Peter's Vision & What Christians Choose to Eat
A broader vision of Acts 10
In the Context of the New Testament, What is the Meaning of Peter's Vision?
Acts 10:9–16
Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat; and while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the heaven opened and something like a large sheet coming down, being lowered to the ground by its four corners. In it were all kinds of four-footed creatures and reptiles and birds of the air. Then he heard a voice saying, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is profane or unclean.” The voice said to him again, a second time, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” This happened three times, and the thing was suddenly taken up to heaven.
Exploring Peter's Vision and Christian Food Choices Today
1 Corinthians 6:12
“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are beneficial.
Peter’s vision does not require Christians to kill and eat living creatures, but it does call us to remove barriers that block the spread of the Good News of salvation.
In Peter’s time, Jews were forbidden to eat pagan food and to dine in pagan homes, yet the apostles were tasked with making “disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:18-20). Peter’s vision reveals necessary change for disciples of Jesus to spread the Good News, as is clear by the end of the story: Peter breaks with common conventions and receives gentiles as guests, who thereby received the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:44).
Acts 10:44-45
While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the gentiles.
Today, many vegans are spiritually adrift because they have found no home in their church. Many have left the churches they grew up in because they feel alienated by sermons that ignore mass suffering and the killing of animals on factory farms and in laboratories. Christian vegans are frustrated that their ministers and priests ignore the health and environmental problems that stem from what we choose to put on our plates. And they feel alienated because they are overtly and repeatedly excluded from after-service milk and cookies, Sunday afternoon barbeques, and ice-cream socials. Some vegans will walk away rather than be around the smell or sight of flesh, dairy, or eggs.
To understand these brothers and sisters in Christ, perhaps try a short exercise: Close your eyes and imagine eating next to someone who is dining on a food that you find repugnant, inedible, and firmly against your Christian faith. How would you feel? What would you do?
Perhaps this offers a margin of clarity as to what some vegans feel when they are eating at a table where others are eating meat, dairy, and eggs. Perhaps this helps us to understand why it is important to establish and maintain vegan churches—churches that welcome all.
Today, many vegans have left their churches because they feel alienated by sermons that ignore mass suffering and anymal deaths on factory farms and in laboratories, because ministers and priests ignore the health and environmental problems caused by omnivory and vegetarianism, because they are overtly and repeatedly excluded from after-service milk and cookies, Sunday afternoon barbeques, and ice-cream socials, and also because some vegans don’t choose to be around the smell or sight of flesh, dairy, or eggs.
To understand your brothers and sister in Christ, try to imagine how you might feel watching someone eating the flesh of the young and the innocent, or smelling such things while you are eating. Perhaps this can offer some understanding for those accustomed to eating anymal products as to what some vegans may feel when eating around omnivores and vegetarians.
Peter broke with convention to reach all for whom Jesus died. Today, churches are called to kick the convention of eating meat, dairy, and eggs in order to attract and hold vegans. (“Peter Preaches to Jews and Gentiles,” ClipArt Etc.)
Pig confined in an industrial farming facility. (We Animals Media)
Matthew 23:13
But woe to you…. For you lock people out of the kingdom of heaven…. and when others are going in, you stop them.
Peter’s vision indicates that it is permissible to eat flesh, but we already know this from Genesis 9. Also, we already know that what is permitted is not necessarily preferred.
Peter’s vision, which addresses the problem of barriers blocking the spread of Christianity, warns against food choices that exclude people or cause division. Given that everyone eats vegan foods, but some eat only vegan foods, it makes sense to serve only vegan foods—why exclude members of the flock?
If churches are to avoid driving vegans from the fold, then they will need to accommodate vegans. Churches wishing to be sure that they never drive anyone from the fold by serving food that alienates those who do not choose to eat meat, dairy, or eggs, can join hearts to discuss how best to shift fully to a vegan church—a church that can always welcome every vegan to any church function.
Peter’s vision, contrary to the particulars chosen in making the point more than 2000 years ago, encourages Christians today to establish vegan churches that invite all of humankind into God’s house.
Saint Peter (“Saint Peter,” Pompeo Batoni, Italy, 18th Century. Wikimedia.)
How do Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 Invite Christians to Apply Peter's Vision Today?
1 Corinthians 8:8-13
“Food will not bring us close to God.” We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak…. Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.
