Can we repeatedly indulge in harmful habits, ask for forgiveness, and assume grace erases every consequence without any effort to change? To expect endless absolution while willfully causing harm treats divine mercy as a loophole and treats Jesus Christ as a fool. Real faith demands genuine repentance and character transformation, not passive lip service. By examining wisdom from the Bible, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Srimad Bhagavatam, this article explores why true spiritual progress requires universal compassion, an end to animal slaughter, and an active commitment to living in harmony with divine law in thought, word, and deed.
If a friend makes an honest mistake and asks for forgiveness, a charitable heart readily offers pardon. If they repeat the mistake, mercy may still extend a second or third chance. But if that person commits the exact same act repeatedly, with full intentionality, expecting forgiveness on demand without making any effort to change, common sense tells us that forgiveness is being taken for granted. To assume that one can continually exploit mercy without consequence is not faith; it is naive.
Yet, a pervasive idea exists among many believers today: that one can indulge in a lifestyle of perpetual wrongdoing, hand over the tab to Lord Jesus Christ, and be completely cleared of all consequences simply by professing belief.
Does this not treat Jesus Christ as a fool?
Jesus Christ is certainly no fool. Genuine spiritual life requires more than lip service; it demands authentic repentance, self-discipline, and a transformation of character.
The Illusion of “Elephant Bathing”
In the Srimad Bhagavatam (6.1.9–6.9.10), King Pariksit raises this exact dilemma to the sage Sukadeva Gosvami. He questions the value of ritualistic atonement when a person immediately returns to sinful habits:
“If a person who knows the adverse results of sinful activity commits sin again and again, of what value is his counteracting method? Such atonement is like the bathing of an elephant, which takes a bath in the water but immediately upon coming onto dry land throws dust all over its body.”
Atoning for a sin only to repeat it deliberately is known in Vedic wisdom as hasti-snana, the elephant’s bath. Cleaning oneself only to roll in the dirt again solves nothing.
The Christian scriptures share this exact warning. Saint Paul writes directly to believers who assume grace excuses ongoing sin:
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”
— Romans 6:1–2
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”
— Galatians 6:7
To presume that Jesus’s sacrifice gives us a blank check to sin with impunity is to mock the Savior. Forgiveness clears the heart of honest seekers, but divine law ensures that willful hypocrisy brings its own severe consequences.
Action, Reaction, and the Laws of Nature
In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna explains that actions performed in ignorance and self-indulgence, without regard for consequences or harm inflicted on others, bind the soul to suffering:
“That action which is undertaken out of delusion, without considering consequences, loss, injury to others, or one’s own capacity, is declared to be in the mode of ignorance.”
— Bhagavad Gita 18.25
Forgiveness frees the spirit from malice, but it does not suspend the physical and spiritual laws of cause and effect (karma). Fire burns whether you are forgiven for touching it or not. Expecting divine grace to shield us from the natural reactions of intentional harm, while continuing to cause that harm, ignores how God’s creation functions.
Reclaiming “Thou Shalt Not Kill”
How, then, can a true follower of Christ honor His teachings in thought, word, and deed? A crucial place to begin is with one of the most fundamental commandments: “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13).
True spiritual progress expands our circle of compassion. Can we truly claim to follow a God of love while participating in the unnecessary suffering and slaughter of innocent creatures who feel fear, pain, and affection?
Furthermore, many spiritual scholars and early Christian traditions emphasize that a central point of conflict between Jesus and the established Temple authorities of His time was His firm stance against ritual animal sacrifice. When Jesus famously cleansed the Jerusalem Temple, driving out those selling oxen, sheep, and doves (John 2:14–15), He directly confronted an institution reliant on the blood of innocent animals. By quoting the Old Testament prophet Hosea and declaring, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice” (Matthew 9:13), Jesus signaled a departure from blood rituals toward a higher path of compassion and spiritual purity.
As explored in depth in the article “Eating Meat is not for Spiritualists”, genuine spiritual advancement requires stepping away from violence and recognizing that unnecessary slaughter is contrary to spiritual growth.
In original biblical creation, humanity was given a compassionate, plant-based diet:
“And God said, ‘See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.'”
— Genesis 1:29
Similarly, the Srimad Bhagavatam (1.17.24) identifies daya (mercy/compassion) as one of the essential pillars of spiritual life, warning that cruelty toward animals destroys this principle at its root.
In the Bhagavad Gita (3.13), Lord Krishna further underscores the spiritual responsibility tied to what we consume:
“The devotees of the Lord are released from all kinds of sins because they eat food which is offered first for sacrifice. Others, who prepare food for personal sense enjoyment, verily eat only sin.”
