Welcome to the fifth edition of our Lent Challenge newsletter!
Perception is an important consideration when thinking about our food system. For many of us, there is an idyllic view of what an animal farm is, often in the vision of that old nursery rhyme “Old MacDonald” where animals are happy and tranquil in their farm life. This week we explore the realities of animal farming and look for guidance towards more responsible meat consumption.
Let us not ask whether Jesus ate meat. Instead, let us ask: What would He say if He saw millions of chickens hanging upside down, flailing in fear, heading for an electric bath? Or mother pigs confined in cages so small they cannot move? Or newborn calves taken from their mothers, left alone and hungry?
The reality of industrial animal farming dispels this notion due to controversial methods, including caging animals and electrical slaughter. It begs the question: what would Jesus think of these methods considering that “since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made”? (Romans 1:20)
Meister Eckhart, a 13th-century Dominican theologian, wrote that every creature is full of God and serves as a book from which we can learn about Him. If we embraced this perspective, how differently would we treat animals?
Source: Photo by mahmut …… on Unsplash
The Cruelty of Caged Farming
In the EU, 85% of the 15 million breeding cows are confined to cages, separated from their calves at birth. Locked in solitary pens, they suffer from hunger, loneliness, and weakened immune systems, deprived of their natural right to maternal care.
Chickens are among the most exploited animals, with over 150 million hens in the EU confined to small cages. They instinctively seek to nest, perch, and dust-bathe, yet in factory farms, they live in barren, overcrowded conditions.
God created all His creatures with purpose; denying them basic freedom to move, rest, and nurture ignores the wisdom of their Creator.
The Impact on Human Health
Industrial farming also poses serious risks to human health. The overuse of antibiotics (that is applied to counteract the dangers created by widespread practices in factory-farming) contributes to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Contaminated air and water expose communities to dangerous pollutants, leading to respiratory diseases and environmental degradation.
A recent investigation into pig farming in Spain exposed devastating consequences: poisoned water, unbearable stench, and severe health hazards for locals. Such suffering is not just environmental—it is moral. As stewards of God’s creation, we must consider the wider impact of our food choices.
A Call to Compassion
God granted us dominion over animals, not to exploit them but to care for them. True dominion means stewardship, responsibility, and compassion. As Christians, we are called to reflect Christ’s love in all aspects of our lives—including our food choices.
The Bible teaches that “a righteous man cares for the needs of his animal” (Proverbs 12:10). This wisdom calls us to reconsider our relationship with animals and food production systems.
Let us be conscious of where our food comes from and support humane farming practices that honour God’s creation. We can each do our bit by promoting organic, free-range farming and reducing our meat consumption, taking practical steps that reflect our reverence for all that God has made.
Christians for Animals, Poland
Source: Eurogroup for Animals
