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by Brother Carlton

04/05/17
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The following is a comment I posed on a YouTube video about the liberty we have in Christ to eat pork. There is still much misunderstand on this matter among Jews, Muslims and even Christians. I doubt this matter will be cleared up before the Lord returns but hopefully this will provide some food for thought and the food doesn't have to be pork.!

I'm sure the Jews and Muslims love this guy as well as some Seventh Day Adventists but these do all err not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God. If Joel were starving and saw a plate of bacon he would probably gulp it down faster than you could say "Praise the Lord." God gave certain commandments in the O. T. against eating certain foods like pork (i.e. Lev 11:7-8, Deut 14:8, Isa 65:4, Isa 66:17) This was part of the ceremonial laws of the Old Covenant. In short, ceremonial laws were given to symbolically purify and cleanse God's people. They pointed forward to Jesus Christ through whom we are now purified and cleansed (The New Covenant). While science has shown us that pork and the other "unclean" foods that God prohibited are indeed unhealthy, they are no longer forbidden foods. There are several verses in the New Testament that show us this. Most importantly, Jesus Himself declared ALL foods clean: (Mk 7:18-19)... Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from the outside cannot defile him, (19) because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?" (THUS HE DECLARED ALL FOODS CLEAN.) (Caps emphasis mine) (Rom 14:2-3) For one believeth that he may eat ALL things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs (vegetables). (3) Let not him that eateth despiseth him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. (caps emphasis mine) (1 Cor 10:25) Eat anything that is sold in the market without asking questions for conscience' sake; (Acts 10:14-15) But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common (unholy) or unclean. (15) And the voice spake unto him again the second time, what God hath cleansed, that call not thou common (unholy). (Col 2:16-17) Let no man therefore judge you in MEAT, or in drink, or in respect of a holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: (17) which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. (caps emphasis mine)

+Carlton Williams Actually sir it is you who does not know the scriptures. The New Testament says "touch not the unclean thing". You are taking the verses that you mention out of context. Colossians 2 is talking about the ceremonial meat and wine offered by the priests in the temple. Romans 14 and 1 cor 10 is talking about animals offered in sacrifice to idols prior to being sold in the markets. (They were clean animals). Mark 7 is referring to ceremonial hand washing. If your interpretation is correct then it's okay to drink snake venom. Peter concluded that it was not okay to call any MAN common or unclean. God was not saying that it's okay to eat rats now. I could go on but i think you get the point.

+Sammy Spaniel Keep studying Sammy. It will take God to open your eyes. The apostle Paul had no problem eating pork. The only exception was if it offended his weaker brother. Note the brother who thinks it is wrong to eat pork is the weaker brother

+Carlton Williams Paul deals with this subject in 1 Corinthians chapter 8 also. Notice that the wording is identical to that used in Romans 14. Read Romans 14 then read 1 Cor 8 and you'll see very striking parallels. I Cor 8 is absolutely clear that the issue is about animals sold in the market that had been offered in sacrifice to idols. The Jews would eat them because they know that there is only one God in heaven but to the former idol worshiping gentiles it became a stumbling block. These were what Paul referred to as the "weak brother". The animals sacrificed to idols were Biblically clean meats as evidenced by the fact that the Jews were purchasing them.

+Sammy Spaniel Do you follow the ceremonial laws?

+Carlton Williams No, the ceremonial laws were nailed to the cross. Colossians 2:14-17 is clear on that. Romans 3:20 tells us that the moral law is not intended to justify us but only to give us a "knowledge" of what sin is. Think about it. Is sin serious to God? Well then He would certainly be very careful to spell out exactly how to identify it. Without the 10 commandments how would we know what to confess? The ceremonial law points out the Remedy for sin which is Jesus. Both laws have their specific function. Now that we have Jesus we no longer need animal sacrifices or earthly priests. Jesus became those things. As for the health laws, those are simply the owners manual for the human body. Who makes a better witness, a healthy person or a sick person? God want's His people to prosper and be in good health. Did you know that there is a very serious prophecy about the second coming that is a warning to those who eat unclean animals? See Isaiah 66:15-17. Also, John in Revelation 18:2 mentions an "unclean bird". This is proof positive that the apostle John understood that there are certain animals that are still to be regarded as "unclean" even all of the way down to the second coming. I know these truths are contrary to what is being taught in the mainstream but there it is right in the Bible. We must accept or reject the Bible in it's entirety. We are not at liberty to pick and choose our own doctrine. So, what do you think about 1 Cor 8 and Romans 14? Identical wording wouldn't you say?

