As Christians, we believe our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and our actions should reflect God’s love for all creation. While the Bible doesn’t explicitly command veganism, it reveals God’s original design, His compassion for animals, and calls to stewardship, mercy, and health. These themes can support a vegan lifestyle rooted in faith, peace, and reverence for life. Below are seven key perspectives drawn from Scripture to help guide and inspire believers who are exploring or embracing a vegan lifestyle.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Eating Meat
God’s Original Plan for Human Diet
In the beginning, God created a world filled with peace and harmony. Humans and animals were meant to coexist without violence or death. The diet God provided to Adam and Eve was entirely plant-based, showing us His perfect, compassionate design. Understanding this origin can inspire believers to return to that peaceful way of life and see veganism as a return to Eden’s ideal. Let’s look at how the Bible presents God’s original intentions for our diet and relationship with creation.
Genesis 1:29
“Then God said, ‘Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food.'”
Genesis 2:9
“The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit.”
Genesis 1:30
“And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—everything that has life.’ And that is what happened.”
Isaiah 11:6-7
“In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat… The cow will graze near the bear… The lion will eat hay like a cow.”
Romans 14:21
“It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble.”
Compassion and Mercy Toward Animals
The Bible repeatedly reveals God’s care and compassion for animals. From the sparrow to the ox, God watches over all His creatures and expects us to reflect that same mercy. Embracing a vegan lifestyle can be a way to practice compassion, minimize harm, and honor God’s heart for creation. Let’s reflect on the verses that remind us of God’s love for animals and His call for us to treat them with kindness and respect.
Proverbs 12:10
“The godly care for their animals, but the wicked are always cruel.”
Psalm 145:9
“The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.”
Matthew 10:29
“What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.”
Job 12:7-10
“Just ask the animals, and they will teach you… For the life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being.”
Luke 12:6
“What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them.”
Our Bodies as Temples of the Holy Spirit
Scripture teaches that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. As stewards of our health, we are called to honor God with how we treat and nourish our bodies. A vegan diet, when done mindfully, can be an act of worship, promoting health, clarity, and wholeness. This lifestyle can help us live with intentionality, avoiding harm and choosing foods that bring life and vitality. The following verses guide us in caring for our physical and spiritual well-being.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?… So you must honor God with your body.”
1 Corinthians 10:31
“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
Proverbs 3:7-8
“Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.”
Daniel 1:12-15
“‘Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,’ Daniel said. … At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king.”
3 John 1:2
“Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit.”
Living Peacefully with All Creation
God’s kingdom is one of peace, not only among people but among all living beings. In prophetic visions of the future, even animals live in harmony. Choosing a non-violent diet can reflect that peace now. A vegan lifestyle can be a prophetic act, signaling hope in God’s kingdom of peace. The verses below give us glimpses of the peace God intends for all creation and the role we can play in fostering that reality here and now.
Isaiah 65:25
“The wolf and the lamb will feed together. The lion will eat hay like a cow… Nothing harmful will take place on my holy mountain.”
Romans 8:19-21
“For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are… creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.”
Colossians 1:20
“And through him God reconciled everything to himself… by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.”
Hebrews 12:14
“Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.”
Psalm 34:14
“Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.”
Also Read: Bible Verses About Food and Fellowship
Stewardship of God’s Creation
God gave humans the responsibility to tend and care for His creation. This stewardship is not one of domination, but of nurturing, protecting, and serving the earth and its creatures. By living a vegan lifestyle, we can reduce harm to the environment and reflect God’s call to responsible care. The following scriptures show the biblical basis for ecological stewardship and respect for the world God has entrusted to us.
Genesis 2:15
“The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.”
Psalm 24:1
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.”
Leviticus 25:23-24
“Remember, the land must never be sold on a permanent basis, because it really belongs to me. You are only foreigners and tenant farmers working for me.”
Numbers 35:33
“This will ensure that the land where you live will not be polluted, for murder pollutes the land.”
Revelation 11:18
“It is time to destroy all who have caused destruction on the earth.”
Self-Control and Discipline
Veganism can be a spiritual discipline that helps us grow in self-control, a fruit of the Spirit. Choosing compassion and intentionality over convenience or tradition reflects a deeper desire to live righteously. Just as fasting and prayer cultivate closeness with God, so can thoughtful choices about food. Scripture calls us to live not according to the flesh but by the Spirit, showing restraint for a higher purpose.
Galatians 5:22-23
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
1 Corinthians 9:27
“I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should…”
Titus 2:11-12
“For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures.”
Proverbs 25:28
“A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.”
2 Peter 1:5-6
“Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence… and self-control.”
Love for Neighbor and the Vulnerable
At the core of Christian ethics is love—love for God, neighbor, and even those we may never meet. A vegan lifestyle can be a form of love: reducing suffering, conserving resources, and helping others. In a world where our food choices impact workers, communities, and ecosystems, we can live out the Gospel through compassion-driven choices. These verses highlight how love, mercy, and justice are central to a life that pleases God.
Matthew 22:37-39
“‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ … ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
Micah 6:8
“O people, the Lord has told you what is good… to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
Luke 6:31
“Do to others as you would like them to do to you.”
1 John 4:20
“If we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?”
James 2:15-16
“Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, ‘Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well’—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?”