Are You a Christian Carnivore?
I remember hearing a phrase a few years ago that I’d never heard before. Maybe the expression is not new to you, but it was to me. A man described some people as being Christian carnivores.
My first reaction to that phrase was not very positive. Usually, when I hear the word “carnivore,” my mental image is that of a bloody scene in which some wild animal quickly tears another animal limb from limb and devours it. While that word can define predators and scavengers that eat primarily or exclusively meat, it can also be used to refer to “meat-eaters” which may have better “table manners” than my mental image allows for.
If all of that is the case, what would a Christian carnivore be? Wouldn’t it be what the writer of Hebrews is challenging his readers to be in the following passage?
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil (Heb. 5:12-14, KJV).
I certainly hope that I am making progress in my spiritual development. I sure hope that my spiritual diet reflects that. I’m hoping that all of us have, as a goal, making meat a significant portion of our spiritual diets.
In fact, maybe a better goal would be to be Christian omnivores. The dictionary informs me that an omnivore “feeds on both animal and vegetable substances.” That sounds like a balanced diet to me. If a balanced diet helps us to grow physically, wouldn’t the same thing be true about our spiritual growth?
May God help all of us to “…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…” (2 Peter 3:18).
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AUTHOR: Jim Faughn