+Sammy Spaniel I would agree that 1 Cor 8 and Rom. 14 are speaking of the same thing and you are correct when you say the ceremonial laws were nailed to the cross but you contradict yourself when you make a distinction of meats between clean and unclean in the New Testament. The Jews under the O. T. were to regard this distinction but not under the N. T. This is why the apostle Paul set in order the proper attitude in this matter. To arrive at Biblical truth we must compare scripture with scripture as the Bible is its own best commentary. The Bible is clear that the kingdom of God does not consist of what we eat and drink. (Romans 14:17) For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink,.... Neither the kingdom of glory, nor the ultimate glory and happiness of the saints in the other world, is attained to by any such things; for neither eating and drinking, nor not eating and drinking, can recommend to the divine favor, or give a meetness for heaven, or a right unto it; see 1 Corinthians 8:8, nor does the kingdom of grace, the principle of grace, lie in such things, nor in anything that is external; nor does the Gospel, or Gospel church state, which frequently go under this name of the kingdom of God, consist of such things as the ceremonial and the legal dispensation did, but the Gospel and the dispensation of grace are opposed to them; see Hebrews 9:10. Now we know that a person's faith is acted out in what he or she believes but if what we believe offends our brother or sister then how can we say we are operating by faith? Therefore, Paul says I will eat nothing that offends my brother if it cause him to stumble. For example if my weaker brother comes to my home and doesn't wish to partake of my bacon and eggs for breakfast then I will not serve him bacon for his weaker conscience sake. The absence of his eating my bacon will not keep him from heaven just as my eating of the bacon will not commend me to heaven. Regarding 1 Cor 8 the excellent commentator John Gill writes: Verse 13. Wherefore if meat make my brother to offend,.... This is the conclusion of the whole, which the apostle makes with respect to himself, and proposes for the imitation of others; that since an imprudent use of Christian liberty, in this article of eating things offered to idols, might be attended with such bad consequences, as to lay a stumblingblock in the way of weak Christians, and be a means of emboldening them to do things contrary to their consciences, and so break the peace of their minds, wound their spirits, grieve and afflict their souls, and not only so, but so to do would be to sin against Christ himself; rather than do any of these things, or be accessary to them, he determines, in the strength of divine grace, that he will eat no flesh while the world standeth; or ;for ever not only he resolves he will not eat flesh offered to idols, but no other flesh, if this was an offence to a weak brother; and he not only concludes to abstain a few days, or months, or years, but as long as he should live in the world: he chose rather to live on herbs, or any other food but this,lest, says he,I make my brother to offend: this is truly Christian charity, a proof of brotherly love, and it shows a concern for the peace and welfare of others, when a person foregoes his own right, and drops the use of his liberty, rather than grieve, wound, and offend a brother in Christ."

+Carlton Williams Well, again I would like to point out that you are taking verses that pertain to meats offered in sacrifice to idols and applying them to clean and unclean animals. Even modern science shows that God knows what He is talking about when it comes to our diet. I would never suggest that diet will give a person a ticket to heaven any more than baptism will. But is baptism an important part of our faith? Yes. Is being healthy an important part of spreading the gospel? Yes. Does God want us to be healthy? 3 John 2 answers that with this; " Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." I would also challenge your assertion that the clean and unclean animals diet only pertained to the Jews. Noah was instructed to take the unclean animals by twos and the clean animals by sevens. Noah lived around 1000 years before a Jew ever existed. Acts 15:20 says; "But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood." Why were these Christians admonished concerning these things? Because these were the areas that they were neglecting. Notice that they are admonished not to eat the blood or strangled meats. Why? Because strangulation causes the animal's adrenaline to spike which poisons the meat. And the blood is used by the body to eliminate toxins and waste. These are Levitical health laws restated in the New Testament to Christian believers. This text is also proof positive that God's health laws still apply to His people.

Carlton Williams perhaps, even a Muslim is allowed to consume if nothing else available to eat and that person needs to stay alive... but you totally missed the point about why you shouldn't eat pork. health reasons... the same reason gambling and alcohol is not allowed. health health health! it's not rocket science

My great grandmother lived to be almost 94 years old and she never abstained from eating pork. She loved a good pork chop now and then along with bacon. Many others have lived even longer who consumed pork. So the argument against eating pork for health reasons is null and void.

Perhaps had she obeyed the Bible she would have seen 104. I feel bad for all of the people that she did not witness to during that 10 years that God would have given her had she obey

Afzaal- If you want to avoid pork for health reasons then that is your liberty but don't try to teach that God doesn't want people to eat pork. The N. T. has no such command. The dietary laws were part of the ceremonial laws which are abolished after the cross. Paul said let no man judge you with respect to what meat you eat.

if you consider Jesus as your Lord and saviour, why don't you practice what he preached. If jesus said don't eat pork, why do you do it.. Just doesn't make sense, either youre a Christian or you're not. Being Christian means adhering to the commands of Jesus. Why go against his commands if he is indeed the Lord.

Afzaal- I do practice what Jesus preached. Where in the New Testament did He preach against eating pork? Just one verse please. You are following the Old Testament ceremonial law which has been fulfilled and nailed to the cross through the shed blood of Jesus. Now His sacrifice makes those pure who trust in Him alone for their salvation. Are you trusting in the law or Jesus? Paul said let no man judge you but you seem to want to contradict the Spirit which spoke through the blessed apostle who in no way contradicted Jesus Christ. Before his conversion Paul would have agreed with you in abstaining from pork and likewise Peter but after the cross Paul understood correctly and so did Peter by the vision found in Acts 10:13-15 that what God has called clean you are not to call unclean. The unclean animals represented the gentiles who were unclean in God's eyes because they had not the faith of God to justify them and purify their soul. Under the New Testament it was God's purpose to bring those unclean Gentiles into God's covenant and include them among God's people are those who followed the faith of Abraham. In other words the ceremonial law which included this dietary restriction was temporary in nature and abolished under the N. T. As I said if you wish to abstain from pork because you think it will keep you healthier than that's your right but don't judge another person for eating pork and try to use the Bible to condemn that person. Paul says give him or her that liberty to eat pork but don't do it in the presence of the weaker brother or sister who might take offense. Notice the weaker brother is the one is doesn't believe in eating certain meats.

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