"Just like how Adam and Eve were vegetarians until the fall of man!" the speaker proclaimed during the youth rally.
'What?' I thought to myself. I was only 16 or 17, and I sure didn't remember reading that Adam and Eve were vegetarians. I shifted the Bible back and forth in my hands, flipping through a few pages of Genesis.
That couldn't be right. Could it?
I don't know how I got up the nerve, but after the message, I approached the speaker and humbly asked where in the Bible it says that Adam and Eve were vegetarians.
The speaker didn't take offense; he gently explained that in Genesis, we don't see examples of anyone killing and eating animals (and God didn't say anyone could) until after the fall of man (see Genesis 4.)
I was flabbergasted. He was right! I reread it and reread it. In the words of LeVar Burton of Reading Rainbow, "You don't have to take my word for it!" Go check it out.
The thing is, we're accountable reading the Bible on our own, not just taking a sermon at face value. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth." Preachers are fallible humans (so am I,) which is why teachers are judged more harshly (James 3:1,) because by speaking one mistruth, others may be led away from Christ.
In light of this, we have some responsibilities:
Pay attention. Sermons aren't the time for naps.
Read the Bible on your own. We should be studying the word daily. Colossians 3:16 says, " Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God."
These first two steps will make you more aware when someone says something a little odd or completely wrong. Even if you don't know exactly why it feels off or have a memorized Bible verse to refute (or support) it, this is the beginning of discernment.
If/when you feel the Holy Spirit give you a little nudge that something might not be biblically accurate, you have the responsibility to follow up in the Bible. Does it contradict what the Bible says? Is there one or more Bible verses that address the topic? Does the topic just feel a little off because of your cultural or life experiences?
For me, the concept of Adam and Eve being vegetarians felt wrong because I'd never heard of it before, and I didn't know many Christians who were vegetarians. That was my cultural lens.
If you read the Bible and find that you were misinterpreting a verse/concept and it brings you to a better understanding, that's wonderful! If you find that the other person was wrong, humbly tell them (Matthew 18:15.)
I'm so grateful that the speaker at that youth rally was gentle in his answer. That gave me the boldness to seek truth and clarity. It was a formative experience in my spiritual growth.
Let's passionately pursue spiritual growth and maturity together!
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