Why Am I Eating a Pork Chop?

[Sketcher]

It clearly states in Deuteronomy 14:8 that we’re not to eat pork. In fact, Deuteronomy and Leviticus clearly state a lot of things that we don’t adhere to.

13:6 through18: We’re instructed to kill without mercy -even your own family members- anyone who tries to convince you to worship other gods.

17:2 through 13: Kill anyone who does evil-such as worshipping the stars- and violates the covenant. And if you’re not sure if the party is guilty, take it to court and if the Judge finds the party guilty and you refuse take part in stoning the defendant to death, then you should be killed too.

21:18: Kill your own son if he is rebellious.

Thou shalt not kill, but Deuteronomy, Leviticus, and Exodus is full of examples like this where we are to kill people for sinning. What about “as we forgive those who trespass against us”? I seem to have made executing people the theme here, but there are instructions/laws on other topics as well that we don’t follow, I’m assuming because they just don’t seem consistent with our faith.

So why is it OK to have a pork Bratwurst at the church fundraising event these days when God clearly forbids it?

You could argue that things were different back then and don’t apply today. But that would nullify the Ten Commandments. These laws I’m referring to were issued on the same day. They just didn’t make the top ten list.

You're essentially asking two questions:

1) Why does practice in New Testament times contradict certain Old Testament commands?

2) Why do certain Old Testament commands seem to contradict each other?

First of all, the second question indicates that more study of the Old Testament is needed. You are right in that the Old Testament laws were issued the same day, in fact Jews don't really chop up the Law into segments like some Christians do (i.e. ceremonial law, moral law, etc). It's all just law to them. Some laws require certain things to be in place in order to be rightly obeyed according to Jewish thought, and others do not. The point is, it is one unit, and if it is one unit, it won't be self-contradictory. I'll give you another prime example, Exodus 21:12:

"He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death."

The first part describes murder. The second part describes execution. There's a difference. Further study of the Law will reveal what comprises murder, as accidental killings are not worthy of execution. And also, there are specific requirements for execution to take place, i.e. on the testimony of at least two witnesses to the crime.

So when dealing with apparent contradictions in the Old Testament law, do further study. It will help clear a lot of things up. The same principle is good for dealing with apparent contradictions between New Testament teachings.

As for the first question, the commands you cited were given to Jews. And according to Jewish tradition, there are certain laws that God gave to everyone, and there were additional laws that he gave the Jews. In the Old Testament, there is overlap. The Jews have their laws which include the prohibitions on murder, theft, sexual immorality, etc that all the nations are supposed to follow, plus many other commands that were only given to the Jews, such as kosher requirements. Acts 15 fleshes some of this out a little more as well. Basically, if the New Testament forbids it, all Christians are to avoid it. If the New Testament does not forbid it, it's likely that Christians of a non-Jewish background are in the clear to enjoy it, within the boundaries of other New Testament commands and teachings, most of all love for God and one's neighbor. If you can't love both God and your neighbor doing it, don't do it. Christians of a Jewish background may need to do more things out of obedience to God, though not for salvation - but I leave the specifics to between them and God. I'm not going to tell them to not keep kosher, but I'm not going to pretend to be enough of an expert to definitively tell them they must keep it, or may not.

 

[Jaxxi]

It clearly states in Deuteronomy 14:8 that we’re not to eat pork. In fact, Deuteronomy and Leviticus clearly state a lot of things that we don’t adhere to.

13:6 through18: We’re instructed to kill without mercy -even your own family members- anyone who tries to convince you to worship other gods.

17:2 through 13: Kill anyone who does evil-such as worshipping the stars- and violates the covenant. And if you’re not sure if the party is guilty, take it to court and if the Judge finds the party guilty and you refuse take part in stoning the defendant to death, then you should be killed too.

21:18: Kill your own son if he is rebellious.

Thou shalt not kill, but Deuteronomy, Leviticus, and Exodus is full of examples like this where we are to kill people for sinning. What about “as we forgive those who trespass against us”? I seem to have made executing people the theme here, but there are instructions/laws on other topics as well that we don’t follow, I’m assuming because they just don’t seem consistent with our faith.

