Dietary restrictions before and after the Fall

[Ezra]

While there is a thread on the eating of pork, it would appear that Christians need to know in detail what the Bible teaches about dietary restrictions at various times. That is the purpose of this thread.

There are Messianic Jews today (Jews who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ) who insist on observing the dietary laws given in the Torah (Law of Moses). One of these groups is Voice in the Wilderness, and they discuss Yeshua and Kashrut (Jesus and Jewish Dietary Laws), and the word kosher comes from kashrut. They conclude that they must observe these laws because they are Messianic Jews. http://voice-wilderness.com/yeshua-and-kashrut-jewish-dietary-laws/

 However, according to the New Testament, God does not distinguish between Jew and Gentile within the Body of Christ (the Church) so promoting such distinctions is already contrary to the spirit of the NT (1 Cor 12:12-27; Gal 3:21-29). Christians are not allowed to make (or set up) these distinctions either.  Therefore Christians (whether Jews or Gentiles) need to be very clear as to whether these dietary laws apply to them or not.  We have both the Old and the New Testaments to teach us what Christ expects today. It is one thing to have some dietary reservations, and another thing to claim Torah observance as the basis of dietary restrictions.

1. Dietary restrictions before the Fall:

A. The plant kingdom created and sustained by a mist

And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good... These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. (Gen 1:11-12; 2:4-6)

 B. Plants as food for all creatures

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 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 [food]. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat [food]: and it was so. (Gen 1:27-30).

C. A special orchard (“garden”) for man with one restriction

And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads... And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

2. Dietary restrictions after the Fall

A. All creatures preserved and brought out of Noah’s Ark

And God spake unto Noah, saying, Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee. Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth. (Gen 8:15-17)

B. All creatures given as food for man but blood consumption forbidden

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 uponthe 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.

 3. Dietary restrictions for Israel under the Old Covenant

(Lev 11:1-47; Deut 14:1-21)

 And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.

 ANIMALS ALLOWED: CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS

Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is cloven footed, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.

ANIMALS DISALLOWED: CAMEL, CONEY, HARE, SWINE

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. And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.

MARINE CREATURES ALLOWED

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 ea

MARINE CREATURES DISALLOWED

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: They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination. Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you

CARRION BIRDS DISALLOWED

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, And the vulture, and the kite after his kind; Every raven after his kind; And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl, And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle, And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.

OTHER BIRDS ALLOWED

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;

LOCUSTS ALLOWED

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

ALL OTHER FLYING CREATURES DISALLOWED

But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.

CREEPING THINGS DISALLOWED

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. And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole.These are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even. 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. 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. 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: 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.

4. Christ’s teaching on defilement by meats

Although the issue was the ritual washing of hands and utensils (“the tradition of the elders”) the Lord used this opportunity to teach that meats did not spiritually defile men, but the sinful thoughts that came from within defiled men (Mark 7:18-23): And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

5. The New Covenant (Testament) has nullified the Old Covenant

Gifts, sacrifices, meats, drinks, divers washings, and carnal ordinances were only valid “until the time of reformation”, which was with the shed blood of Christ (Heb 9:8-15): The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

6. All meats may now be eaten freely with prayer and thanksgiving

Within the teaching of the New Testament, forbidding to eat certain meats is a doctrine of devils (1 Tim 4:1-6): Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.  If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

7. The consumption of blood is still forbidden to Christians

The question of whether the Law of Moses should still apply to Christians came up very early (52 AD), and was resolved by the teaching of the Holy Spirit to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. Christians are forbidden to consume blood and animals which have been strangled, since the blood would still remain within the animals. Christians are also forbidden to eat meat sacrifices to idols (see the entire chapter of Acts 15, of which only verses 25-29 are quoted): Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 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.

8. Meats sold in the marketplace may be eaten freely

Because meats sacrificed to idols were also then being sold in the marketplace (“shambles” KJV), what was the Christian to do? Refrain from asking questions and eat what was offered.  On the other hand if your pagan host told you that the meat had been offered to idols, then the Christian was to abstain “for conscience sake” (1 Cor 10:25-29): If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.  But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earthis the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?

