Many thanks to Tom Ramsdell for revealing to us in the June/July issue that our blessed Lord is neither humane nor compassionate: “The vegetarian/vegan way of life is the truly humane, compassionate way of life.”
Let’s check the record: Gen. 9:3: “Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you.” Gen. 18:7: “Abraham also ran to the herd, and took a tender and choice calf and gave it to the servant, and he hurried to prepare it.” Verse 8 tells us that the three visitors (one of whom was God) ate. God did not tell the Israelites to paint their doorposts in Egypt with the juice of Brussels sprouts, but with the blood of the Passover lambs. St. John the Baptist didn’t say, “Behold, the broccoli of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” And, of course, Jesus Himself ate the Passover, which included lamb. Jesus provided fish for the 5,000 to eat. In speaking the parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus makes the fattened calf the mainstay of the celebratory meal. In the Book of Acts, God tells St. Peter to get up, kill, and eat.
If Tom chooses to eschew a juicy steak or burger, fine. He’s welcome to his tofu. But please don’t get sanctimonious with us who enjoy consuming the fattened calf. And please don’t accuse our Lord of not being humane or compassionate because He sanctions the consumption of meat.
Rev. Brian Feicho
Concordia Lutheran Church
Granite City, Ill.
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