Biblical Theology of Food (Vegans, Vegetarians, and You)

 Biblical Theology of Food 

                                                                 

                  (Vegans, Vegetarians, and You)

Introduction

Few dietary or lifestyle choices are as divisive as something simply called food. Yes, something as simple as food in our culture has turned into a dietary decision, whether for medical, health, or any host of reasons. It's also spawned into a lifestyle choice. Yes, food and the very source of the food you eat can turn into verbal and principled combat on the most extreme level. Some of us eat meat. Yes, its true I personally eat meat. Some only eat vegetables. Some people won't eat anything dairy related period. Yes if you look hard enough there's a medical report proving your everyone's position too. All different categories exist and reasons (some even medical such as gluten or lactose intolerance) but apart from these in the end its just an opinion or personal choice (some medical related). Perhaps conscience or cultural issues (we'll address these in time). If we don't have a worldview to help shape our choices struggles will happen. Yes, even our food comes with a worldview attached to it. 

The Methodology 

My intent is simple. I wish to show a Biblical Theology of Food. Starting from the book of Genesis and working through to the last book of the Bible Revelation. Does the Bible itself make the claims of health and personal care pushed by this choice? What does God Himself say about food? What does God say about meat, dairy, vegetables...? We'll dive into the text and try to create a pertinent and relevant argument to help us address the concerns of today on this issue. Obviously every reference to food is not necessary for a healthy biblical understanding of food. See here goes.

Old Testament

Starting in the first book of the Bible, Genesis God gave to the first man and woman, Adam and Eve food to eat. Genesis 1:29 explicitly states that prior to the fall God had given to them every tree bearing fruit for food. Their only food restriction was not to eat from one tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Of course, we know they failed and disobeyed. From there we are told Adam and Eve would have to work the ground to produce food to eat. Still in a post-fall world humanity is to eat the food produced from the ground. No meat is allowed yet.

In time humanity rebels against God and the sinfulness of mankind is only restricted by their own corrupt imaginations which is only evil on an ongoing basis. God decides to judge the world but to save eight people through the flood on an ark. Even Noah is told to take along food on the ark both for himself and the others on the ark (including the animals).

Not till after the flood were the dietary restrictions altered. After the flood God gave to Noah and his family the permission to eat meat (Genesis 9). This is just like he gave them vegetables prior to eat. Not morally wrong. No conscience issues. God allowed them now to eat meat. 

Strangely enough in time food becomes a means of securing God's blessing. Remember the events of Jacob and Esau. While Esau is out hunting, Jacob deceives his father into gaining his father's blessing. Don't forget previously Esau sold his birthright for a pot of stew. Again by way of observation, hunting is a legitimate and approved means of gathering food. Both farming and hunting are okay. 

Later in time Joseph stores food for seven years to provide for the nation of Egypt and any who would come to buy some. Later food restrictions are set by God upon his people Israel. Mainly because they were to be his "set apart" people to live and even eat differently. Even here in the dietary food laws, meat was not taken away only certain types of mammals, birds, and aquatic life were restricted.

The sacrificial system instituted by God himself involves eating food. We have food offerings and food even for priests to eat from parts. There are sacrificed animals and offerings of grain too. As part of the law and being God's holy and set apart people, God actually gave specified food laws and restrictions. There were certain items from land, sea, and sky from which they could and could not eat. 

Food also appears as an issue during Israel's wanderings in the wilderness. Spies bring back food from the promised land. They will complain about the God-given manna and quail. God gave them both a bread and a meat. They will even want the food they had back in Egypt. They actually preferred the food with slavery as opposed to God's provisions. 

Joshua comes face to face with food being used as a form of deception. In Joshua 9 rash and sudden decisions (alliances) were made. Similarly later on Saul makes a foolish rash decision when forces abstaining upon his soldiers. It forces him into a horrible double standard, only to have his son spared by troop loyalty. Food is also one the items used to help Solomon stand out as a wise and blessed monarch to foreign powers. 

Food also appears in several narratives related to both the Babylonian and Assyrian captivities. Both to Israel in the north and Judah in the south. It appears sporadically through the returns of Ezra and Nehemiah when returning to the land. It becomes a point of struggle for a governor portion and to soldiers defending walls. 

I'd like to end our Old Testament study with probably the most famous of food related illustrations in the time period. A man named Daniel. He and his three Jewish friends are part of many others taken captive into a foreign land but the decision of these men stands out. They refused to defile themselves with the food and drink given by their captors. Meat and vegetables have always been around, taking into account Mosaic covenant dietary restrictions. Some translations use the phrase "vegetables and water." God apparently blesses them with both wisdom, dream interpreting abilities, and favor with pagan leaders. 

Conclusion

As to how we apply the Old Testament narrative to our daily lives in our present day is another discussion. First, I have deliberately left out both the Psalms and Proverbs (Ecclesiastes too). I'll reference them as a stand alone article at a later date. Second, the eating vegetable for food was the pre-fall diet (minus one tree). Third, meat was introduced only after the death of the entire globe (minus eight people). Fourth, throughout the OT, food serves as both a source of blessings and curses.

We of course are left with several struggles. To what degree is the OT narrative our paradigm for our current menu making? Which portions serve as direct normative example for today? Obviously, you won't get manna or quail from heaven. I also don't think Christians fight too much over eating pork or other previously forbidden foods (apart from other non-meat, dairy, of medical reasons). Which parts are more prescriptive in nature and do apply for today? Some of these I'll wrestle with in NT applications of many of these narratives, food law restrictions, and of course instruction principles from Proverbs, the Psalms, and Ecclesiastes. Don't forget we want a thoroughly Christian (therefore biblical wordview) which will also include all the NT revelation on this subject.

Enjoy. Feel free to comment.  
Of course mention any OT reference I left out you feel are actually important for a OT Biblical view of food (obviously my list does not include every reference to food).