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Verse:The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel. —Proverbs 12:10, NIV
Life is a gift from God that was originally intended to last forever.
However, the sin of Adam and Eve brought death into the world, “for the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
As Christians, we are forbidden by God to murder human beings (Exodus 20:13) and we are encouraged to care for the lives and needs of animals (Proverbs 12:10; Psalm 104:10–27). We are told Jesus cared not only for human beings but also for animals. “The little creatures of the groves, the patient beasts of burden, —all were happier for His presence. He whose word of power upheld the worlds would stoop to relieve a wounded bird.” An anonymous statement (often attributed to Jeremy Bentham) points out that “man is the only animal that can remain on friendly terms with the victims he intends to eat until he eats them.” In contrast, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has encouraged members to become vegetarians. As early as February 1843, Joseph Bates “resolved to eat no more meat.”54 Ellen White, after her 1863 health reform vision, continued to eat meat sporadically. But while in Australia, she wrote, “Since the camp meeting at Brighton (January, 1894), I have absolutely banished meat from my table.
It is an understanding that whether I am at home or abroad, nothing of this kind is to be used in my family, or come upon my table.
I have had much representation before my mind in the night season on this subject.” Many Seventh-day Adventists are vegetarians for health reasons.
Scientific studies conducted by Loma Linda University and many other universities around the world have confirmed the benefits of a vegetarian diet as proposed by Ellen White. However, an increasing number of people today follow a meatless diet out of value and care for animals. It is good to remember that November 25 is International Meatless Day and Animal Rights Day. On this day, people are encouraged not to eat meat. American actor Denis Leary stated, “Not eating meat is a decision.
Eating meat is an instinct.” Perhaps you could care for animals, too, by turning a meatless day into a meatless life!