“This a polecat ferret. I found it not a mile away from here.” Mr. Arthur Boyt holds up before the camera a furry but stiffly flattened dead animal.
“And as you see, it has been thoroughly rolled out [flattened] on the road. They stink. The flesh smells. But you can overcome that by putting the body in running water for four days—that will remove that musky tang from the meat. Yes, you could eat it. But you’d have to be pretty hard up to want to eat a pole cat.”
Boyt follows up, explaining why he began eating animals that he found on the side of England’s roads:
“I was living on my own. I didn’t have to bother with anyone else’s feelings on the matter … I would pick up roadkill to bring home and mount. I am a taxidermist … and instead of throwing the body away, I decided to start eating them.”[1]
Though most consider it abhorrent, there are some who value so-called “accidental meat,” arguing wild animals are free from antibiotics, hormones, steroids, and other medications. Some prefer the dead animals because they do not want to feel responsible for killing an animal. And some simply like the fact that the meat is free.
The Bible provides wisdom on this topic.
“That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts, he shall not eat to defile himself therewith. I am the Lord” Leviticus 22:8.
This verse prohibits priests from eating animals that die in any manner other than ritual slaughter. Rabbis applied this kosher rule not only to priests, but to all Jewish people: you must eat no animals that die on their own or that are killed by other animals. No roadkill. (In fact, kosher law does not allow Jews to eat animals that were hunted.)
This is a picture of holiness. Also because of holiness, the priests were not to make sacrifices with imperfect animals.
“Ye shall not offer unto the Lord that which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut” Leviticus 22:24.
Another picture of God’s holiness involves those whom priests might choose to marry.
“They shall not take a wife that is a whore or profane, nor shall they take a wife put away [divorced] by her husband” Leviticus 21:7.
This passage goes on, repeating the points:
“He shall take a wife in her virginity. A widow or a divorced woman, or profane, or a harlot, these shall he not take. But he shall take a virgin from his own people to wife” Leviticus 21:13-14.
These verses from Leviticus are more than simply arcane laws for an ancient civilization. God is teaching us about holiness. We should live holy lives. We should eat healthy food (and avoid roadkill!). But never lose sight of God’s grace. The New Testament points us to the cross, where God’s Son gave His own life to pay for our sins, whether we eat badly, marry badly, or commit sins and crimes too horrible to discuss here. There is grace. God forgives. He forgives and makes the unholy holy, then invites us into His kingdom.
“There remains a sabbath rest for the people of God” Hebrews 4:9.
Never lose sight of grace. But strive for holiness. Strive to be a virgin on your wedding day. Strive to live a holy life. Strive to eat right, think right, and act right. Pursue holiness. But again: never lose sight of grace.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” Romans 8:1. You are clean, forgiven, and free in Him.
AΩ.
Household Words: 