Ask Me Help Desk - Eating pork

I’ve been told that Bible prohibits the eating of pork. Their proof is: the book of Leviticus, ch 11, v. 7, it is recorded that God declares the pig to be unclean for believers. Then, in verse 8, God says: “You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.” This command is repeated in Deuteronomy 14:7-8. Then in Isaiah 65:2-4, and 66:17, God issues a stern warning against those who eat pork. Some people are aware of this prohibition from God, but they say they can eat pork because St. Paul said that all food is clean in his letter to the Romans 14:20. St. Paul sid this because he believed (as he wrote in his letter to the Ephesians 2:14-15) that Jesus had abolished the Law with all its commandments and regulations.He seems, however, to have misunderstood what he heard about Jesus. In the Gospel According to Matthew 5:17-20, Jesus is reported to have said quite the contrary, as follows: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law…” Jesus then went on in that passage (in verse 19) to denounce anyone who would break the smallest commandment and teach others likewise. He also praised his true followers who will practice and teach even the smallest commandment. One of the commandments, as we have seen, is to stay away from pork. This is why the true followers of Jesus, holding on to his teachings, did not let unclean food such as pork enter their mouths, so that Peter, the chief disciple can say, “I have never eaten anythng impure or unclean” (Acts of the Apostles, ch 10, v. 14). Five chapters later in the Acts of the Apostles, 15:29, we find that the original disciples still differentiate between clean and unclean foods, and this time Paul is in agreement with them.Six chapters later, in ch. 21, v 25, their decision to impose food regulations on believers is mentioned without regret, and this time Paul is challenged to prove that he is in agreement with them; and he demonstrated his full agreement with them. What remains, then is that Jesus (on whom be peace) upheld the prohibition against pork. His disciples also upheld it. What I want to know is this right or not

dolly100,

You will get different answers. The answer is YOU CAN EAT PORK. We live in the age of Grace. You cannot mix Law and Grace. It is one of the biggest problems in Christianity today. In the book of Acts... Peter is given a vision by God and in it God tells him to eat a the things that a good little Jewish man or woman wouldn't dream of eating. In fact, Peter says NO LORD. But the Lord said HE made it and it is clean. Period, end of story... I can't even believe it is up for debate... but it is!! Remember this... Acts is a book about how Christianity really began. In the first few Chapters... Peter and the rest of the disciples are CLUELESS as to what Grace is or what the CHURCH is.. they are still waiting for Jesus to come and set up HIS kingdom they are Jewish men, living as Jesus did.. under the Law.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dolly100

I've been told that Bible prohibits the eating of pork. Their proof is: the book of Leviticus, ch 11, v. 7, it is recorded that God declares the pig to be unclean for believers. Then, in verse 8, God says: “You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.” This command is repeated in Deuteronomy 14:7-8. Then in Isaiah 65:2-4, and 66:17, God issues a stern warning against those who eat pork.

You might want to look through the line up of helpful comments on Food Statues question on would it be healthier to obey as law. I have this same question in my thoughts about Pork and the other foods like lobster.
What I have found is the conversation goes from just food law of Leviticus to compared idol food offering and sacrifices. I trust we all know idol sacrifices would be worship of another god and very sinful.

Isaiah 66:17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one [tree] in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD

Point of Note: is definitely not what you have in mind. As you reread the scripture it is teaching of people who in the end will be doing what was similar to Adam and Eve. The [tree] is being worshipped, and the eating is like the example of the forbidden fruit, and the abomination meaning adultery toward the Truth, the Belief in the wedding of Christ. And all will be consumed together meaning ended and destroyed when Christ returns. So this scripture really has little to do with what you asked about pork and eating it today.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dolly100

Some people are aware of this prohibition from God, but they say they can eat pork because St. Paul said that all food is clean in his letter to the Romans 14:20. St. Paul sid this because he believed (as he wrote in his letter to the Ephesians 2:14-15) that Jesus had abolished the Law with all its commandments and regulations.He seems, however, to have misunderstood what he heard about Jesus..

