Subornation of Perjury: Gospels of Fear - Comments by Miriam - 9 Jul 2002
Church Silence Promotes Violence: An Article Series From All-Creatures.org

Church silence promotes violence to humans, to animals, to our environment, to our economy, to our education, to our finances, and to our health.
By: Mary T. and Frank L. Hoffman

Hi,  

I came across your web-site. I love animals and I am a Christian.  I eat poultry and sometimes a piece of steak or a ham sandwich.  I was taught to eat these foods.  The Bible tells us that all foods are good for eating, (NT)  Old Testament tells us what type of foods are Koshur and what meats we should not eat.  I was stuck between the two for many years and I still do not eat much beef or pork or other meats that the OT tells us not to eat.  I also often feel guilty about eating any animals.  I do not like hunting or fishing because I cannot kill even a fly.  I trully love animals.  I have picked-up many strayes in my life and I have two cats at home that were strays.  

Now,  The way we slaughter animals is not properly done many times according to Dr. Don Colburt.  He has a video and a book out named "What Did Jesus Eat?"  He mentions that the only time that Jesus had meat was when there was a party.  Then they would kill a calf.  But other than that he ate bread. fruits, vegetables and whole grain foods. 

His drink was "water"    His example tells us that its okay to have a piece of meat once and awhile.  We have blown things out of proportions because many people do not read or understand the Bible.  You must have a good balance.  

I would like to know more about where you are getting your sources.  What scriptures are you basing your information on.  Like I said, I love animals and if I am wrong, then I need to know where in the Bible this is coming from.  

In Christ,    

Miriam

Reply by Frank L. Hoffman

Dear Miriam:  

Thank you very much for your very interesting letter.  

We found something you wrote to be of particular interest: "I also often feel guilty about eating any animals."  We personally believe that such "feelings" are actually coming for the inner voice of the Holy Spirit who is urging us on to greater works of love and compassion.  To take the life of another living being hardens our heart to their pain and suffering, which pain and suffering you obvious feel, too.  We believe God is constantly showing us these things so that He can remove the last vestiges of such hardness from our hearts.  But when we fight against such "feelings of guilt", He cannot remove the vestiges of hardness, because we are unwilling to have Him do so.  

As to what Jesus ate:  The only flesh that the Bible perhaps says that He ate was a piece of broiled fish (Luke 24:42-43), but in the Greek text it also adds a honey-comb, and He ate IT.  The question remains, which did He eat.  We think it was the honey-comb.  

You asked, what sources we used, and we're a little confused as to which sources you're referring.  The Biblical references are listed in the article.  Are you asking about the historical information such as Church support of slavery, which, among other sources, came from our Methodist history and was part of the reason for the split of the church?  

We hope this answers your questions.  

In the Love of the Lord,  

Frank

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The intent of this series is to wake up and encourage the Church to greater works of love and compassion (John 14:12).  It is not to condemn the Church, in general, or any individual, any more than Jesus condemned the woman caught in adultery.  Jesus said to her, "...go your way.  From now on sin no more." (John 8:11)  And this is our message to the Church:  Recognize our sins of the past and go forth seeking to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48), correcting the sins of the past, for that is the only way we can truly show the world that we love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, might, and mind, including the whole of creation, which includes our neighbors whom we are to love as ourselves.