Letters and Responses

From The Mary T. and
Frank L. Hoffman
Family Foundation
and All-Creatures.Org

Letter From Nia About the Bible and Vegetarianism - 21 Jun 2009

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman,

Thank you for your support of vegetarianism through Bible scripture!

I have long struggled with Christianity and my beliefs on how humans should treat animals. You have provided much comfort and reconciliation between myself and my faith. Yet, I still tend to struggle. As much as you have cited from the Bible in the Lord's opposition to cruelty to animals and God's support of vegetarianism, I still find many parts of the Bible supporting the use and murder of animals for human "benefit." Such as the passages I've pasted below from online:

15"However, you may slaughter and eat meat within all your gates, whatever your heart desires, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you; the unclean and the clean may eat of it, of the gazelle and the deer alike. 16Only you shall not eat the blood; you shall pour it on the earth like water.
17"You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain or your new wine or your oil, of the firstborn of your herd or your flock, of any of your offerings which you vow, of your freewill offerings, or of the heave offering of your hand. 18But you must eat them before the LORD your God in the place which the LORD your God chooses, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, and the Levite who is within your gates; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God in all to which you put your hands. 19Take heed to yourself that you do not forsake the Levite as long as you live in your land.
20"When the LORD your God enlarges your border as He has promised you, and you say, 'Let me eat meat,' because you long to eat meat, you may eat as much meat as your heart desires. 21If the place where the LORD your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, then you may slaughter from your herd and from your flock which the LORD has given you, just as I have commanded you, and you may eat within your gates as much as your heart desires. 22Just as the gazelle and the deer are eaten, so you may eat them; the unclean and the clean alike may eat them" (Deut 12:15-22).

If you have the time, I would be so appreciative of a response to the above including the passages. Thank you again for all that you do in supporting vegetarianism through the Bible.

May God bless you,
Nia

Reply from Frank and Mary Hoffman

Dear Nia:

Thank you very much for you kind and encouraging comments about our web site ministry.

The Bible passage you cite is part of the concession that God allowed because of the hardness of the human heart, but it is counter to His creation and heavenly intent. Please take a look at the commentary we wrote on the subject.

We hope this will answer you questions, and please feel free to ask anything else at any time.

In the Love of the Lord,

Frank and Marys

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