Eat what you like. Be it beef, pork, crabs or frog legs. God’s dietary laws have long since been abolished. Whether pure or impure doesn’t matter today. As if the unclean animal had suddenly become clean, or the person had miraculously changed. But the dietary commandments about clean and unclean things have never been overturned.
Inhalt / Content
Food commandments are simply ignored
It seems as if the majority of Christian denominations assume that every conceivable law, commandment, rule, order and ordinance of God has been abolished. This concerns the moral laws (10 commandments), the ceremonial laws (sacrificial services and festival times) and the dietary laws. Everything was nailed to the cross with Jesus Christ and since then there has been a blank check for grace.
Since there is hardly any distinction made between the commandments and the ceremonial laws, the commandment about food also seems to fit directly into this concept. The dietary rules are simply declared to be a ceremonial law when they are not thrown into the general legal pot anyway. The difference between moral commandments and ceremonial commandments is (actually) clearly visible (Info).
However, anyone who claims that the dietary commandment is one of the ceremonial laws should also be able to explain how eating pork, mussels, crabs, etc. fits into the symbolism of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. This is proving to be very, very difficult.
In the Bible, the dietary laws can be found in Leviticus 11.
Supposed justifications
One of the favorite arguments of “ham lovers” is Matthew 15:11:
“Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.“
A single verse, as is often the case, without context. Jesus Christ spoke to the self-righteous Pharisees and their excessive work of arbitrary rules. This also included the mandatory washing of hands before eating food. Jesus Christ explained that the human heart is unclean and nothing good comes from it. The prophet Jeremiah already knew this, Jeremiah 17:9:
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?“
The same applies to the passage in Mark 7:14-23.
Unclean animals are even more unclean today
In Moses’ time the pigs were the same as they are today. There is no doubt that pigs at that time were less unhealthy than they are today, considering the many diseases, parasites and especially the excess of antibiotics. Pigs, crabs, scampi, etc., are the cleaners, the cleaners and garbage chute of the sea and the land. The Frenchman Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin said in the 18th century:
“Tell me what you eat and I’ll tell you what you are”.
Not all that wrong.
God, our Creator, and He can be trusted, knows best what is good or bad for man, Exodus 15:26:
“…which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.“
Then on the subject of dietary laws there is the important passage in Romans 14:13-23 with a key statement in verse 14:
“I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.“
But if you read this chapter from the beginning, i.e. pay attention to the context again, you will see that it is not just about fellow believers being addressed, but above all about the “newcomers”. These should not be met with regulations like “you have to, you’re not allowed to do that, you have to do that”. Most new believers came from a pagan background, with corresponding rules and customs. However, good works and obedience come with (true) faith.
Whether pure or impure was never an issue
In addition, it is not an issue at all whether it is clean or unclean meat, but rather whether one should eat meat at all on certain days or not. Unclean animals were not up for debate at all, as they were of course completely taboo. This becomes clear in verses 20 and 21:
“For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.“
Whether pure or impure is not up for debate at all. Because even Noah, long before the legislation (actually memory) of the people of Israel, knew exactly that a distinction must be made between clean and unclean animals (Genesis 7:2).
Dietary laws also made clear in the NT
Peter made it clear long after the ascension of Jesus Christ that unclean animals were still a taboo, Acts 10:14:
“But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.”
Acts 11:8:
“But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.“
If it didn’t matter whether pure or impure, then things would look different.
Paul also warned against unclean things. Not (only) from unclean faith, but also from unclean things “to touch”, 2 Corinthians 6:17:
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,“
When the gates are finally closed, the gate of Noah’s Ark as a model, and the time of grace is over, then the circumstances are cemented, Revelation 22:11:
“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.“
This certainly doesn’t look good for the “lovers of the unclean.”
Who wants to risk exclusion for a smoked ham?
Short:
– The ceremonial laws have actually been abolished.
– The 10 Commandments are fully valid
– The dietary laws are also fully valid
It’s that simple!
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Revelation 22:12
Bible verses from King James Version (1611)