9. Christians wanting to follow dietary laws should be allowed to do so

According to Scripture, scrupulosity about diet is a sign of weakness “in the faith” (which is not to be judged), and those who wish to be vegetarians or to avoid certain meats should be free to do so (without judging those who have no such qualms).  If we know that someone practices dietary restrictions, we should respect that and not offer pork instead of lamb. That is what we find in Romans 14:1-23 (of which verses 1-4 are quoted): Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

[PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN COPIED FROM ANYWHERE ELSE]

[FreeinChrist]

 

 

While there is a thread on the eating of pork, it would appear that Christians need to know in detail what the Bible teaches about dietary restrictions at various times. That is the purpose of this thread.

There are Messianic Jews today (Jews who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ) who insist on observing the dietary laws given in the Torah (Law of Moses). One of these groups is Voice in the Wilderness, and they discuss Yeshua and Kashrut (Jesus and Jewish Dietary Laws), and the word kosher comes from kashrut. They conclude that they must observe these laws because they are Messianic Jews. http://voice-wilderness.com/yeshua-and-kashrut-jewish-dietary-laws/

 However, according to the New Testament, God does not distinguish between Jew and Gentile within the Body of Christ (the Church) so promoting such distinctions is already contrary to the spirit of the NT (1 Cor 12:12-27; Gal 3:21-29). Christians are not allowed to make (or set up) these distinctions either.  Therefore Christians (whether Jews or Gentiles) need to be very clear as to whether these dietary laws apply to them or not.  We have both the Old and the New Testaments to teach us what Christ expects today. It is one thing to have some dietary reservations, and another thing to claim Torah observance as the basis of dietary restrictions.

1. Dietary restrictions before the Fall:

A. The plant kingdom created and sustained by a mist

And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good... These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. (Gen 1:11-12; 2:4-6)

 B. Plants as food for all creatures

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 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 [food]. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat [food]: and it was so. (Gen 1:27-30).

C. A special orchard (“garden”) for man with one restriction

And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads... And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

2. Dietary restrictions after the Fall

A. All creatures preserved and brought out of Noah’s Ark

And God spake unto Noah, saying, Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee. Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth. (Gen 8:15-17)

B. All creatures given as food for man but blood consumption forbidden

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 uponthe 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.

 3. Dietary restrictions for Israel under the Old Covenant

(Lev 11:1-47; Deut 14:1-21)

 And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.

 ANIMALS ALLOWED: CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS

Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is cloven footed, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.

ANIMALS DISALLOWED: CAMEL, CONEY, HARE, SWINE

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. And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.

MARINE CREATURES ALLOWED

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 ea

MARINE CREATURES DISALLOWED

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: They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination. Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you

CARRION BIRDS DISALLOWED

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, And the vulture, and the kite after his kind; Every raven after his kind; And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl, And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle, And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.

OTHER BIRDS ALLOWED

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;

LOCUSTS ALLOWED

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

ALL OTHER FLYING CREATURES DISALLOWED

But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.

CREEPING THINGS DISALLOWED

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. And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole.These are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even. 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. 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. 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: 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.

4. Christ’s teaching on defilement by meats

Although the issue was the ritual washing of hands and utensils (“the tradition of the elders”) the Lord used this opportunity to teach that meats did not spiritually defile men, but the sinful thoughts that came from within defiled men (Mark 7:18-23): And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

5. The New Covenant (Testament) has nullified the Old Covenant

Gifts, sacrifices, meats, drinks, divers washings, and carnal ordinances were only valid “until the time of reformation”, which was with the shed blood of Christ (Heb 9:8-15): The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

6. All meats may now be eaten freely with prayer and thanksgiving

Within the teaching of the New Testament, forbidding to eat certain meats is a doctrine of devils (1 Tim 4:1-6): Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.  If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

7. The consumption of blood is still forbidden to Christians

The question of whether the Law of Moses should still apply to Christians came up very early (52 AD), and was resolved by the teaching of the Holy Spirit to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. Christians are forbidden to consume blood and animals which have been strangled, since the blood would still remain within the animals. Christians are also forbidden to eat meat sacrifices to idols (see the entire chapter of Acts 15, of which only verses 25-29 are quoted): Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 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.

8. Meats sold in the marketplace may be eaten freely

Because meats sacrificed to idols were also then being sold in the marketplace (“shambles” KJV), what was the Christian to do? Refrain from asking questions and eat what was offered.  On the other hand if your pagan host told you that the meat had been offered to idols, then the Christian was to abstain “for conscience sake” (1 Cor 10:25-29): If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.  But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earthis the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?

