Are Christians inconsistent if they are not Vegan?

How can you be against abortion and not vegan?

Said another way, “Why can’t I kill a baby in the womb, but I can kill an animal?” It seems to come from a place of equality of man and animals. It is a conflict of world-views and a mis-understanding of what the Bible teaches. Rather than going direct to Genesis 9:3, we should start with the foundation.

Animals are a part of God’s very good creation

We read in Genesis 1 that God created animals and called them “good” with different categories and kinds on day five (Genesis 1:20-23) and day six (Genesis 1:24-25). God gave the command to the animals to “be fruitful and multiply”. It makes sense that God would include animals in the afterlife, as he restores all things and removes the effects of the curse of sin. Isaiah describes this in the familiar verses declaring that, “the wolf shall dwell with the lamb” (Isaiah 11:6-9).

God demonstrates Hs love and value of animals in many ways

God provides for the animals, here are several verses:

Psalm 104:21, “The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God.”
Psalm 147:9, “He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry.”
Psalm 36:6, “...man and beast you save, O Lord.”
Isaiah 40:11, “He will tend his flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs in His arms…”
Job 12:7-10, “ask the beasts, and they will teach you… Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?”
Luke 12:6, “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God.”
Matthew 6:26, “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.”

God saved each kind of animal in the ark when He sent the flood of Noah’s day (Genesis 6:19-20). He challenged Jonah with His compassion for the people of Nineveh “and also much cattle” (Jonah 4:11).

He uses animals to describe certain attributes about Himself such as a hen protecting her chicks (Luke 13:34). Even more, He uses animals as names to refer to Christ, His beloved Son. Christ is the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) and He is the “Lion of the Tribe of Judah” (Revelation 5:5).

God created man in His image

On day six, right after completing the creation of animals God created mankind in Adam (Genesis 1:26-27). He declared that man was created in His own image and holds a special place of love and value. Man and animal are separate created kinds, not evolved from the same ancestor but designed and created. He commanded us to “subdue the earth”, and “have dominion over the animals” (Genesis 1:28). He started by bringing all the animal kinds to Adam to name them. After bringing them all, He declares man and animals separate by saying they were not “fit for him” and God created Eve.

He gave purpose for both man and animals, but each one is different, according to its kind

. Each is designed for God’s purpose and His glory. Man’s rule over the animals is governed by expectations; we are to care for them as God would. We are His steward, not simply owners without accountability. There are right and wrong ways to care for and to govern the animals. Consider these verses:

Deuteronomy 25:4, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain”
Exodus 23:5, “If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.”
Exodus 23:12, “on the seventh day you shall rest; that your ox and your donkey may have rest”
Isaiah 32:20, “let the feet of the ox and the donkey range free”
Leviticus 22:27, “When an ox or sheep or goat is born, it shall remain seven days with its mother”
Luke 14:5, “Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?”
Proverbs 27:23, “Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds”
Proverbs 12:10, “Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.”

We have a relationship and bond with animals, but it is not meant to be equal. God has blessed them both. Jesus said, “Consider the lilies… even Solomon was not arrayed like one of these… how much more will he clothe you” (Luke 12:27-28). He also said, “Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:31)

Did the sacrifices show God hated animals?

I hope you can see through the passages above that even the sacrifice of animals that was done in ancient Israel was not meant to de-value animals. God does love the animals, he cares for them, provides for them, and will restore them. Yet, God loves mankind above the animals, we are created in His image.

The sacrifice did not show His hate of animals, but demonstrated their value. We don’t sacrifice our scraps but sacrifice what we value. Israel was to bring the first fruits of the flock, their best, “without blemish” (Exodus 12:5). The sacrifice was meant to point us to God’s ultimate sacrifice, the death of His only Son, Jesus Christ on the cross. The sacrifice did not show His hatred toward His Son, but His anger against sin, and love for His people. He sacrificed what was of greater value, so that He could fulfill the requirements of the Law and redeem the ones He loves. In love He has made us alive in Christ, through a perfect sacrifice, shedding His blood on our behalf.

The sacrifice of animals has been abolished because Christ has fulfilled the requirements of the Law (Ephesians 1:7-8). A temporary sacrifice of the blood of an animal is no longer necessary and never was sufficient (Hebrews 10:1-4). Mankind apart from the blood of Christ is still destined for destruction. TODAY is the day of salvation, be reconciled to Christ in faith.

To answer the original question, we must understand the difference between man and animal. All animals are part of God’s very good creation. He demonstrates His love for them throughout the Bible. Each is created for a purpose but they are different than mankind, who is created in God’s image and valued infinitely higher. That is not a reason to be arrogant, but to be humble (Psalm 8:4).

He gave us a responsibility to care for the animals and we should take that seriously. Killing a baby in the womb is wrong because it is a life that is created in the image of God. A Christian may be a vegan if they wish but they recognize the difference between man and animal.

Author: Jon Neifert

Posted on June 04 2025