So why is it OK to have a pork Bratwurst at the church fundraising event these days when God clearly forbids it?

You could argue that things were different back then and don’t apply today. But that would nullify the Ten Commandments. These laws I’m referring to were issued on the same day. They just didn’t make the top ten list.

Same reason I'm sitting here wondering why I'm eating a kielbasa. Because I was raised eating it and didn't even know we weren't supposed to until about 2 years ago. It is cheap though and I am on a fixed income and cannot afford to buy steak and chicken all the time. I guess I could eat tuna but it gives me horrible heartburn. I was raised strictly against the 10 commandments and thought those were the laws we were to live by. It was when I became room mates with a Jewish man that I learned different. I have eaten kosher food but could not tell the difference.

 

[chilehed]

So wouldn't this render Leviticus, Deuteronomy, the ten commandments and most of the OT as irrelevant to non-jews?

Why in the world would someone think a silly thing like that?

 

[fhansen]

thanks for the reply, fhansen.
With all due respect to the Church, I'm going to consider the Bible as the better source. And with all due respect to the Bible, I'm going to consider the quotes attributed to God and Jesus as the better source.

With all due respect to both, the Bible also has Jesus saying to keep the commandments. So now we have the witness of both, the written word which the church received as well as the oral or unwritten Tradition that she received at the beginning. Such teachings don’t arise in a vacuum, praise God!

So now you know why we need the church-to settle such questions that Scripture often can’t answer independently because of vagueness, ambiguity, etc-and simply because the Bible was never intended to serve as some sort of clear and exhaustive catechism, nor does it have the capacity to speak for itself when controversies arise.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Again, the passage is not about what foods are clean or unclean, but that nothing entering into a man can make him unclean, save that which comes out of a man: the teaching, the context, in all, has nothing to do, at all, with clean and unclean foods, but hypocrisy.

For example, I could be force-fed swine, or tricked into eating swine, etc.; yet, swine itself cannot make me unclean, nothing can, save that which comes out of me.

Conversely, if I were to eat apples, believing that God did not want me to eat apples, but I did eat apples, presumptuously, to sin against God, then, the eating of apples, to me, would indeed make me unclean: not that apples are unclean, but that my rebellion is.

Likewise, God tells us what He wants us to eat and not to eat; therefore, to eat contrary to that which He has set aside as food for us, presumptuously, would be sin indeed. --mortal, in-fact, for that would be plain rebellion, which is true witchcraft, and no witch may enter into the Kingdom.

None of this is about food, period, but obedience.

Mark 7:19 specifically refers to food.

 

[Hanging by a Thread]

With all due respect to both, the Bible also has Jesus saying to keep the commandments. So now we have the witness of both, the written word which the church received as well as the oral or unwritten Tradition that she received at the beginning. Such teachings don’t arise in a vacuum, praise God!

So now you know why we need the church-to settle such questions that Scripture often can’t answer independently because of vagueness, ambiguity, etc-and simply because the Bible was never intended to serve as some sort of clear and exhaustive catechism, nor does it have the capacity to speak for itself when controversies arise.

I don't agree with your last paragraph at all. Except maybe the part about the Bible being vague and ambiguous, which is what has me here asking questions like this.

 

[Religiot]

Mark 7:19 specifically refers to food.

Your response doesn't follow from what I posted.

I cannot imagine how you've misunderstood what I've said; so you'll have to help me by explaining.

Thanks.

 

[Hanging by a Thread]

So wouldn't this render Leviticus, Deuteronomy, the ten commandments and most of the OT as irrelevant to non-jews?

Why in the world would someone think a silly thing like that?

I dunno. That's what I'm asking you, per your original post which I copy/posted below. Aren't these things/books I'm asking about essentially considered Mosaic?

The Mosaic Law was never binding on non-Jews.

