The enormous beef recall, the result of animal cruelty violations, has brought the subject or factory animal farming to the forefront. Again.
Greg Boyd, a minister in Minnesota, discussed the issue of factory farming in a blog post, "Compassionate Dominion and Factory Farms." It's a very, very compelling piece. And then you can watch the video "Farm to Fridge," which about made me wretch.
Yes, God gave us dominion over animals. And yes, the Bible nowhere prohibits eating meat. But factory farming, these hellholes of misery for millions of animals, cannot possibly be part of God's plan. It's an abomination to which we Christians are blind.
Meanwhile, I love eating meat. What do I do about this? Greg Boyd became a vegetarian, but doesn't urge that on everyone. But at the least, he suggests eating only meat from free-range animals. Like those cows and pigs and chickens on grandpa's farm, that roamed the pastures all day long in the fresh air. But how can you know, when you sit down at Logan's or Smokey Bones, the road that that sirloin took before landing on your plate?
I don't know what I think about all of this. But it really bothers me. It's most definitely a moral issue. Read Greg Boyd's post. It'll disturb you.
Career-wise, I've been hanging around and writing about and cheering on churches and pastors for the past 25 years as my denomination's Communications Director.
I like Greg's whole series on why he is a vegetarian and I appreciate the grace he shows toward the rest of us who eat meat.
As for some of your questions I would say it wouldn't hurt to ask the restaurants in question where they get their meat. If enough people asked they might start thinking about it. My guess would be that the larger chains are going to be more of a problem than locally owned establishments. I have seen vehicles from a way too expensive restaurant in Roanoke parked at the meat locker that we share a parking lot with so I know some buy locally.
We buy our meat next door too but I usually have to send my kids in to get it. If I walk in there I find it hard to resist the delmonicos.
I'm so thankful for Greg Boyd's courage in tackling unpopular issues that still really matter. I very much agree that this is a moral issue, but tend not to speak on the subject much because it makes everyone around me so uncomfortable.
It's messy stuff, but morally clear.