Should Christians shop conscientiously/compassionately?

[Fragrant Grace]

Do you think that Christians should shop conscientiously/compassionately and when possible purchase, for example:

Cruelty free toiletries and household products
Free range eggs
Free range, outdoor reared meat products

Or is it okay not to be concerned about these matters?

 

[Brad Huber]

Its almost always more expensive to shop for the better stuff, but if you can afford it, its certainly worth the extra cost.

 

[Thiscrosshurts]

My secular answer:Occasionally
I would always go for a less cruel more sustainable choice if given a reasonable option.

My spiritual answer:
Matthew 6:31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

I don't think we should make being making more yokes for the people.
We are supposed to be making footstools out of Jesus's enemies.

 

[Fragrant Grace]

Yes Thiscrosshurts I agree we shouldn't make it a yoke for people

However, it does trouble and distress me to see factory farming, battery hen houses, fur farms etc where animals are treated with such cruelty

I believe that the Lord gave us animals to be used
Not to be abused

They are all part of His glorious creation

 

[Thiscrosshurts]

However, does trouble and distress me to see factory farming, battery hen houses, fur farms etc where animals are treated with such cruelty

Yes,I agree,it is unacceptable and I don't want our freedom in Christ to cause us to be or even appear callous toward the suffering of man or beast.Speaking to suppliers with our purchasing power is a powerful tool and the more they see people moving toward responsible products the more reasonable the options will become.I would also not want a poor man who is struggling to feed his family feel that his poverty excludes him from being righteous.
I thank God that I never had to steal to feed my children because I would have for sure.
I would like to thank God that no being must suffer to keep us alive,but for now I have to thank him in faith that his will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven.

 

[Eddy Fire]

somewhere a thing called conscience kicks in
when you know something you can no longer ignore it
you can excuse it or avoid it but you can't annul the conscience

I don't think anyone wants their childrens pet cut up or tortured for someone elses gain

when the LORD made animals, He saw that it was good

no matter how holy someone thinks they might be, there is no excusable reason or reasoning to suggest that the Spirit of God accepts and approves of barbaric, cruel, greedy, gratitude of either the money makers or the money spenders - if they know.
easter time is coming up - oh goodie - easter bunnies! sick budgies that blind the eyes of rabbits in order to get rich off silly women wearing makeup
what is everyone saying to our children - being all the children, not just ours
cute little bunnies - soft and fluffy - what is mommy wearing they ask as they grow - they experiment themselves, not on animals but with make-up and then one day find out that the cute bunnies are toretured so girlies can look pretty - sick

there's more
so many products are made by so few BIG companies which care nothing about animals, from dogs to cats, rabbits, monkeys, you name it, even horsies and behind the viel of vivisection they slaughter the innocent

and we the consumer, who cares
is that a question or a fact or a statement?
who cares?
can be taken in several ways

no, we don't make a religious rule or law, we don't attempt to work our way to heaven
BUT we can decide to do the right thing once we are aware of the horrid practices that are committed against animals daily.
saying NO is not being secular. It will not defile the Spirit
tough cheese if you can't have it then and there because you said NO
who cares?

that Question again

and to help with that question, try the conscience - that God designed thing we all have, like it or not and cut the nonsense about secular behaviour, please

and what about the little piggies? the battery hens? as well.
who cares?

shame on anyone who calls themselves a child of God who turns a blind eye to the cruelty and even more to those who make up holy righteous excuses for doing so!
back to the conscience

who cares?

try the LORD GOD for starters

 

[Eddy Fire]

Conscience
Conscience: that faculty of the mind, or inborn sense of right and wrong, by which we judge of the moral character of human conduct. It is common to all men. Like all our other faculties, it has been "perverted by the Fall" (John 16:2; Acts 26:9; Rom. 2:15). It is spoken of as "defiled" (Titus 1:15), and "seared" (1 Tim. 4:2). A "conscience void of offence" is to be sought and cultivated (Acts 24:16; Rom.
9:1; 2 Cor. 1:12; 1 Tim. 1:5, 19; 1 Pet. 3:21).
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
1. the inner sense of what is right or wrong in one's conduct or motives, impelling one toward right action: to follow the dictates of conscience.
2. the complex of ethical and moral principles that controls or inhibits the actions or thoughts of an individual.
3. an inhibiting sense of what is prudent: I'd eat another piece of pie but my conscience would bother me.
4. moral sense: the ability to determine the rightness or wrongness of actions.
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about conscience:
Adam might have said the word:
it sounds a bit like this:
Soon I die sis

think about it
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suneidésis: consciousness, spec. conscience
Original Word: συνείδησις, εως, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: suneidésis
Phonetic Spelling: (soon-i'-day-sis)
Short Definition: the conscience
Definition: the conscience, a persisting notion.

