The Lutheran Vegan

To answer the question posed in the title – nothing. Being a Lutheran and being a vegan are clearly two distinctly different things. Here in America, being a vegan is not something that is widely accepted, and in a sense, neither is Lutheranism. Both are small groups within the American population, but thankfully, both are strong in their core beliefs. I happen to marry both in me.

In June, I purchased an annual subscription for my WordPress blog. I entitled it “The Lutheran Vegan,” simply because I needed a name. Naming it thus, it prompted me to reflect on what it means to be both a Lutheran and a vegan. Yes, there is really no connection between those two philosophies. Martin Luther and even Jesus weren’t vegan. In a sense, I am the link between faith and belief in both. 

Being a Lutheran, at least for me, has been a lifelong journey. Baptized, confirmed, and then ordained in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. While I did have a falling out with God for a short while in the 1990s, my faith led me home. And during that falling out, I didn’t stop believing in Jesus Christ as the world’s only Savior. I wrongly thought that God intentionally caused bad things to happen to family and friends, which made me turn my back on Him.

The best part is that God never turned His back on me. 

The vegan thing came along not because I initially believed that animals do not deserve to be killed for meat, but because following a vegan diet, I trusted in internet doctors that I could get healthier. When my health improved, but not enough, I didn’t stop eating tofu and munching on pineapple. Eventually, I found a lifestyle doctor who encouraged me to eliminate the unhealthy components and stick to a genuine Whole Foods, Plant-Based diet without salt, fat, and caffeine.  Since switching, my health has improved significantly. My blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar markers, and weight have all improved considerably. Dropping over 90 pounds, getting my blood pressure under control, seeing my cholesterol level drop like a rock, all of it showed me that even though I ate “vegan,” I wasn’t doing it with health truly at the core. 

Now, eating this healthier diet and seeing good results didn’t cause me to ponder veganism in any respect. It was other online vegans who aren’t on the health kick like me, but speak of “stop killing animals” as a moral and ethical foundation of life, that hit me. We live in a world of death – it’s all around us, including what is placed on our plates. I started really praying over the notion that I could stop using phrases like, “Well, since I don’t eat meat, that means more meat for you!” The entire ethical and moral aspect of living this life, and sharing it with others – all life, whether in the womb with a baby or in the field with a cow – has become more of a focus for me.

I tend not to be an SOB when it comes to making fun of people who are carnivores, since that is basically everyone I know. Instead, I try to tell the story of better health by setting aside animal products, as I am a walking example of eating a healthy, plant-based diet. You can improve your health by reducing your meat intake and focusing on fruits, grains, greens, and legumes. 

So what does it mean to be a Lutheran vegan? I’m honored to serve our Lord and His people as pastor. When they get me, they get my story. I’m a Lutheran and a vegan.