9. Christians wanting to follow dietary laws should be allowed to do so

According to Scripture, scrupulosity about diet is a sign of weakness “in the faith” (which is not to be judged), and those who wish to be vegetarians or to avoid certain meats should be free to do so (without judging those who have no such qualms).  If we know that someone practices dietary restrictions, we should respect that and not offer pork instead of lamb. That is what we find in Romans 14:1-23 (of which verses 1-4 are quoted): Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

[PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN COPIED FROM ANYWHERE ELSE]

Amen, agree but one question in the above underline part do they insist all Christians not eat pork, or just those of Messianic Jewish belief?   I have heard of MJ believers that do this not meaning to cause division but are just trying to witness to the Jewish non believers.  Knowing that if that are not kosher they will only get a deaf ear from non believing Jews.

[Ezra]

 

Amen, agree but one question in the above underline part do they insist all Christians not eat pork, or just those of Messianic Jewish belief?   I have heard of MJ believers that do this not meaning to cause division but are just trying to witness to the Jewish non believers.  Knowing that if that are not kosher they will only get a deaf ear from non believing Jews.

FIC,

You are correct. MJ believers do not insist that others follow their practice, and that they are witnessing to  unbelieving Jews. Perhaps they have have a point, but essentially Christians are divided along Jewish/Gentile lines.

[FreeinChrist]

Yea Ezra kinda with you on that I admire them for trying to be all things so that some will come to Christ; but also wonder if this something like what Paul rebuke Peter for when  eating with the Gentiles til the Jews came, but until.i am sure I will side with the MJ.

[gdemoss]

Before the fall:

 

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

After the fall:

And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

 

[Qnts2]

 

 

While there is a thread on the eating of pork, it would appear that Christians need to know in detail what the Bible teaches about dietary restrictions at various times. That is the purpose of this thread.

There are Messianic Jews today (Jews who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ) who insist on observing the dietary laws given in the Torah (Law of Moses). One of these groups is Voice in the Wilderness, and they discuss Yeshua and Kashrut (Jesus and Jewish Dietary Laws), and the word kosher comes from kashrut. They conclude that they must observe these laws because they are Messianic Jews. http://voice-wilderness.com/yeshua-and-kashrut-jewish-dietary-laws/

 However, according to the New Testament, God does not distinguish between Jew and Gentile within the Body of Christ (the Church) so promoting such distinctions is already contrary to the spirit of the NT (1 Cor 12:12-27; Gal 3:21-29). Christians are not allowed to make (or set up) these distinctions either.  Therefore Christians (whether Jews or Gentiles) need to be very clear as to whether these dietary laws apply to them or not.  We have both the Old and the New Testaments to teach us what Christ expects today. It is one thing to have some dietary reservations, and another thing to claim Torah observance as the basis of dietary restrictions.

Just a couple of comments:

I was born into a Jewish family, and therefore, I am Jewish. If a person is born into an Italian family, they are Italian. If a person is born into a Chinese family, they are Chinese. God made us, and chose our families, so being Jewish, Italian, Chinese etc, is not against God. Such distinctions show the diversity of people and since people from all nations have come to believe on Jesus, as prophesied, these differences within the church are a fulfillment of prophesy.

Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Often, Christians will quote the first part of the previous verse, there is neither Jew nor Gentile, to object to a Jewish believer calling themselves a Jewish. But, I have never heard a Christian object to a person calling themselves a man or a woman. Gal 3:28 says there is neither male nor female, so to object to a person calling themselves Jewish, consistency requires that they object to anyone identifying as a man or a woman. 

The verse which say there is no Jew or Gentile/Greek, male or female, are generally talking about the way one is saved. In a culture where it was believed that Jews and Gentiles were different before God, or that men and women were also treated differently with a different status before God, these verses are saying we are all saved the same way, and we are all equally one in Jesus. They are not saying that there are no longer Jews, or that there are no longer men.

Now, as far as dietary differences, I did not eat pig growing up. I also did not eat chicken feet growing up. (I have Chinese friends who consider chicken feet a delicacy and love them). Some of my family who do not believe in Jesus, eat only Kosher food. In order to invite them to my house for a meal, I need to serve them Kosher food, and must have a Kosher kitchen. To me, it is no big deal as I grew up that way. Within Judaism, those Jewish people who do not keep Kosher, have no issue with those who do, and know how to serve Kosher food. Those who are Kosher, when having Jewish people over for a meal who do not keep Kosher, they will serve Kosher food. It doesn't hurt anyone who doesn't keep Kosher to eat Kosher food, with one exception. If you like coffee with cream, in a Kosher home, you will likely be served coffee with a non-dairy creamer.

