Rastafari Knowledge: Do you have to stop eating meat to be a Rasta?
Do you have to stop eating meat to be a “Rasta”? It is commonly known that we of the “Rastafari” faith are huge advocates of healthy lifestyle and “Ital Food”.
Although “Ital” food is first and foremost recommended, many people still have the question as “Do Rasta eat meat”? And if so, which meat are we allowed to eat. What many are unaware of is, His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I, one of his favourite dish was “lamb”.
It is known that His Majesty “Rastafari” eat meat. So why then is it “Rastas” are so highly associated with not eating meat, and advocate for “ital” food?
The reason for this, is because of our first and original diet from the days of “Adam”. Genesis 1:29 says “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat”.
Here we can see that the “Most High” had set forth for the herbs to be for meat unto us. Therefore, it is common to see many “Rastas” engaging in a “Ital” diet.
This is why many are under the impression that to be of the “Rastafari” faith, one has to engage into an “Ital” lifestyle and cut off meat from ones diet completely. Many “Rasta” try to keep the original diet given unto us, for it is the purest way to consume food.
Rasta and Meat
How is it then that some of the “Rasta” faith partake in meat and others don’t? And is it ok to be taking part of meat when the “Most High” gave us a diet fitting for all?
This began after the flood of “Noah”. The order that was given unto man in the “Garden of Eden” had been changed after flood on earth in the days of “Noah”. Before the fall and after the fall of man from the “Garden of Eden”.
Genesis 9:1-4 says “And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.
Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat”. This was when we were first permitted to eat meat for food.
We are followers of the faith. His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I himself ate meat. Why then we who are of the faith of HIM cannot eat meat? That’s because we can eat meat. However, not all meat were made for man to eat. Some meat are clean and good for man whilst some meat are unclean and therefore bad for man.
Clean vs Unclean Meat
So which meat is it ok for us of the “Rastafari” faith able to eat? In the book of Leviticus, the “Most High” left us clear instructions revealed to us by “Moses and Aaron”. Leviticus 11 says
11 “And the Lord spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.
3 Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.
4 Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
5 And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
6 And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
7 And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.
8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.
Meat from the Waters
9 These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.
10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:
11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.
12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.
Meat from the fowls
13 And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,
14 And the vulture, and the kite after his kind;
15 Every raven after his kind;
16 And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind,
17 And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl,
18 And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle,
19 And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.
20 All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.
Meat from Insects/Flying Creeping thing
21 Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth;
22 Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind.
23 But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.
The Unclean Meat
24 And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even.
25 And whosoever beareth ought of the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.
26 The carcases of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not clovenfooted, nor cheweth the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean.
27 And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even.
28 And he that beareth the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you.
29 These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind,
30 And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole.
31 These are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even.
32 And upon whatsoever any of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall be unclean; whether it be any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever vessel it be, wherein any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; so it shall be cleansed.
Unclean Cont’d
33 And every earthen vessel, whereinto any of them falleth, whatsoever is in it shall be unclean; and ye shall break it.
34 Of all meat which may be eaten, that on which such water cometh shall be unclean: and all drink that may be drunk in every such vessel shall be unclean.
35 And every thing whereupon any part of their carcase falleth shall be unclean; whether it be oven, or ranges for pots, they shall be broken down: for they are unclean and shall be unclean unto you.
36 Nevertheless a fountain or pit, wherein there is plenty of water, shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcase shall be unclean.
37 And if any part of their carcase fall upon any sowing seed which is to be sown, it shall be clean.
38 But if any water be put upon the seed, and any part of their carcase fall thereon, it shall be unclean unto you.
39 And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die; he that toucheth the carcase thereof shall be unclean until the even.
40 And he that eateth of the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: he also that beareth the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.
Unclean Cont’d
41 And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten.
42 Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.
43 Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby.
44 For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
45 For I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
46 This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth:
47 To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten”.
Physical Food to Spiritual Food
Therefore, we find that although we were originally given herbs to be for meat for us. That we of the “Rastafari” faith are allowed to eat meat. However, as much as diet is important to us of the faith. It is even more important that we find the spiritual food given to us by “Jah”.
What is that spiritual food? John 4:34 says ““My food,” said Yahashua, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work”.
Therefore we find that to do the will of HIM is the real food. We will continue to do the works of HIM. Our duty as children of the “Rastafari” faith is to do HIS works!
John 6:27 say ” Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life. Which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval”.
Seek the word of HIM for yourself, Read your “Bible” a chapter per day from Genesis 1 to Revelations 22, without skipping a page or a day.
With a humbleness of a child and a clear conscience receive the word of HIM on your hearts. To live and to do the will of HIM. In the bible is enough to save a man’s soul and to find truth for oneself. Seek HIM. Selah.