 

[Hanging by a Thread]

Same reason I'm sitting here wondering why I'm eating a kielbasa. Because I was raised eating it and didn't even know we weren't supposed to until about 2 years ago. It is cheap though and I am on a fixed income and cannot afford to buy steak and chicken all the time. I guess I could eat tuna but it gives me horrible heartburn. I was raised strictly against the 10 commandments and thought those were the laws we were to live by. It was when I became room mates with a Jewish man that I learned different. I have eaten kosher food but could not tell the difference.

thanks for the reply, Jaxxi.
I don't know that it's actually wrong to eat pork. The responses here makes it obvious that this is open for interpretation. For the record, I eat pork without any feelings of guilt or damnation. At least I don't feel guilty from a Biblical standpoint, anyway. Like you, I was raised eating it and never considered the vegetarian thing (I was so naive that for the longest time I thought the purpose for being a vegetarian was for health reasons- never considered the ethical side), but I can see the vegetarian's point.
Sorry that tuna gives you heartburn, btw.

 

[fhansen]

I don't agree with your last paragraph at all. Except maybe the part about the Bible being vague and ambiguous, which is what has me here asking questions like this.

And I provided the only answer that could satisfactorily resolve the question for myself. The Bereans needed to hear from Paul to make sense of their Scripture and the Ethiopian Eunuch needed to hear from Philip, both of whom represented a small group who, as disciples, exclusively possessed the teachings that they received directly or indirectly from Christ, before a word of the New Testament was written, incidentally. They were part of that church which He established.

 

[Hanging by a Thread]

And I provided the only answer that could satisfactorily resolve the question for myself. The Bereans needed to hear from Paul to make sense of their Scripture and the Ethiopian Eunuch needed to hear from Philip, both of whom represented a small group who, as disciples, exclusively possessed the teachings that they received directly or indirectly from Christ, before a word of the New Testament was written, incidentally. They were part of that church which He established.

Ok, fair enough, fhansen, if that's what works for you.
("Eunuch" makes me cringe)

 

[Davy]

It clearly states in Deuteronomy 14:8 that we’re not to eat pork. In fact, Deuteronomy and Leviticus clearly state a lot of things that we don’t adhere to.

13:6 through18: We’re instructed to kill without mercy -even your own family members- anyone who tries to convince you to worship other gods.

17:2 through 13: Kill anyone who does evil-such as worshipping the stars- and violates the covenant. And if you’re not sure if the party is guilty, take it to court and if the Judge finds the party guilty and you refuse take part in stoning the defendant to death, then you should be killed too.

21:18: Kill your own son if he is rebellious.

Thou shalt not kill, but Deuteronomy, Leviticus, and Exodus is full of examples like this where we are to kill people for sinning. What about “as we forgive those who trespass against us”? I seem to have made executing people the theme here, but there are instructions/laws on other topics as well that we don’t follow, I’m assuming because they just don’t seem consistent with our faith.

So why is it OK to have a pork Bratwurst at the church fundraising event these days when God clearly forbids it?

You could argue that things were different back then and don’t apply today. But that would nullify the Ten Commandments. These laws I’m referring to were issued on the same day. They just didn’t make the top ten list.

Are you sure... you are not a Messianic?

Many of God's laws from the Old Testament are still in effect in the Christian west today. Thou shalt not kill meaning in the Hebrew is actually about 'murder', i.e., homicide, which means premeditated murder. It does not mean we are not to kill period. We don't 'murder' chickens as food for example.

In many U.S. states, the death penalty is still in effect for 1st degree murder. That's from God's law. Things like adultery are not punished by stoning anymore, it still can lead to moral punishment in a divorce though. See Paul's list in 1 Timothy 1 which is Christian doctrine.

God's Health List:
The meats God created to be received primarily process grains, not meats. This is what caused Mad Cow disease in Britain; idiots in the feed market were adding animal products into the grain feed given to cows. God did not design the cow to process meat, but grains. The cows got sick trying to process meat in the feed.

This is why God's don't-eat list is unhealthy for our flesh body, because that list is about scavenger meats, animals that He designed to cleanse the earth. Seafood like shellfish (shrimp, lobster, crab, clams, calimari, scallops, squid, muscles, oyster, snail, conch, catfish, etc.) are very, very high in cholesterol, bad for us. Hogs retain poisons in their meat.

 

[Freth]

God had a complete plan before the foundation of the world.

