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Clean vs. Unclean Food

Most of us love ham and bacon, and have grown up with it. Yes - the swine was undoubtedly unclean to Israel, and was not even to be touched. But that was Old Testament, right? If it applies to us today, then the Body of Christ has been gorging on something considered an abomination for centuries. Today's Judeo-Christian leaders respond by rolling out one passage:

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. (Rom 14:14 )

The Greek word koinos (Strongs #2839) means "common", "profane" or "unholy" was unfortunately rendered as "unclean" in many translations. This passage had to do with meat which had been sacrificed to idols (called "common" to first century Israelites.) If the meat was otherwise clean "of itself" it could be esteemed "clean" for those Israelites who understood that there is no profaning power in the gods themselves. For those who could not accept this, the meat is common (unholy, profane) and not to be eaten!

Note the distinction between "common" (koinos) and "unclean" (akathartos) to Peter:

But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. (Acts 11:8)

Our changeless God regards the pig, the rodent and the ostrich as "unholy" - therefore, these creatures are not on the list of food which the Romans could optionally eat. Paul was not giving license to these Israelites to eat that which is unclean. There is not one Biblical example showing that Paul - or any other Apostle - ate unclean foods with "Gentiles," and there is no logic or reason in a claim that our God somehow honors our decision to eat whatever we want to eat!

Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:16-17)

The fact is, the Inspired Word does not indicate anywhere that the pig is not now an abomination, and is now food to eat. The same goes for lobster, clams, and shrimp. There is no biblical support for the common belief that the laws concerning the eating of unclean meat are not applicable now in the New Covenant. The Levitical description of clean and uncle animals, found in Chapter 11, apply still; not because Moses codified it, but because the constraints existed long before Moses.

The Origin of the Unclean Designation

Yahweh codified His laws concerning clean and unclean meats to His Covenant people (Exodus 12:41) via His servant, Moses. Israel had been servants in Egypt for generations, and might have forgotten. These commandments were given prior to the 10 commandments (Exodus 20) and were part of a promise to bless them physically by taking away sickness and providing them security within their new land (Exodus 23:25-33). But this was not the earliest recording of such a commandment in the Bible!

The origin of the unclean designation happened long before Moses. Noah made such a distinction when he selected seven pairs each of clean animals (Genesis 6:19-7:2). Yahweh didn't have to tell Noah how to identify these animals; Noah knew. Yahweh's eternal laws which predated Mt. Sinai are not done away (Matthew 5:18).

Was Trichinosis Nailed to the Cross ?

It is often taught that the real issue with unclean food - particularly the swine - is that it was laden with parasites that could be killed with proper cooking. Because the ancient Israelites presumeably did not understand this, or were incapable of cooking swine correctly, their God prohibited the consumption of swine. They didn't have refrigerators, and they didn't know about disease-carrying organisms found in scavangers.

Here are some questions which you must first answer before eating prohibited meat::

1. Did the Creator of the Universe specify that certain meats which were prohibited then are now not prohibited? Consider this passage:

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you, (2Cr 6:17 )

Abstaining from unclean meats characterized the covenant people. It served to differentiate Israel from other peoples of the world. If the covenant people are still here as chiefs and priests - separate from the world - then what license do we have to write off one of their defining characteristics?

2. Did the nature of the pig change at Calvary? Did it change from "abominable" to "acceptable" as a result of Jesus' completed Work? If so, where do we find this event in the Bible; and how is it explained outside of miraculous terms? Certainly, changing the physical nature of hundreds of species instantaneously should be something we would find in the Inspired Word!

Is unclean food done away after the last days? -

In approximately 50AD, Peter was observing the food laws (Acts 15:29.) Shortly afterwards, Paul warned the Corinthians not to defile their bodies and used "touch not the unclean" - which must have been familiar to them.

After Babylon is fallen, there still are unclean animals:

And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. (Rev 18:2)

The prophet Isaiah, centuries earlier, prophecied the same thing:

Isaiah 66:15-17, "For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many. 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."

We cannot find anywhere in the New Testament and New Covenant language that what was regarded as unclean ceased to be unclean. In fact, regardless of your eschatology, the opposite is true.

The Diseases of Egypt-

Yahweh, our God, Who created us, knows what is best for us. He gives us rules, and He expects us to obey them. With regard to unclean meats, all of them are "bottom feeders", scavengers and unhealthy for us to eat.

"And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes , I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee." (Exodus 15:26)

" Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes , and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them. Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle. And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness , and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt , which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee." (Deuteronomy 7:11,14,15 )

"Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm." ( Daniel 1:11-15,20)

For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth. Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing. (Deut 14:2-3)

Ye shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and unclean , and between unclean fowls and clean: and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by fowl, or by any manner of living thing that creepeth on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean . And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine. (Leviticus 20:25-26)

Who are we, that we should conclude we know better than our Creator things that pertain to our health and our obedience to Him?

Our Children and Prodigy

If you still believe that eating unclean meats is acceptable today, consider your children!

"Thou shalt not eat it; that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD." ( Deuteronomy 12:25)

But What about Peter's Vison?

Many Judeo-Christian leaders appeal to Acts Chapter 10, where Peter had a vision prior to being introduced to Cornelius, and Italian Israelite.

"And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. (Acts 10:11-13)

Notice that Peter, after having the vision, did not understand what the vision meant! How then, 2000 years later, do our Judeo-Christian leaders claim they understood what this meant? Such logic is consistent with their claim that Paul didn't understand that the 2nd Coming would consist of two comings! Such arrogance!

Also, notice that Peter did not eat - even after being commanded to kill and eat three times. Clearly, to Peter, eating unclean meat was not an option.

What did this vision mean? Did it mean that Peter could eat unclean meat? The answer is only a few verses down:

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. (Acts 10:28)

This passage in Acts 10 had nothing to do with Yahweh making unclean animals clean, but making unclean men clean. To exploit Acts 10 as a means to justify eating pork, shrimp, clams and other unclean foods is not "rightly dividing the Word." The Israelites considered the pagan, uncircumcised peoples (even their own gentile kinsmen) unclean:

Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean. (Haggai 2:14)

Other Things to Consider

Have you noticed that, within Judeo-Christianity, virtually nobody tries to use the Bible to justify eating badger, skunk, buzzards and lizards? Most of the discussion centers around the swine, which is the one animal that Israel is forbidden to even touch (let alone eat!)

"He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love" (Ephesians 1:4).

"Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty" (2 Corinthians 6:17-18).

We are to live blamelessly. "Be Holy, for I am Holy." Do you really want to risk being out of His Will by being disobedient? Is the pork, sausage and bacon really worth it?

For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. (1 Thess 4:7)

Conclusion

What was an abomination to Him is still an abomination. If homosexuality is still an abomination, then so is eating swine. We can't pick and choose which of His commandments, statutes and judgements stays, and which one goes.

 . . . If the dietary laws are totally abrogated, so is the sabbath. But both remain, not as laws but as principles for the health of man, the sabbath for man?s spirit, and the rules of diet for man?s body (Rousas John Rushdoony, The Institutes of Biblical Law , pages 301-302).

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