When we support slaughterhouses, commercial fisheries, and factory farming, we actively participate in an industry built on violence against innocent living beings. To claim we cannot stop causing this harm, yet expect Jesus to absolve us while we continue doing it, misinterprets the very nature of Christ’s mercy.
A Call to Align Faith with Action
Jesus Christ called His followers to a higher standard of love, mercy, and righteousness. True faith is not a passive insurance policy; it is an active commitment to live in harmony with divine law.
When abundant, wholesome, plant-based alternatives exist to fully nourish us, choosing to eat meat or fish in the presence of other food is a deliberate preference for sensory gratification over the life of an innocent creature. If someone knowingly chooses violence over peaceful, compassionate food, how can they genuinely be accepted as a Christian? To truly follow Christ is to embody His divine mercy; choosing unnecessary bloodshed when other nourishment is readily available directly contradicts the heart of His teachings.
We urgently call upon church leaders, pastors, and clergy to rise to their sacred duty. Stop turning a blind eye to slaughter and appeasing congregations to fill seats and coffers; lead by example and teach what souls need rather than what they crave. It is time to end the abomination of meat eating in churches, church functions, and community halls once and for all. A pulpit that preaches love while serving the flesh of slaughtered innocents is a tragic contradiction of Christ’s message.
Let us stop treating grace as a license for cruelty or compla.cency. If we profess love for Jesus Christ, let us reflect His mercy in every choice we make, starting with what we put on our plates.
Say no to slaughterhouses, meat, fish, and the exploitation of innocent animals. Choose a path of universal compassion and harmlessness (ahimsa).
If vegetables have life and vegetarians eat them, then what’s the harm in eating flesh of birds and animals?
Rathin, 28/04/2015
Hare Krishna,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Gurudeva and Srimati Gurumataji,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I will humbly request all of you to enlighten me on this subject.
When I talk to my friends about non-veg. The very common excuse is that vegetables also have life.
Telling them about the consciousness of the body and offering food to Sri Krishna, is something beyond their comprehension.
I will like to ask you all, what else can be said in layman terms to help them understand their ignorance.
your servant
Rathin
Delicious Meal of Krishna Prasad – Pure Vegetarian Food Cooked With Love and Offered to Krishna
Sridhar Das, 28/04/2015
Hare Krishna!
Please accept my humble obeisances!
All Glories to Srila Gurudeva and Srimati Gurumataji!
All Glories to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada!
If we read Srila Prabhupada books, especially The Hare Krishna challenge book, it clearly explains there. Jivo jivasya jivananam. In other words, the material nature is so designed that one living entity is food for the other. So therefore kill we have to. Howsoever, an intelligent human will prefer to commit necessary violence or take whatever is necessary from nature as goes the saying – one must consume as per one’s need rather than one’s greed.
The Hare Krishna Challenge
In fact animals are already doing that. So human has to commit violence. But if one can, more than maintain one’s life from such a variety of vegetarianism then why kill animals? We agree violence has to be done, but why commit unnecessary violence?
I find it important to make them realize through an example. Everyone can use their own and I generally say – if a thief hijacks your family one night and points the gun on your head and demands – your phone, money, jewellery, all valuables now or I shoot one or more of your family members, choose one!
There can be many versions. Some friend preached a family of 5 with a dog, the option being, one has to be shot down, choose one.
Now of course an intelligent person won’t let his/her parents off. He/She will prefer that which is less violent and more tolerable to the mind relatively.
Similarly, one should intelligently choose to kill plants (still unintelligent because this is also sinful and thievery, if consumed without thanking Krishna through the offering process).
Actually, if one performs proper farming then there is no killing incurred. The grains, fruits, etc. if pluck on the right time after a specific time period, there is no killing incurred and the quality is best too! Besides that, you take one and very easily we get another fruits from same tree. But if they take an animal, where do they get another so easily? Can they grow animals so easily like fruits? Why do they want to deprive animals of life? Why do they consider them devoid of emotions? A cow or any other bird feels same anxiety as a human does when their children are lost. If it’s all the same then why don’t they offer their own children for slaughter?
Sometimes they will say – we eat meat to become like a strong bull. But then where did the bull get all its nutrients from? Grass!!
Another point, if we study the nature and body of herbivores and carnivores ( intestine length, acid strength, teeth architecture, claws/nails, etc as given in Hare Krishna cookbook) it’s evident what we are meant to consume.