• Matthew 13:35 ...secrets kept from the foundation of the world.
• Matthew 25:34 ...kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
• Luke 11:50 ...blood of all the prophets shed from the foundation of the world.
• John 17:24 ...loved me from the foundation of the world.
• Ephesians 1:4 ...chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blame before Him in love.
• Hebrews 4:3 ...works were finished from the foundation of the world.
• Hebrews 9:26 ...must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world.
• 1 Peter 1:20 ...who was foreordained before the foundation of the world.
• Revelation 13:8 ...Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
• Revelation 17:8 ...whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world.

Everything He has done has been of utmost significance and purpose—set forth from before creation itself.

Q: What is the first command in Genesis?
A: The seventh day Sabbath rest; Genesis 2:1-3.
God set aside a memorial day of creation. A day of rest and reflection. A day of worship.

• Worship Him

Q: What is the second command in Genesis?
A: Eat a plant-based diet; Genesis 2:8-9, Genesis 2:16.
God provided sustenance for daily life.

• Read His Word

Q: What is the third command in Genesis?
A: Do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; See Genesis 2:17.
God explains the consequences of disobedience.

• Obey His Law

Q: What other tree did God provide?
A: Tree of Life; Genesis 2:9.
God provided a means for eternal life.

• Receive Eternal Life

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

What is the way? Follow Jesus. Worship Him.
What is the truth? The Word of God.
What is the life? Obedience. Righteousness.

My point is there are layers upon layers of clear intent that point to obedience. How do we know what laws still apply?

I bring this up often, because I think it's relevant. What did Jesus say to the Pharisees?

Matthew 22:36-40 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.​

All the law and the prophets hang on two commands: Love God and love others.

Jesus is giving us a lens to view the law and the prophets through. What laws fall under these two?

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. Love God. ​

The first four of the Ten Commandments tell us how to love God, centered on worship. The last six of the Ten Commandments tell us how to love others.

What other commandments might fall under love God? Dietary laws?

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.​

• Feed your body good food physically. A proper diet.
  
• Feed your body good food spiritually. The Word of God.

If God wants us to be a holy and righteous people, then proper diet is relevant. Will we be eating meat in heaven? No, I don't believe so. If we love God, we take care of our bodies; for physical health and because we are vessels for the Holy Spirit. In the least, by eating clean meat. In the most, by eating a plant-based diet.

God gave Noah and his family permission to start eating meat. Most likely because there were no plants immediately after the flood.

By the time of Moses, people were accustomed to eating meat. God could've encouraged vegetarianism, but instead He gave them ways to identify clean meats. The reader should take note that God had planned for this in advance, because the creatures He describes already had the identifying features.

Does it mean God wants us to eat meat? No. God allows us to eat meat, even gives us clean options, but it doesn't mean it meets the standards He set forth at creation.

The health risks associated with eating meat should give pause. Cancers, heart disease, etc.

It is my personal conviction that I should be a vegetarian, which is why I am. Yours may vary and that's okay.

---

My own testimony on diet.

I grew up in a household that adhered to eating only clean meat. I also grew up eating meat substitutes, both homemade and our church-owned brands, which pioneered meat substitutes. I moved in with my father at age sixteen and fell away from my upbringing (on my mother's side). I've eaten plenty of unclean meat in my life and plenty of clean meat. More than I care to admit. When I came back to Christianity at age 46, I started chipping away at the bad habits I had acquired over thirty years. One by one, I conquered my addictions, which included meat; meat took precedence over fruits and vegetables. I was addicted to eating hamburgers. I had tried to go full vegetarian many times over the years, but always failed. I was finally able to break free from meat by replacing my favorite meals with vegetarian alternatives. The key to my success was making my own menu. I've been vegetarian for almost a year. My tastes have changed. I don't crave meat any more. I've lost weight and I don't feel sluggish.

 

[Religiot]

God had a complete plan before the foundation of the world.

• Matthew 13:35 ...secrets kept from the foundation of the world.
• Matthew 25:34 ...kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
• Luke 11:50 ...blood of all the prophets shed from the foundation of the world.
• John 17:24 ...loved me from the foundation of the world.
• Ephesians 1:4 ...chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blame before Him in love.
• Hebrews 4:3 ...works were finished from the foundation of the world.
• Hebrews 9:26 ...must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world.
• 1 Peter 1:20 ...who was foreordained before the foundation of the world.
• Revelation 13:8 ...Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
• Revelation 17:8 ...whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world.

