No — the Bible does not forbid Christians from eating meat; eating meat is spiritually neutral.
Paul states in 1 Corinthians 8:8 that meat commends us not to God — eating or not eating makes us neither better nor worse. Les Feldick says Scripture never demands vegetarianism and never admonishes believers not to eat meat. The only biblical caution is to refrain from eating meat when doing so would cause a weaker believer to stumble.
1 Corinthians 8:8 — Paul's direct statement that eating meat is spiritually neutral and neither improves nor harms the believer.
1 Corinthians 8:9 — The only restriction Paul places on meat-eating: liberty must not become a stumbling block to the weak.
Genesis 9:3-4 — God gives every living creature as food to humanity, showing that eating meat is permitted, with the sole prohibition of eating blood.
Scripture does not prohibit the eating of meat. In 1 Corinthians 8:8 (KJV), Paul writes, 'But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.' The same chapter warns that a believer's liberty must not become a stumbling block to the weak (1 Corinthians 8:9). In Genesis 9:3-4, after the flood, God gives every moving thing as food to the human race, under one stipulation: 'But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.'
Les Feldick teaches that the Bible never demands that a believer be a vegetarian and that Scripture never admonishes us not to eat meat. Paul's point, Les says, is that it makes no difference whether you eat meat or not. Regarding meat that had been offered to idols, Les explains that a dumb idol cannot affect the meat, so it is not inherently wrong to eat. The only issue is becoming a stumbling block: if a mature believer's eating meat would upset a weak believer or an unbeliever, Paul says don't eat it. In Genesis 9, Les notes that the KJV word 'meat' really means 'food' in older English, and God gave all animal flesh as food with one continuing prohibition — never eat blood.
No. Paul writes, 'But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.' Les highlights this as 'plain as day.' The warning in verse 9 is not that meat is sinful, but that liberty must not become a stumbling block for those who are weak.
In Corinth, pagans sacrificed animals at temples; priests kept some meat and sold the rest in the marketplace, so most market meat had already been offered to an idol. Christians asked Paul what to do. Les says Paul's answer was that the idol cannot affect the meat. But if someone points out that it was offered in sacrifice to an idol, or if a young believer is watching, the believer should not eat for that person's sake.
Les explains that in Old English, the word 'meat' meant your general diet of food, not just animal flesh. So Genesis 9 is not only about steak or mutton; it gives everything in God's creation as food for the human race, with the stipulation that blood must not be eaten.
Les reminds that dietary questions need not be limited to idol meat; it can be a matter of diet generally. If someone has become a vegetarian through conviction, a mature believer should not flaunt his liberty and cause that person to stumble. Paul would rather not eat another bite of meat than cause a weaker believer to be upset.
What Does the Bible Really Say About Obeying Government?
even our enemies if we have such. Then reading on down, and quickly finishing the chapter, Paul says that now, knowing the time, it is high time to awake out of sleep, spiritual sleep, and that's where the church is tonight. They are sound asleep.
No Vegetarianism Required
Les Feldick says the Bible never demands that a believer be a vegetarian and that Scripture never tells us not to eat meat; the only concern is a weak believer stumbling.
Diet and Liberty
Les applies Paul's principle to diet generally: these are individual options before God, but believers must not cause a weak believer to stumble.
Idol Meat Has No Power
Les teaches that the idol cannot affect the meat; Paul would refuse to eat only for the sake of an unbeliever or a weak believer who would be confused.
Paul's Limitation
Les shows Paul was willing to give up meat entirely if eating it would upset a believer who had become vegetarian by conviction.
The Corinthian Meat Market
Les explains how temple meat reached the marketplace, and restates that the idol has no power over it, though a new believer's confusion is the limiting factor.
1 Corinthians 8:8
Les highlights Paul's plain statement that meat commends us not to God — eating it does not make us better, and not eating it does not make us worse.
Genesis 9: 'Meat' Means Food
Les clarifies that the KJV word 'meat' in Genesis 9 means food generally, and that God permitted all animal flesh as food while forbidding the eating of blood.
1 Corinthians 8:8: But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
Paul's direct statement that eating meat is spiritually neutral and does not affect our standing with God.
1 Corinthians 8:9: But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
The biblical warning that even permissible meat-eating must be limited to avoid hurting a weak believer.
1 Corinthians 10:28: But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
Paul instructs believers not to eat meat when someone identifies it as offered to an idol, for the sake of the one who pointed it out.
Genesis 9:3: Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
God's post-flood permission for humanity to eat animal flesh as food.
Genesis 9:4: But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
The one lasting prohibition attached to the permission to eat meat: never eat blood.
No. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 8:8 that eating meat does not make us better and not eating it does not make us worse. Les Feldick also states that the Bible never demands vegetarianism and never admonishes believers not to eat meat.
No, the idol cannot affect the meat, so it is not inherently wrong to eat. However, if eating would cause a weak believer or an unbeliever to stumble, Paul says to refrain for that person's sake.
Believers should not judge one another over dietary matters. If eating meat would upset a weaker brother's Christian experience, a mature believer should be willing to give up meat rather than cause that brother to stumble.
Yes — one ongoing restriction. In Genesis 9:4, God forbids eating flesh with the life, that is, the blood. Les says this has never been rescinded and remains an anathema even in the New Testament.
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