesterday. It is in today’s lesson that the author introduces the issue of vegetarianism along with other things such as carbon emissions.

In the commentary for Sunday’s lesson we addressed some of the issues related to making diet an important teaching for Christians. Rather than take another look at the scriptural injunctions to making diet an issue in the life of a Christian, here we will simply note one of the major sources for teaching on vegetarianism

Hinduism is where vegetarianism as a religious practice originated. This religion dates back for millennia and actually has various sources on the Indian subcontinent. There are two primary reasons for practicing vegetarianism within Hinduism. First, it is believed that souls migrate from one species to another, and through numerous lifetimes until one is finally freed from the cycle of reincarnation. Being freed from this cycle, known as samsara, is salvation in the Hindu sense.

Because a soul may be reincarnated as an animal, it would be abhorrent to think of literally eating another person; therefore abstinence from meat-eating is taught within Hinduism and other Indian and Eastern religions.

The second reason generally given for vegetarianism is that it helps clear one’s mind. With this teaching one can live a more spiritual existence be not being polluted by animal passions, which allows for a greater communion between God (Brahman) and the believer.

As Hinduism has evolved into the 21st century, modern Hindus have also identified some of the issues (such as concern for the creation) that are contained in this week’s Sabbath School Quarterly as reasons for being vegetarian.

Suffice it to say that many Eastern religious traditions include vegetarianism for religious and social reasons. In the same way, vegetarianism has come into western traditions and Christianity, but were not derived from Christianity.

For the last 200 years, vegetarianism has been primarily taught and promoted by those involved in the Occult. One of the major promoters of vegetarianism was Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, a mystic who, together with Henry Olcott founded The Theosophical Society on November 17, 1875. Although she does not require vegetarianism, Blavatsky promoted this practice strongly in her work The Secret Doctrine. The reasons for this practice are given as health, a clearer mind and a better ability to communicate with the Masters (so-called spiritual leaders who have passed into the next world.)

Since the founding of Theosophy it has waned as a religious movement, but its philosophy is continued in many of the New Age groups that are flourishing today.

As Walter Martin, the great apologist once said, “It doesn’t appear that there were any trees in the garden of Eden that sprouted steaks!” Although this is true, it is also true that making diet an issue in the life of a Christian is contrary to the message of Christ. It was such an issue with some early Christians that it is addressed in Romans chapter 14. In Rom. 14:17 we read:

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Making vegetarianism an issue for Christians is contrary to the gospel. The roots of modern vegetarianism come from Hinduism and occult sources.

If the decision to be vegetarian is for medical reasons or personal decisions it is in alignment with Christian teaching. If it is for other reasons one must be very careful about the source of the teaching. When vegetarianism is promoted for all Christians, it is contrary to the Gospel and scripture.

 

Summary

1. Refer to Sunday’s commentary for some scriptural statements about diet and the Christian.
2. The source of vegetarianism mostly likely is from Hindu teaching and ancient Eastern religions. Today it is kept alive primarily in occultic groups and New Age movements. These people practice vegetarianism to have a closer relationship with God, as they conceive of him. This is not Biblical and definitely not Christian.
3. Walter Martin was correct that there were probably no trees in the Garden of Eden that sprouted steaks!
4. Making vegetarianism an issue for Christians is contrary to the gospel. This is made clear in Romans 14:17 where it is stated: For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

 

GO TO DAY 6

 

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