Eating unclean meats and Christian beliefs

[Amigo42]

For discussion, most Christian today eat unclean meats including pig, crayfish, lobster, and even some exotic creatures such as snakes.  However, how do those of you who do so justify eating unclean meats when the Bible so clearly lists those not to eat.  Before, you mention it.  I know that most people will say we're no longer under the law but under grace and that Peter had a vision that said it's ok to eat unclean meats now.  For the concept of being under grace, it's clear from the words of Jesus and Paul that this does not mean that Christians are free to sin willy nilly.  It's clear that God still expects us to obey His commandments not because of duty or legalism but rather  because we do so willingly out of love and devotion to God.  For the point about Peter's vision, there really isn't much to say about it because it not unambiguously clear.  The vision is not referring to anything literal at all in terms of eating.  It was symbolic to refer to accept the gentiles into the fold and not viewing them as unclean anymore from the Jews' perspective.  It is absolutely clear from the context.

[Alive]

Rom. 14:14   I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. ¹⁵ Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. ¹⁶ Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; ¹⁷ for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

Paul continues discussing these things through this and chapter 15.

[Jostler]

Quote

Mar 7:18-20   (NASB)

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.

 

Seems pretty unambiguous to me.

[Jostler]

Quote

1Ti 4:1-5 (NASB)

¶

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,

 

by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,

 

men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.

 

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude;

 

for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.

 

Quote

Col 2:14-17 (NET)

He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.

 

Disarming the rulers and authorities, he has made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

 

 

¶

Therefore do not let anyone judge you with respect to food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days -

 

these are only the shadow of the things to come, but the reality is Christ!

 

Edited March 3, 2020 by Jostler

[Yishai]

Yea, Messiah said Himself not even the least command will pass from Torah, and no body ever lifted the dietary Laws(nor has the power to), we are not supposed to eat unclean meats, The word Food to a Jew means what God made Food, The garbage disposals of the earth. Like swine,catfish, shell fish, vultures etc. Are NOT food. 

Whenever you see verses talking about let no one judge you for what you eat or drink, usually talking about pagans judging them, and Gnostics who depraved there body who would say there "Feasting" during the feast was sinful, no one is saying to start eating the Garbage disposals of earth. 

The Bible is flawless from start to finish, our Diet the Father made, sets us apart from most people on earth, and is still Fully active for All His people.

Edited March 3, 2020 by Yishai

[Heleadethme]

1Ti 4:3-5

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.

[BeauJangles]

Eating unclean meats and Christian beliefs

Consumption of non-kosher meats do not adhere to Christian doctrine. Sorry for your confusion on that. Just saying. 

[Amigo42]

23 minutes ago, Jostler said:

Seems pretty unambiguous to me.

Yes, I see your point, but I think we fail to recognize that sometimes Paul even admitted But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. (1 Cor 7:12).  So, sometimes Paul is giving his commentary and not speaking on commandment from God.

In addition, the entire point is that Jesus was trying to affirm that legalism or keeping the law in and of itself doesn't save a person.  It is empty without the love of God.  He was stating that what one eats does not defile the soul, but sin defiles the soul.  He was NOT however giving blanket permission to disobey God's words that were already spoken and affirmed.

Edited March 3, 2020 by Amigo42

[Heleadethme]

25 minutes ago, Amigo42 said:

For discussion, most Christian today eat unclean meats including pig, crayfish, lobster, and even some exotic creatures such as snakes.  However, how do those of you who do so justify eating unclean meats when the Bible so clearly lists those not to eat.  Before, you mention it.  I know that most people will say we're no longer under the law but under grace and that Peter had a vision that said it's ok to eat unclean meats now.  For the concept of being under grace, it's clear from the words of Jesus and Paul that this does not mean that Christians are free to sin willy nilly.  It's clear that God still expects us to obey His commandments not because of duty or legalism but rather  because we do so willingly out of love and devotion to God.  For the point about Peter's vision, there really isn't much to say about it because it not unambiguously clear.  The vision is not referring to anything literal at all in terms of eating.  It was symbolic to refer to accept the gentiles into the fold and not viewing them as unclean anymore from the Jews' perspective.  It is absolutely clear from the context.

The eating of clean and unclean meats is a type and shadow of clean and unclean doctrine. 

People have the coronavirus on their minds and some are blaming the fact that Chinese people eat things that are distasteful to westerners and that happen to be considered unclean under the Law.  We need to have some  mercy for the fact that people learn to eat just about anything that moves or doesn't move when they are poor and starving to death.  Need to remember all those years and centuries they were eating before the coronavirus came along.   It's just the times we are living in....we know from the word of God that pestilences and judgments etc are because the whole world lieth under sin without Christ, and we are in the last days and birth pangs are increasing.

[Jostler]

4 minutes ago, Amigo42 said:

Yes, I see your point, but I think we fail to recognize that sometimes Paul even admitted But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. (1 Cor 7:12).  So, sometimes Paul is giving his commentary and not speaking on commandment from God.

In addition, the entire point is that he was trying to affirm that legalism or keeping the law in and of itself doesn't save a person.  It is empty without the love of God.  He was stating that what one eats does not defile the soul, but sin defiles the soul.  He was NOT however giving blanket permission to disobey God's words that were already spoken and affirmed.

If that's your conclusion, you didn't get the point at all.  The author of that passage was Mark....Paul had nothing to do with it, notwithstanding your example from Paul had nothing to do with the topic at all, and the fact the Spirit allowed Paul to write that for our benefit would seem to indicate the Spirit thought it was pretty good advice too....when it comes to marriage decisions...not dietary decisions. 

Edited March 3, 2020 by Jostler