There are some people who are ashamed to admit to others that they
are vegetarians/vegans for reasons of compassion/ethics, and who are
quick to say that they avoid consuming animal-derived products for
“health” reasons only.
This reminds me of the Bible verse (Isaiah 5:20) about calling evil
good, and good evil:
20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;
Who substitute bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
NASB
And Psalm 52:3 –
3 You love evil more than good,
Falsehood more than speaking what is right.
Furthermore, it is fairly obvious that people who feel they have to
lie about their concern for the suffering of farmed animals are really
fearful concerning what others might think. This brings to mind 2
Timothy 1:7 –
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and
of love, and of a sound mind.
KJV
Other scriptures that have a bearing on this subject are Ezekiel
36:26 –
26 "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit
within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and
give you a heart of flesh.
NASB
And Isaiah 51:7 –
7 "Listen to Me [God], you who know righteousness,
A people in whose heart is My [God’s] law;
Do not fear the reproach of man [people],
Neither be dismayed at their revilings.
NASB
When you stop to think about it, the cannibals of long ago probably
were intimidating to people who wanted to stop eating other humans! We
shouldn’t be ashamed to make changes that bring much-needed kindness,
gentleness and compassion to this world gone “macho-crazy.”
Remember Galatians 5:22 and 23?
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
NASB
The people who should be ashamed are the ones who stubbornly refuse
to change for the better and are complicit in the cruelty of this fallen
world. They’re the ones who have a problem!