Ephesians 2:15-16 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

This is a very good point of fact but I feel it means Christ has Saved us, by nailing our sins to the cross, and these sins which were determined by the commandments were no good in saving us, because alone without Christ we are doomed. It is Christ without the law that Saves us... This is where Grace comes in, and Jesus is God's Grace.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dolly100

In the Gospel According to Matthew 5:17-20, Jesus is reported to have said quite the contrary, as follows: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law…” Jesus then went on in that passage (in verse 19) to denounce anyone who would break the smallest commandment and teach others likewise. He also praised his true followers who will practice and teach even the smallest commandment. One of the commandments, as we have seen, is to stay away from pork. This is why the true followers of Jesus, holding on to his teachings, did not let unclean food such as pork enter their mouths, so that Peter, the chief disciple can say, “I have never eaten anythng impure or unclean” (Acts of the Apostles, ch 10, v. 14)...

Matthew 5:17-19 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Point of Fact: Matthew 5:17-19 is definitely where I stand on believeing eating lobster or pork remains unhealth for you. Not a sin, not a sacrifice, but a trash eater created to clean this earth. A bad source of meat... it has to be, God compared it to partaking with satan.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dolly100

Five chapters later in the Acts of the Apostles, 15:29 we find that the original disciples still differentiate between clean and unclean foods, and this time Paul is in agreement with them.Six chapters later, in ch. 21, v 25, their decision to impose food regulations on believers is mentioned without regret, and this time Paul is challenged to prove that he is in agreement with them; and he demonstrated his full agreement with them...

Acts 15:29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Acts 21:25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written [and] concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from [things] offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.

Point of Fact: Does not have to do with the question of eating pork or lobster as refer in Lev.. This is all about idol worship.. and we as Christians do not ever worship other gods or idols. Idol worship is an abomination.. Deuteronomy 7:26 Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it [is] a cursed thing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dolly100

What i want to know is this right or not

The last thing that has been hammered about this subject is remembering Christ as our Grace. In no way do I doubt Christ as our Savior, and that we should be forever thankful for His Grace.. The follow scripture do refer: law, faith, and grace.. I believe the scriptures are telling us that by no means can we forget the law and comment sin.. However again with the law we have nothing that saves us! But if we have faith in Christ as our Savior, and we stand firm in faith we receive Christ Grace.
Point of Fact: Grace will not Save the unbeliever because there is no faith. And those with Faith will listen to the law, and receive Grace because they believe. However it was not the law or works that did any of this, but it was Faith = Grace.

Romans 3:3-4 For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged

Roman 3:27-28 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Point of fact:Faith alone!

Roman 3:30-31 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law

~In Christ ~ In The Light ~ Peace

I hope you see the verses show that Christ came and released us from the diet requirements.

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Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck

I hope you see the verses show that Christ came and released us from the diet requirements.

This is what I am very interested in hearing about.. Either here on this topic or under the Statues of Food being treated as law? Please offer your knowledge.

Yes the Old Testement had not only a lot of laws, but a lot of rules to live by, and at the time, considering sanitation many of those were for those reasons, Something they could not understand at the time.

But we know that Peter was told not to make unclean what God had made clean, and while he was speaking more directly about the Gentiles, he used food as the example in this. Telling Peter to eat.

And we have Pauls examples ( although many non Christians don't like Paul)

Now that does not mean that the food or diet is not a good diet and one should follow it perhaps, not because we are required any longer but because we want to.
The difference falls in the requirement

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck

The difference falls in the requirement

True.. such as eating the sacrifice would do you no good.. but not eating it does no harm. All when you know right from wrong and have faith. Yet eating it when a weaker followers is present can influence them and you have cause harm to someone else.. ouch

We are to look after others and as you mentioned in another posts we should correct and help when we see the harm in their actions .

It would be pleasing to know according to food eaten is the swine a swine. If so the swin is not good. Eating swine was in the statutes of protection. Right? Where are these today?

Jesus fulfilled all the Law. Additionally, are you Jewish? If not, then even if you lived during Old Testament times, you would not be subject to Israel's dietary law. One exception, if you lived IN ISRAEL you would have been subject to all the laws.