Everything He has done has been of utmost significance and purpose—set forth from before creation itself.

Q: What is the first command in Genesis?
A: The seventh day Sabbath rest; Genesis 2:1-3.
God set aside a memorial day of creation. A day of rest and reflection. A day of worship.

• Worship Him

Q: What is the second command in Genesis?
A: Eat a plant-based diet; Genesis 2:8-9, Genesis 2:16.
God provided sustenance for daily life.

• Read His Word

Q: What is the third command in Genesis?
A: Do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; See Genesis 2:17.
God explains the consequences of disobedience.

• Obey His Law

Q: What other tree did God provide?
A: Tree of Life; Genesis 2:9.
God provided a means for eternal life.

• Receive Eternal Life

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

What is the way? Follow Jesus. Worship Him.
What is the truth? The Word of God.
What is the life? Obedience. Righteousness.

My point is there are layers upon layers of clear intent that point to obedience. How do we know what laws still apply?

I bring this up often, because I think it's relevant. What did Jesus say to the Pharisees?

Matthew 22:36-40 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

All the law and the prophets hang on two commands: Love God and love others.

Jesus is giving us a lens to view the law and the prophets through. What laws fall under these two?

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. Love God. The first four of the Ten Commandments tell us how to love God, centered on worship. The last six of the Ten Commandments tell us how to love others.

What other commandments might fall under love God? Dietary laws?

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.​

• Feed your body good food physically. A proper diet. Minimally, a clean meat diet. Optimally, a plant-based diet.
  
• Feed your body good food spiritually. The Word of God.

If God wants us to be holy and righteous. What makes the most common sense? Will we eat meat in heaven? No. Then how are we to prepare for heaven if we're not following the laws that have us loving God and loving others? If we love God, we take care of our bodies.

---

My own testimony on diet.

I grew up in a household that adhered to eating only clean meat. I also grew up eating meat substitutes, both homemade and our church-owned brands, which pioneered meat substitutes. I moved in with my father at age sixteen and fell away from my upbringing (on my mother's side). I've eaten plenty of unclean meat in my life and plenty of clean meat. More than I care to admit. When I came back to Christianity at age 46, I started chipping away at the bad habits I had acquired over thirty years. One by one, I conquered my addictions, which included meat; meat took precedence over fruits and vegetables. I was addicted to eating hamburgers. I had tried to go full vegetarian many times over the years, but always failed. I was finally able to break free from meat by replacing my favorite meals with vegetarian alternatives. The key to my success was making my own menu. I've been vegetarian for almost a year. My tastes have changed. I don't crave meat any more. I've lost weight and I don't feel sluggish.

I appreciate what you posted, save the last part.

Did you know that the Lord Himself ate meat?

 

[Freth]

I appreciate what you posted, save the last part.

Did you know that the Lord Himself ate meat?

Thanks. Yes, I know He ate meat.

Full disclosure... I edit my posts a billion times after the fact, because I am awful at proofreading. I reworded my post to more clearly express what I was trying to convey.

I truly believe that dietary laws are binding, not as a salvation issue, but as a health issue. God wants His creation to be healthy and live a long life. I also believe it has an impact on spiritual well-being.

It's okay to disagree with my position. Just giving food for thought (pun intended).

 

[Hammster]

Can you be specific...

Obviously the parenthetical statement wasn’t just made up. It came from an ancient text.

 

[coffee4u]

It clearly states in Deuteronomy 14:8 that we’re not to eat pork.

Deuteronomy clearly states that the ancient Israelite's were not to eat pork.

One because it did not chew cud. These animals represented the surrounding nations. The Gentiles-which were unclean and what we all were if we are not Jewish. God never called Gentiles to follow Jewish law.
It wasn't until God sent Paul out to preach to the Gentiles and gave Paul the vision of the blanket that he said "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." At this point God said that we the Gentiles were clean and we were at that point brought into God's family.
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus"

Two because God knew it was potentially unsafe if not cooked properly due to trichinellosis, a disease that people can get by eating raw or undercooked meat from animals infected with the microscopic parasite Trichinella. These days with high cooking ovens that should not be a worry unless someone is a sloppy cook.

