by Israel Wayne

Ted glanced around the U-HOP Diner once again and finally spotted his friend Dan. He waved his hand until he caught Dan’s eye.

“Hey Dan, I was wondering when you were going to show up.” Ted looked at his watch. Dan always seemed to have an unspoken aversion to being on time for anything.

“Sorry bro. I got held up. Have you ordered yet?”

“Yep. Cheeseburger, fries and a Coke. It’s the all-American diet!”

“Yeah, well, I don’t eat that stuff anymore. I’m a vegetarian now.”

Ted was stunned. “Man, are you kidding me?! I know it’s been two years since we were dorm buddies, but you used to love cheeseburgers. If fact, remember that burger eating contest we had in school? You won and I was sick for two days. Man, those were good times!”

“Well, that was the old me. Some things change.”

“I guess so, but...vegetarian?”

At that moment the waitress stopped by their table and asked, “So, what’ll it be?”

“Um...I’ll take the chicken Caesar salad...make that ranch dressing, and could I have an iced tea with lemon?”

“Okay, hon, comin’ right up,” and with that she disappeared into the diner’s kitchen.

Ted was visibly confused. “Did you say, ‘Chicken’ Caesar salad?”

“Yeah, so what?” Dan answered with a strong hint of defensiveness in his voice.

“I guess I thought your professors would have mentioned when you got your biology degree that “chicken” is NOT a vegetable.”

“Hey, it’s better than that stuff you are clogging your arteries with!”

Ted took a deep breath. Dan’s approach to conversations hadn’t changed a bit. “Look, I’m not trying to pick a fight with you. I’m just trying to figure out how you can call yourself a vegetarian when you still eat meat. How often do you eat meat anyway?”

“Oh, nearly every day I eat some form of meat, I just try to eat less and I try to avoid the really harmful stuff.”

“So how did you get started on this kick?”

“Well,” Dan remembered, “It began shortly after I left college. I went to a meeting where the speaker was sharing on the evils of fast food, saturated fats and all that stuff. He had me convinced. He was a vegetarian and that night I went forward and signed a pledge that I was going to become a vegetarian for the rest of my life.”

“And so,” Ted chimed in, “You stopped eating meat?”

“Almost. I thought that once I became a vegetarian that it would be easy to stop eating meat, but it wasn’t. It was so hard. I mean, everywhere you go you find it on the menu. So, over time, I basically decided that it couldn’t be done and developed a sense of security that I can eat meat and still be vegetarian, as long as I didn’t eat the really bad stuff.”

“Dan, I don’t know what to say to that. I mean, don’t words have meaning?”

“Yes, of course they do.”

“Well, the word, ‘Vegetarian’ means ‘I don’t eat meat.’”

“I don’t see it that way. I think vegetarianism is more a state of mind. It’s kind of a positional thing. As long as you call yourself a vegetarian, believe that you are one, and try your best to eat as many vegetables as you can, that is all that matters. In fact, most of my vegetarian friends say that eating meat isn’t really a big deal. The main thing is to say you are sorry after you eat meat, and then try to forget about it. It’s like we always say, ‘Once a vegetarian, always a vegetarian!’”

“So you are saying that I could become a vegetarian and not really change much in terms of my diet?”

“Well, I mean, you ought to try, but honestly, I’ll probably keep eating meat as long as I live.”

Ted sipped his Coke and thought hard. He was having a hard time processing his friend’s logic. Finally after what seemed like a short eternity, he summed up his thoughts to his friend.

“Listen, Dan, you and I have been friends for a long time. I’m glad that you have found something that is working for you, but I just know myself. I like meat too much. I know I shouldn’t eat the way I do, and my diet is probably slowly killing me, but I just don’t think I could ever give it up. I mean, even you can’t stop eating meat. So, at the end of the day, I don’t see the difference. Sure, you are eating a bit healthier than me, but ultimately, we’re both still carnivores. The main distinction between us is that I’m not too proud to admit who I really am, and you seem confused to me. I might be more willing to listen if you had more aptitude and less attitude when it comes walking out this ‘vegetarian’ thing.”

Now it was Dan’s turn for introspection. Upon quick reflection, he realized that he hadn’t had much success in getting others to follow his new convictions. Perhaps the lack of consistency in his diet was causing people to doubt his sincerity and the validity of his claims. As Dan continued his meal, he began to wonder if he really was a vegetarian after all.

This story reflects the attitude of many Christians who honestly believe that they can call themselves Christians and yet their lives don’t have to change in any fundamental way.

“For if you are living according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:13)

“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (Romans 6:1-2)

“Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you-- unless indeed you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5)

“Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” (1 John 2:6) 

Editor’s Note:  Israel Wayne is one of those guys with a nose for the glory of God.  He can sniff out a bad theology and an idiotic doctrinal turn from a mile away.  Usually, those with a spiritual sniffer as excellent as Mr. Wayne’s, tend to be irascible, hard-nosed, abrasive types - but Israel has the rare ability to see clearly and yet respond with the nature of Christ intact.  You can visit him at www.WisdomsGate.com where he serves as Marketing Director for Wisdom’s Gate Publishing, or you can take a more personal peek at www.IsraelWayne.com.

Please email your thoughts, questions, and encouragements to Israel Wayne

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