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Originally Posted by Galveston1

Jesus fulfilled all the Law. Additionally, are you Jewish? If not, then even if you lived during Old Testament times, you would not be subject to Israel's dietary law. One exception, if you lived IN ISRAEL you would have been subject to all the laws.

In fulfilling the Law, Christ brought all that was written as a done deal in Truth. I am the Light, The Truth and The Life. John 14:6

No I am not Jewish... I firmly believe all that is written , and God has shown no contradiction in His Word.

The scripture most held to is Act 10-11 which tells of the Gentiles that God is sending to Peter so that Peter can be authority over them and teacher them. Before the Gentiles get to the temple God does indeed drop the cloth of clean and uncelan foods. Peter says "NO LORD" I believe it is because Peter knows how his authority could influence the Gentiles, and if he was to eat unclean meat in the temple, the Gentiles would fall into their previous custom of belief. Thus Peter would be causing the clean and saved Gentile to believe in the temple of unclean meats and worship of idols. Making the Gentiles unclean themselves again after God has ordained them clean. The warning was to assure Peter not to do this to the Gentiles... Scripture speaks of others causing harm and sin to reap what is sown. The food also that was drop stated all taken back up by God.. "ALL" nothing was touched. Rightly dividing the word is so important.

KJV-Deuteronomy 4:40 Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong [thy] days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever.

Do we just throw this scripture out or say nay it is truth?

Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

The fulfillment of the scripture is when Christ returns...

Although the bible says you cannot serve both GOD and Mammon, I serve both Spam and Spammon.

Our foodstuff
Which art in our kitchen,
Hormel be thy name,
Thy dinner come
Cooked well done,
At home and abroad,
Give us this day our daily Spam,
And forgive us our diets,
As we forgive those that diet among us.
Deliver us not into Slimfast,
Deliver us from Treet,
For thine art thy meat and
Thy can and thy gel.
Amen

Quote:

Originally Posted by sndbay

Do we just throw this scripture out or say nay it is truth?

Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

The fulfillment of the scripture is when Christ returns...

I don't think that we're are throwing the Scripture just because we are not obeying the laws which are not meant for us, i.e. eating pork, etc.

The bible said "until all be fulfilled". The bible did not said "the fulfillment of the scripture is when Christ returns". Remember what Hebrews 8:13 regarding the Law of Moses "In that He says, "A new covenent," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away." This is one of the indication that Mosaical Law is not for the Christian dispensation.

Some reasons/evidences provided by bible that eating of pork is no longer prohibited:
-Non-eating of pork is a Mosaical Law. According to Acts 13:39 "from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses"
-Vision of St. Peter allowing him by God to eat such kinds of foods (Acts 10-11)
-St Paul said in Colossians 2:16 "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Criado

Hebrews 8:13 regarding the Law of Moses "In that He says, "A new covenent," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away." This is one of the indication that Mosaical Law is not for the Christian dispensation.

I do not disagree with this.. We are under the new covenent. But the law of Moses had to do with sacrifice of meat for our forgiveness. And the Truth brought us forgiveness which the laws of sacrifices in the laws of Moses only did so before Christ. The Truth brought us Jesus.. Grace

Quote:

Originally Posted by Criado

Some reasons/evidences provided by bible that eating of pork is no longer prohibited:
-Non-eating of pork is a Mosaical Law. According to Acts 13:39 "from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses"

The Truth in: Acts 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses... and it is saying what I believe to be the truth of Christ

Point of Fact is that I acknowledge we do not have the law of Moses which was done on Passover as a sacrifice of meat for forgiveness. That was done away with in the Truth of Grace =Jesus

Quote:

Originally Posted by Criado

-Vision of St. Peter allowing him by God to eat such kinds of foods (Acts 10-11)
-St Paul said in Colossians 2:16 "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days"

Acts 10-11 does not define food that was dropped down as being good. Even Peter was confused Acts 10:17 because he would never eat them being of Jewish religion. But the Spirit told Peter what was to come that was of importance.