Paul warns the faithful not to eat foods that might cause others to stray from the path of salvation (in his day, foods that had been “offered to idols,” 1 Corinthians 8:4). Such foods are not forbidden, but Paul invites people to avoid foods that might cause someone to stray or prevent someone from receiving the Good News. Paul reminds Christians that it is good not to eat or serve anything that might drive people from the fold. Romans 14 provides the same caution.
Romans 14:15–21
If your brother or sister is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not let what you eat cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died.... For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.... Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong to make someone stumble by what you eat; it is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble.
Peter’s vision, Romans 14:15-21, and 1 Corinthians 8:8-13 remind Christians of the importance of inclusivity, which now calls Christians to build vegan-friendly churches, places of worship where everyone will feel welcomed to the table. Nowadays, churches that serve meat, dairy, and eggs risk alienating vegans—it is important that congregations avoid social events that might “sin against” vegans, which is also to “sin against Christ” (1 Corinthians 8:12).
Perhaps the easiest way to invite vegans to worship and share Christian communion in church gatherings is to consider adopting this philosophy for those in charge of food at Church: We don’t all have to be vegan here and now, but our food does.
This approach allows each person to work out the complexities of walking with Jesus, of bending our lives to the will of God in our own ways and in our own time, while at the same time assuring that all are welcome to the tables of worship and church events—starting right now. While the process of institutional change is often complex, avoiding meat, dairy, and eggs at church is a simple way of honoring the biblical expectation that we be disciples to all nations (Matthew 28:19).
A calf at a sanctuary comes to mama for milk, reminding us who cow's milk is for. (We Animals Media)
How does Mark 7 Aid Christians in Applying Peter's Vision Today?
Mark 7: 18-21
Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters, not the heart but the stomach, and goes out into the sewer?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) And he said, “It is what comes out of a person that defiles. For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come.
Jesus reminded people that mundane bodily functions are not a reasonable focus for Christian righteousness. Righteousness stems from a relationship with Jesus, takes root in the heart, and is expressed in good works. Following the example set by Jesus, in serving God by attending to the needs of those whom others find too insignificant to be worthy of attentive care, including both animals and vegans.
Vegan food
Matthew 25:40
Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.
Vegans are a small percentage of the population in every nation, and have proven to be easily overlooked by congregations. We can be sure, they are not overlooked by God.
Fortunately, it is easy to provide food that everyone can eat: vegan cookies and plant milks, nuts and vegan crackers, nondairy fudgesicles and pancakes. Nowadays, we can even serve pizza, lasagna, spaghetti, and cupcakes made without animal products.
On reflection, congregations are likely to realize that serving meat, dairy, or eggs, may exclude people, and this is absolutely a breach of core Christian teachings. Failing to notice and accommodate vegans may prevent the spread of the Good News.
When vegans feel unwelcome, congregations actually spread bad news. When vegans find nothing to eat and are surrounded by butter, cow’s milk, or even eggs and bacon, they are likely to feel marginalized—like they do not belong in that space. In serving meat, dairy, or eggs to those who are vegan, churches tell these children of God, “We are not prepared to receive you or share hospitality with you: We have not prepared to share food with vegans in this church.”
Matthew 18:5
“Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”
Sensitive to the sufferings and death of newborn calves, and the pains of mother cows when their young are taken, an Australian activist stands up against dairy. (Kai Weinbeck, PETA)
Mark 7:8–9
You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.
As Christians, it is important to remember that many vegans avoid meat, dairy, and eggs because of their respect for life, their sensitivity to suffering, and their depth of compassion. The food choices of Christian vegans are a reflection of their faith. Vegans act from a place of love that is quintessentially Christian.
On reflection, this makes perfect sense. Vegan foods do not entail forced impregnation, the separation of mothers from their young, or bloodshed. Vegan foods do not treat God’s creatures as if they were endowed with life only to serve human appetites, only to produce milk, meat, and eggs for profit, and to satisfy our acquired, cultural taste preferences.
When we see the hearts of Christian vegans more clearly, it is easier to accommodate these sensitive, compassionate Children of God. Unfortunately, it is also easier to understand why many vegans feel excluded and ultimately leave their churches.
When we recognize that offering vegan food is an important expression of Christian faith and fidelity, churches are more likely to understand the importance of adjusting food offerings so that we can serve everyone who shows up to service and at church events, to facilitate the spread of the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Leviticus 19:34
The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as one of your citizens; you shall love him as yourself.