Moreover I was reading Back to Godhead magazine’s Jan/Feb issue where an aspiring devotee said that his wife forced their child to take meat for proper protein value, is that true? The answer was such people neglect the fact that along with protein, excess cholesterol and animal fat are also ingested into the human system resulting in fatal diseases as per many doctors. Also, to keep up the meat business, many industries drug the poor animals for better meat quality (I have watched many documentaries like “From farm to fridge”. Just imagine what effect this will have on consumers? Greenhouse is another result. Point is that nature provides sufficient milk, lentils, grains, nuts, fruits, vegetables and what not for a healthy human diet (includes proteins). Excess protein rather leads to severe body damage and damage to it’s immunity system.
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If they love God or nature, if they respect all, they will respect God’s other equal children too than depriving them of rights to live on the same land just because they can’t speak human language or just because they can manage their living without working hard in coats and suits.
If they continue to keep slaughtering like this sinfully then as per nature’s law nature will also continue to slaughter them as Srila Prabhupada concludes through world wars/crimes going on day after day.
Slaughtered Slaughterer, or karmic reactions from killing
So, there are many such points that can be spoken strongly with faith and confidence, to the extent we are convinced about the disgusting nature of animal slaughtering and also to the extent we take shelter of Prabhupada’s teachings faithfully.
But if they can often be fed with sumptuous Krishna Prasadam, then that alone will act as the best counter, trust me!
your servant
Sridhar Das
Nashvin, 28/04/2015
Hare Krsna Rathin Prabhu!
If they do not see the spiritual perspective of offering food etc, you can propose something to them:
Living entities all survive by consuming the bodies of other living entities (either animals or plants). So, would they like to kill other animals themselves and eat them, or harvest some crops instead? There is a reason that families go pick strawberries together, but do not have excursions to the slaughterhouse…
your servant,
Nashvin
Premananda Das, 28/04/2015
Hare Krishna
In layman terms it is fact that “One man’s meat is another man’s poison.”When it rains the umbrella shopkeeper is happy that it keeps raining as more more umbrellas sells and he makes profit but the people who buy wish it does not rain.This is law of nature each person is dependent on someone one whether he likes it or not.
If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf,a flower,fruit or water,I will accept it.
It is clearly mentioned in this verse that without offering to Him every mouthful of food will keep the person entangled in birth and death. Krishna mentions leaf,fruit,flowers and water this He will accept.He does not mention meat ,fish and eggs.
Another point is when you have not created anything that means you are not the Supreme controller or owner.As Krishna is the Supreme proprietor we must agree to what He says in Bhagavad Gita as it is without interpretations.
The devotees of the Lord are released from all kinds of sins because they eat food which is offered first for sacrifice,others who prepare food for sense enjoyment verily eat sin.
The most important point in this verse is that these performances keep them aloof from all kinds of contamination of sinful association in material world.
Therefore in order for people to be happy they must be taught to perform the easy process of sankirtana-yajna,in full Krishna consciousness.Otherwise there can be no peace and happiness in the world.
You try your best to explain to him the method of real happiness and if he accepts it is the best welfare activity.
your servant,
Premananda Das
Manian VB, 28/04/2015
Hare Krishna prabhu:
Vegetable food also is a living being, but when offered to Krishna, the sin of eating it is removed and it gets purified. This is what our Guruji has said. Chant Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Manian VB
Nishima, 28/04/2015
Hare Krishna
Sripad Sankarshan Das Adhikari
The same question was being asked by me to HH Sankarshan Maharaj ji and He gave me the following answer:
My Dear Nishima,
Please accept my blessings.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I am absolutely delighted to learn that our daily Krishna conscious broadcast, “Thought for the Day”, is enabling you to have Krishna conscious day every day. This is dream come true for me that I can be helping others in this way. It is surely the mercy of Lord Sri Krishna.
Regarding your question, Krishna orders us in the Bhagavad-gita that we can only take foods which have been first offered to Him. Since Krishna is a vegetarian, He will not accept any offering of meat. Therefore as the eaters of only Krishna prasadam we have no choice but to be vegetarians also. So actually we are not vegetarians; we are Krishnatarians, those who eat only the remnants of what has been offered first to Krishna.
I hope this meets you in the best of health
and in an ecstatic mood.
Your ever well-wisher,
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
—
Nishima
Mahabhagavat Das, 28/04/2015
Dear Sriman Rathin Mandal,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Gurudeva.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Your question is nice because I know that you are not unaware of the various reasons why meat is not recommended food. I also read with interest all the answers and was happy to read them, thank you to all who responded to Rathin’s request.
I was thinking you were asking “what might appeal to a person who is arguing only for the sake of arguing” or “what might convince a person who does not care about another living entity’s suffering”.