 

[B-A-C]

This is a pretty broad range question. I'm not sure I really answer it easily.

As far as food is concerned, I don't really look at it spiritually most of the time. But I do tend to buy organic, nt because I believe it's spiritually better, but because I believe it's more healthy.
If I had to stretch this to a spiritual reason, I would say I try to take care of the temple of the Spirit. (my body) but I could obviously be doing better here in other ways.

As far as animal based products or companies that test on animals, I am slightly less concerned. Don't get me wrong, I don't believe in purposeful cruelty to animals.
But I believe God gave us the animals of the earth to subdue. Even Jesus and the disciples ate fish. The Israelites ate meat ( Exod 16:3-12; Numb 11:21; )
I haven't become vegan, and I don't forsee it anytime soon.

Heb 5:13; For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14; But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

I confess I have never contributed a single penny to PETA, the SPCA or Save the Whales. If half the money that was contributed to these things was spent on starving children,
abortion alternatives, and orphanages, perhaps I would be more concerned about animal rights.

 

[jeffsi435]

one of the issues with that is how to find out if you have accurate information about how things are developed and tested. It also would seem to me to take a lot of time to research that.

 

[Fragrant Grace]

one of the issues with that is how to find out if you have accurate information about how things are developed and tested. It also would seem to me to take a lot of time to research that.

@jeffsi435

Yes, I agree (from experience) it can take up a lot of time
And there is always more and more research to do
There is a never ending catalogue of the cruelty of the companies that test on animals
There are countless documentaries on barbaric and cruel farming methods and so on

Looking into these atrocities can be addictive in that there is always something else to find out, always another petition to sign, always another breaking story

And whilst I personally believe Christians should care about animals, it shouldnt overtake our lives to the extent our prayer life, biblical study, worship time, and times of christian fellowship are neglected......or become a more important cause than looking after our families and children

However, it doesn't take much time or effort to make a few practical steps.
Just a few examples: We as a family buy household products and toiletries whose ingredients and finished products haven't been tested on animals....it states this clearly on the packaging. We eat organic free range eggs. We avoid fast-food chains where the mac chickens are widely known to be treated cruelly

God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.
Genesis 1:31

 

[Chad]

There is only so much a person can do in his or her life, even to do well. Let the Spirit guide you and your conscience convict you but not burden you.

In other words, do what you feel led to do. If GOD leads you to become an advocate against animal abuse, go for it. If He leads you elsewhere, say an advocate against child slavery - follow His direction.

I think priority should be for humans is to spread the Gospel to the lost and also care for the poor/widows.

I love animals but as one said, it takes a lot of time and research and money to investigate animal cruelty. There are already organizations out there that investigate such as well such as the ASPCA and Peta

 

[Eddy Fire]

There is only so much a person can do in his or her life, even to do well. Let the Spirit guide you and your conscience convict you but not burden you.

In other words, do what you feel led to do. If GOD leads you to become an advocate against animal abuse, go for it. If He leads you elsewhere, say an advocate against child slavery - follow His direction.

I think priority should be for humans is to spread the Gospel to the lost and also care for the poor/widows.

I love animals but as one said, it takes a lot of time and research and money to investigate animal cruelty. There are already organizations out there that investigate such as well such as the ASPCA and Peta

this is true
but while we should and must put people/souls first which is putting the Lord Himself first and second third fourth etc
the issue that is easy to consider is:
if we know something is riddled with cruelty we can avoid it

yes research can be time consuming and as you said rightly let the Lord guide us by His Spirit
the point I am making is that if you are guided either directly or as a matter of only hearing or reading about cruelty
against any of God's creatures (and especially man - a lot of children are still used brutally in some countries for production of things like diamonds chocolate etc!) then you/me/everyone should use their money accordingly and not pay for this to continue

it is really a very simple thing to say no to buying things that you know are wrong

and yes, that may mean that sometimes you might have to go without

but that can be a good thing

an example may be this:
if Hitler was still doing his nasty nazi thing should we buy products from him or anything that raises funds for him to continue - most would say definitely NOT

or if it were Idi Amin or Pol Pot?

so all this animal cruelty and as mentioned child slavery - we can use the same harmless principals and do the right thing

IF you know that a product is made with cruelty, to man or animals - DON'T BUY IT!

and I don't want to upset anyone but it doesn't take a great deal of time to type in a couple of words and do a search on the internet and have a quick read and find out more - it may be a better thing to do with some peoples time than what they do do!

at least look up something on child slavery and avoid those products everyone
I do not think the Lord would be upset if you do, but that is my mind about that