Acts 10:19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Acts 10:20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

This is the subject: Acts 11:28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

Peter was given authority of teaching the Gentiles.. Peter was not to be a stubbling step for them because the Gentiles had their customs previously that could be unholy and cause sin to the weaker.. God had to make sure nothing was done to cause the Gentiles to become unclean after God had ordained them to be clean.

Leviticus has to do with the statutes.. Following the protective statutes of what is basically healthy to eat and not healthy. Is pork or lobster good for us? Pork is swine.. lobster is a bottom eater.. This queastion has nothing to do with judgement in sin...

Quote:

Originally Posted by sndbay

Leviticus has to do with the statutes.. Following the protective statutes of what is basicly healthy to eat and not healthy. Is pork or lobster good for us? Pork is swine..lobster is a bottom eater.. This queastion has nothing to do with judgement in sin...

Just a clarification question: Do you mean to say that the Levital Statutes during the Mosaical Era has nothing to do with judgment in sin?

I agree by the fact that eating pork and lobster is not healthy.

I have seen arguments both for and against
The against sounds more convincing
Mainly about the New Testament's distinction about clean and unclean meat
Dietary Laws
But I really am not convinced God will turn you away for eating pork.

I kind of believe that law was to the Jews and the old testament.
In the same chapter it also says to wear 100% cotton or wool how many Christians actually do that consistently?

[QUOTE=N0help4u] but I really am not convinced God will turn you away for eating pork.[QUOTE]

My opinion does not include pork as a sin , please be sure to note that when you read this... Remember in KJV Leviticus 10:10 And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;

Pork eaten or lobster could be considered unclean but not unholy unless you are eating it as a sacriifice.. Thus making it a sin...

Wisdom
KJV Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment [is] a lamp; and the law [is] light; and reproofs of instruction [are] the way of life:

~In Christ

It all gets confusing to me but I agree.

I disagree with most replies... God is for all.. whether you are jew, christian, muslim or other.. so why would god prohibit some and allow others eat pork?. big contradiction.. So as not to get lost in misinterpretations and many opinions.. consult science and let enlightment guide you through your life and support your belief.. That is God should not and DOES NOT contradict with science... which says that pork is carnivore and has much in common with dogs (it has no sweat glands in skin and has canines)...
If it is bad (fatty, source of parasites, viruses.. etc.) why would many eat it? Simple, its high reproduction rate and the fact that it eats almost anything (from cereals, insects to meat). Means it costs cheaper to produce compared to beef.

God did forbid it for the Jews to eat pork in the old testament and most Jews and many religions D0 still follow that but I do believe that God allows us to eat pork now.
Some say they were told not to eat pork because of parasites and it being too easy to get sick by not keeping and cooking it properly.

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Originally Posted by Mr_am

I disagree with most replies ... God is for all .. whether you are jew, christian, muslim or other .. so why would god prohibit some and allow others eat pork ?? .. big contradiction .. So as not to get lost in misinterpretations and many opinions .. consult science and let enlightment guide you through your life and support your belief .. That is God should not and DOES NOT contradict with science ... which says that pork is carnivore and has much in common with dogs (it has no sweat glands in skin and has canines)...
If it is bad (fatty, source of parasites, viruses..etc.) why would many eat it ?? Simple, its high reproduction rate and the fact that it eats almost anything (from cereals, insects to meat). Means it costs cheaper to produce compared to beef.

I don't believe pork is prohibited in Christian dispensation but I would like to apologize but I just don't like the 2 notions you said that (sorry because I am very particular with wording sometimes):

You said "consult science and let enlightment guide you through your life and support your belief" and "That is God should not and DOES NOT contradict with science".

I also dislike the phrase "should not" as I bolded above.

Science cannot fully support your belief. Science cannot describe in whole the Majesty of God. Science sometimes contradict what was written (ie. Theory of Evolution, Big Bang Theory, etc.) and sometimes God defies Science (ie. Resurrection, abrupt healing, etc).

To sum it all, just because science said so it doesn't follow that it is the Truth.