What’s in it For Me? This is what materialists care about.
My personal experience is that speaking to a materialist, pointing out what is in it for them has the greatest effect. Everyone is interested in “What’s in it for me” – “WIIFM”. So you can focus on health, how the educated and wealthy elite worldwide are switching to a vegetarian diet while the poor and uneducated are eating meat, how eating meat causes so many diseases like heart disease, hypertension, cancer etc., and so on, you can talk about the toxins released in the body as a response to fear of death, how those toxins cannot be removed from meat, etc.
All the arguments are there in the book “Higher Taste”, just familiarize yourself, and see which one works best with which person.
The Higher Taste. Get a Copy!
Above all the arguing etc. though, the best thing would be to give them the actual taste of Krishna Prasada, this works wonders, Srila Prabhupada starting the Hare Krishna movement by his Kirtan, classes, and his lovingly cooked Sunday feasts. The person who cooks your food influences your consciousness greatly, so why not take an indirect approach to increasing the spiritual intelligence of the poor meat eaters by giving them Krishna Prasada without necessarily telling them all about it?
Many advanced devotees have done this, and I was also a recipient of such mercy myself.
Sincerely,
Mahabhagavat Das
Bhakta Sunil, 28/04/2015
Hare Krishna
My respects to all readers
Regarding this topic , i had a debate with a social media contact and to convince him about importance of vegetarian food , i researched and gave him the following reply after which he did not debate further and was friendly too
——–
Dear , it is very nice that there is a tendency to not give pain to animals. But kindly note that denying the right to live defies mercy , irrespective of giving pain or not. For example , the punishment to a criminal for homicide is same irrespective of whether the homicide involves pain or not.
That one can eat plants does not imply that one can eat animals. Yes plants are also living entities.
Kindly note that meat is food in mode of ignorance.
Meat is also not easy on the GIT , as is known to medical science. Medical science provides documentation that Humans are biologically Herbivores. As pointed in the bottom line of the following article link by Physician (wonders never cease!) named Milton R. Mills : “Here’s another piece of information to digest: plant foods leave the body in 2 – 4 days; flesh foods leave the body in 5 – 7 days. If a clump of rotting flesh sits in your body for a minimum of 5 days, where do all the poisons, chemicals, and excessive hormones that flood the animal’s body at the time of death go? And we wonder why we suffer from degenerative diseases!”
“Clean India Campaign” can be linked linked to meat eating because cleanliness is not only physical but also internally of habits , of which meat eating habit is predominant
Meat eating in long run develops animalistic propensities of terrorism , violence , cruelty to fellow beings. No Meat= No killing = No mentality of violence = No terrorism/No violence
Vegetables , fruits , grains , milk are foods in mode of goodness and make one feel energetic and fresh
Yes eating vegetables is violence, and vegetarians are also committing violence against other living entities because vegetables also have life. But here, significantly, it is stated that every living entity has to live by killing another entity; that is the law of nature. One living entity is the life for another living entity. But for a human being, that violence should be committed only as much as necessary. Extra violence is against the law of nature.
If we will have mercy on the animals, mercy will be given to us. What goes around comes around. We should be merciful to the animals by not slaughtering them and giving them all protection. We should allow them to live peacefully and happily. The more we give mercy to others, the mercy will be given to us.
———
in a humble mood,
Bhakta Sunil
Sulakshana devi dasi, 28/04/2015
Hare Krishna,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Gurudeva and Srimati Gurumataji,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Yes, vegetables also have life. Therefore Vaishnavas offer their eatables to Krishna before they partake it. By offering the food to Krishna the food is sanctified and we are free from all the sin.
Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, lifts Govardhan Hill
The fruits and the grains when they are taken from the tree or a plant do not kill the tree. Typically when the grains are harvested the plant is usually dried up so in other words there is no killing of the plant or tree there. Of course every living entity subsists by killing another living entity. The consciousness in the plant life is very dormant compared to other higher moving living entities. Consuming animal flesh for one’s sustenance is much more sinful than consuming vegetarian meal. Also Lord Krishna says in BG that He will accept a flower or a leaf or fruit or water if one offers Him with love but He does not say that He will accept animal products.
your humble servant,
Sulakshana devi dasi
Nashvin, 30/04/2015
Hare Krsna!
Another thing you can query is:
If eating animals is equivalent to eating plants, why not eat humans as well then? 🙂
your servant,
Nashvin
Rathin Mandal, 03/05/2015
Hare Krishna,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Gurudeva and Srimati Gurumataji,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Thank you everybody for giving me so many wonderful answers.
This enlightened me to a great extent
your servant
Rathin
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