- Dec 21, 2013
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"Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything" (Genesis 9:3) Food is, of course, necessary for us to survive during our time here and God has provided us everything. The Bible talks a lot about food in both the Old and New Testament. As Christians, what are we allowed to eat and what is considered 'unclean'? Aren't we supposed to fast to prove our love for God? There are many questions that a new believer, like myself, might have concerning food as they begin to digest the Word of God. “Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” (Mark 7:14)
Jesus did so much work during the time He was here among men. Besides the fact that He had given us His righteousness and blotted out our sin, He also fulfilled several of the Old Testament laws. The purpose of the dietary laws in the OT was to make the Israelites more distinct from all other nations. After Jesus' sacrifice, the laws became obsolete and according to a vision Peter has, God declared all food available for eating (Acts 10: 9-16). So, because of what Jesus has done, what was once considered to be unclean to eat, was now available to consume. "Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do." (1 Corinthians 8:8)
In the New Testament we can see that it is no longer about what we eat, but how and how much. In Romans, Paul tells us that some may choose not to eat certain foods, or not eat at all and they are not wrong to do so. We are wrong if we judge them for doing so or if we eat those foods in front of our brother who has chosen to abstain. "For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love." (Romans 14:15) It is my understanding that there is no longer a need to stay away from certain foods for fear of upsetting God. But if you choose to do so, as in all things we must do, do it for the glory of God. "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Jesus did so much work during the time He was here among men. Besides the fact that He had given us His righteousness and blotted out our sin, He also fulfilled several of the Old Testament laws. The purpose of the dietary laws in the OT was to make the Israelites more distinct from all other nations. After Jesus' sacrifice, the laws became obsolete and according to a vision Peter has, God declared all food available for eating (Acts 10: 9-16). So, because of what Jesus has done, what was once considered to be unclean to eat, was now available to consume. "Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do." (1 Corinthians 8:8)
In the New Testament we can see that it is no longer about what we eat, but how and how much. In Romans, Paul tells us that some may choose not to eat certain foods, or not eat at all and they are not wrong to do so. We are wrong if we judge them for doing so or if we eat those foods in front of our brother who has chosen to abstain. "For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love." (Romans 14:15) It is my understanding that there is no longer a need to stay away from certain foods for fear of upsetting God. But if you choose to do so, as in all things we must do, do it for the glory of God. "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31)