The OT has much to teach us, and many sound principles but not as laws to follow.
"When you build a new house, make a parapet around your roof so that you may not bring the guilt of bloodshed on your house if someone falls from the roof.”
Are you following that? Why not? It's one of the OT laws.

In ancient Israel, roofs were usually flat, and people used them as part of their living and working area so a short wall made sense. God isn't telling you you must go and build a short wall around your roof, which probably isn't even flat. But you can take a way the principle of taking sensible precautions if you or others are on the roof.

 

[Ceallaigh]

The Jerusalem Council

And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question. 3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. 4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. 5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
6 Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. 7 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”

12 Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. 13 And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: 14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:

16 ‘After this I will return
And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;
I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will set it up;
17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
Says the Lord who does all these things.’

18 “Known to God from eternity are all His works. 19 Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20 but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

The Jerusalem Decree
22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barnabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.

23 They wrote this letter by them:

The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,

To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:

Greetings.

24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”—to whom we gave no such commandment— 25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.

Acts 15:1-29

 

[Jaxxi]

thanks for the reply, Jaxxi.
I don't know that it's actually wrong to eat pork. The responses here makes it obvious that this is open for interpretation. For the record, I eat pork without any feelings of guilt or damnation. At least I don't feel guilty from a Biblical standpoint, anyway. Like you, I was raised eating it and never considered the vegetarian thing (I was so naive that for the longest time I thought the purpose for being a vegetarian was for health reasons- never considered the ethical side), but I can see the vegetarian's point.
Sorry that tuna gives you heartburn, btw.

Same here! I didn't know there WERE ethics to not eating meat! I mean I thought animals were to eat! On holidays, as an adult I always bought my turkey packaged and presliced, or my spiral ham was precooked and sliced- ( spoiled Americans) and it wasn't until I fell on hard times and got a turkey from the food bank that it dawned on me that this used to have a living body! ( and my hand is in it pulling out the neck and jib bag) Oh I thought I was going to faint! I mean I'm not stupid, I just had never dealt with the raw reality of it I guess- a lot of going through the motions) Now I try to be more mindful of it but I still forget that bacon is bad and ham. I mean why do we have all these names for pig? That must have been Satans doing so there MUST be something to it! Satan-" Lets get them to eat the pig by calling it bacon, and sausage, and ham, and pork chops, and lunch meat, and hot dogs" Just pray over whatever you eat - and if we wouldn't serve it to Jesus, maybe we should refrain!

 

[Strong in Him]

It clearly states in Deuteronomy 14:8 that we’re not to eat pork.

No, it clearly states that the Hebrews who were rescued from slavery in Egypt - saved by God - and given his covenant were not to eat pork.
It does not say that we, who have been rescued by the Son from slavery to sin, and are of the New Covenant, should not eat pork.
Jesus did not tell his Gentile followers to keep obeying the Jewish law.

In fact, Deuteronomy and Leviticus clearly state a lot of things that we don’t adhere to.

And that has been precisely my response to all those who insist that Christians keep the law - if you believe that, then keep ALL of it.

So why is it OK to have a pork Bratwurst at the church fundraising event these days when God clearly forbids it?

He doesn't.

You could argue that things were different back then and don’t apply today.

They don't apply to us because they weren't given to us.
We have Jesus, who declared all foods to be clean and who fulfilled the law and the prophets.

But that would nullify the Ten Commandments.

No, it wouldn't, because Jesus affirmed, and summed up, the 10 commandments. He told us to love God and love our neighbour as ourselves; that covers all of the 10.

These laws I’m referring to were issued on the same day. They just didn’t make the top ten list.

So what's your point? That God commanded people not to eat pork but it wasn't important enough to "make" the top 10 of his commandments?
Are you saying that that commandment IS for us - but it's actually not that important so it's ok to break it? If you believe that God has commanded something and that that applies to, or is for, YOU, how can you do anything except obey it? Or have you told God that his "lesser commands" don't really count?