Ok, Messianic Judaism started our as an evangelistic effort to the Jewish community by Jewish believers. Any missionary style organization will accommodate the culture they are reaching out to, so Messianic Judaism works within the Jewish culture including food etc. Messianic Judaism also assists Jewish believers with unique Jewish concerns when coming to Jesus. Messianic Judaism does not ask Gentiles to live like Jews, but given that Messianic Judaism is not a denomination, but is an outreach, Gentiles are asked to be culturally sensitive. If the Messianic Judaism synagogue is having a pot luck dinner, Gentiles are asked not to bring pork. If any Jewish people in attendance are non-believers, or new believers, the pork would be an issue.

Almost all Messianic Jews, including those who keep a kosher home, who visit the homes of Gentiles, and are served pork of some kind, follow the practice of bless and eat, so will eat pig.  Kosher is a law which kept the Jewish people separated from the surrounding peoples, and to be in unity in a church with people from diverse backgrounds, people for the sake of Christians as one, need to be willing to accept differing cultures. In otherwords, I have eaten chicken feet. If anyone here enters a predominantly Chinese church, and they serve chicken feet, it is a delicacy to that culture, and it is right to bless and eat, in honor of their hospitallty to you. (By the way, chicken feet are good, but in my opinion not worth the work it takes to eat since you have to eat around the foot bones and get very little for all the nibbling around the bones. And along the same vein, ham is edible but is definitely not my favorite.)         

[Pamelasv]

'The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.'  Romans 14:17. 

Personally, I could care less what anybody else does or doesn't eat. That's their own personal decision.  If anybody would ever take issue with me on the subject, which I doubt would ever happen, I would point out scripture.  And I dont like blood anyway, so no concern there.  

So was the point of this post telling meat eaters they shouldn't be eating blood? As I doubt anybody would know if their meat was strangled.  

 

 

 

[SINNERSAVED]

I would like to say there is a few items that are not in line with scripture from what I see and has been explained, and we should not judge anyone on meat and drink that is correct, and to say that pork is okay when God said don't eat of it for it is unclean but now it is clean, is a false teaching, no matter which way you slice it,

 I say this because, scripture does not promote in any scripture to be okay to eat swine,  and so you would be saying God said of this you do not eat for it is unclean, and swine is on this list along with lobster shell fish , and the do not eat list, the dietary law given to the people by order of God, .. Gods  instruction, so how do we allow someone to say it is allow, and over rule GOD ??

 this is not correct, for God instructed  to tell the people, now this stands valid today, if you read and obey the torah, Gods laws and commandments, then that is part of the law, and instruction given to GODS people, today by the new testament we have justified it, and compromised the scripture to include, what is forbidden by God, that has also inspired man through the word and scriptures of the new testament,??

 now if Gods word is truth , then why do we not follow what we were told , ? and if we take the whole bible as Gods word and truth for us and our lives, how do we remove, or ignore scripture. from God on a item such as food, and say we do not have to do this anymore,

 it is because scripture has been side step to allow man to do as he wills and not follow what God has set  as a standard,

this is not me fighting about pork really its not, its about following Gods instructions, to the people of God, !

 so we don't follow what God said to the children of Israel for we are gentiles, and so what goes for them is not for us,

 I am talking about walking in faith of Gods law is following Gods law, , it is the spirit of the law that draws us to follow the letter of the law,

we cannot pick and choose what we will accept and what we don't like we throw it out, this is not scriptural , nor is this what the word of God tells us,

 we are to follow his laws and commandments , and those that follow him are the doers of what He ask of us, and if we refuse or deny to follow what He has set in place for our own pleasures then we are not walking in accordance to the spirit of God,

false teaching and infiltration of satan has crept into the houses of God, or the churches of today , and I see that there is too much liberal things happening that is not according to scripture and the holiness of God,!!!

 what did Daivd eat, and prove to the king with his men ?

 the apostles prove not to violate in acts of the unclean, and so it is not okay, from what scripture says , but it is given okay by man, and his ways, I just wanted to clear that up , thank you for your time blessings

[other one]

Sounds like Herbert Armstrong...... 

 

[appy]

Mark 7:18 thru 20

And He said to them, "Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?" (Thus He declared all foods clean.) And He was saying, "That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man.…

Acts 10 :15

The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."

Colossians 2 :16

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink,

 

Matthew 15 :17
"Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body?

 

.