Jesus Created the First Cultivated Meat
Why is collective humanity disgusted by slaughterhouses? The Bible explains that humans and animals were created to be vegan (Genesis 1:20–30) and thus, live in peace and harmony. Adam was even told to (and did) name the animals (2:19–20), indicating friendship. God called that vegan world “very good” (1:31). Unfortunately, that vegan world was destroyed through human disobedience (3:1–6). However, believers are told that after Jesus returns (Matthew 24:30), that vegan world is implied to return (Isaiah 11:6–9; 65:25) on the eternal New Earth (65:17–18). Isaiah 11:6 GNT states, “Wolves and sheep will live together in peace, and leopards will lie down with young goats. Calves and lion cubs will feed together, and little children will take care of them.” Jesus taught his disciples (Matthew 5:1–2) to pray (6:9), “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (6:10 ESV).
God did not allow meat (Genesis 9:1–4) until after he linked humanity with “evil” (6:5/8:21). Later, meat was associated with rebellion (Numbers 11:1–34) and gluttony (11:34 NLT; Proverbs 23:20–21). Nevertheless, Jesus multiplied a relatively small amount of bread and fish, which were then served to a large crowd (Matthew 14:13–21, Mark 6:30–44, Luke 9:10–17; John 6:1–15). However, biblical scholar Keith Akers notes that there is evidence that the fish were a later addition, as several early Christian figures mentioned the bread but not the fish. Jesus even makes a backward reference to this event and only mentions the bread (Matthew 16:8–9; Mark 8:17–19).1 Regardless, using this to justify meat today is dubious. Jesus feeding the people in this time and place with fish is reasonable as Matthew 14:15; Mark 6:35; Luke 9:12 describe the area as “desolate.” This predicament is far different from our situation today. Before the Industrial Revolution, food scarcity was a real problem. The people who lived when the Bible was written did not have refrigerators, 24/7 supermarkets, canned and frozen goods, or restaurants on every corner. We are fortunate enough to have all of those amenities and more today. Now, food is far more convenient, plentiful, and calorie-dense than food back then. One reputable source states, “People back in Jesus’ time ate a mostly plant-based, clean diet.” They state that fish was popular, but Jesus and his followers probably ate little poultry or red meat.2 Similarly, one scholar wrote about Jesus’ time, “A typical household’s daily diet was almost exclusively vegetarian. Except in the houses of the rich, meat appeared only at special times such as a wedding.” Later, when speaking about livestock, they state, “Meat was a special treat and was eaten on high holidays or offered to especially honoured guests, but in general it was not eaten as much as in the modern world.”3 In contrast, as of recent statistics, the average American eats nearly 271 pounds of meat per year.4Even so, the fishing industry then hardly resembles today’s fishing industry. Currently, fish are often crammed tightly together on aquaculture farms with little regard for hygiene, which would undoubtedly qualify as animal cruelty (Proverbs 12:10).
Most importantly, if Jesus did multiply the fish, they were probably already dead. John 6:9 says that the fish came from a boy, and there is no mention that the fish were flopping or struggling. This presumption of dead fish would make sense as, again, Jesus and his followers (Matthew 14:13; Luke 9:11; John 6:2) were in a desolate place. The boy was probably carrying these fish with him, and they had been long dead before Jesus multiplied them. In my mind, I picture Jesus taking the fish and multiplying their flesh without multiplying their brain or spine. Thus, there would be no further pain or suffering involved for the fish. This notion would fit the character of Jesus, who is called the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Thus, Jesus was the first person to create meat without killing animals. Importantly, the burgeoning industry of lab-grown or “cultivated” meat is set to disrupt how we traditionally farm animals. What would Jesus think of this product? Since Jesus may have served meat without harming animals, wouldn’t he want humanity to do the same instead of torturing animals for food? At least until he returns?
1. https://medium.com/sant-mat-meditation-and-spirituality/evidence-that-jesus-and-the-original-aramaic-christians-were-vegetarians-b8784ac42506
2. https://www.doctoroz.com/article/what-would-jesus-eat-science-within-bible
3. https://womeninthebible.net/bible-extras/food/
4. https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/06/27/155527365/visualizing-a-nation-of-meat-eaters
All verses reference are from the English Standard Version (ESV), unless otherwise noted.