Eating pork and shellfish is a grave sin.

[kosh]

I have read in the Bible that eating pork and shellfish is prohibited by God Himself. From God's own mouth he commands this. So why do so many Christians that I have known throughout my life so blatantly ignore God's command? I was not even aware of this before I became a Christian, but now that I know, I have gievn up pork and shellfish and have asked God to forgive me for my ignorance.

I ask this question to my fellow Christians: are you aware of this law and if so then why to you ignore it? I'd really like to know, because it upset me greatly to know that so many of brothers and sister defy God's law.

 

[AndOne]

Please read Acts Chapter 10 - which addresses your concern.

As to defying God's law - we all do it - every single day - hence the reason for Christ coming into the world.

 

[kosh]

Jesus came into this world to bring us salvation from our sinful ways. This does not mean that we should go out of our way to sin and just think God doesn't care. IMO this is like giving God the finger every day you sit down to eat.

 

[holo]

kosh,
These laws were given to the jews. We were never under those laws. Anyway, if you're going to follow the pork and shellfish rules, you'll also have to start sacrificing sheep and all that. The list would get pretty long.
As a Christian, you need Jesus and Him only.

 

[AndOne]

Kosh -

Please read Acts chapter 10 - it addresses your concern.

 

[kosh]

Okay so if God's laws are only for the Jews then why do Christians even bother with the Old Testament? This does not make sense to me. So you are saying that the Ten Commandments only applies to the Jews also? Creation, the story of the flood, David and Goliath are all just stories for the Jews?

Why then do all Christians point to Leveticus and other Old Testament books to justify their beliefs? I believe the Bible is the word of God and if you defy God's word then you have sinned. And let's not forget that Jesus and his apostles were all Jews themselves.

 

[Salvatore Gonzales]

......I was not even aware of this before I became a Christian, but now that I know, I have gievn up pork and shellfish and have asked God to forgive me for my ignorance.

I ask this question to my fellow Christians: are you aware of this law and if so then why to you ignore it? I'd really like to know, because it upset me greatly to know that so many of brothers and sister defy God's law.

This is a tough question and Paul really addressed
this and other topics in the NT. Jesus also stated
that the Law should not be changed. It has
been a matter of debate.

Your promise *to* God should be honored.

Personally, I also gave up pork and went on a
very strict diet for over a year. After a while
you will not miss pork --EVER. In fact, it will
literally taste like excrement if you try it again.
I will not knowingly consume pork.

 

[AndOne]

Didn't you read Acts Chapter 10?

 

[kosh]

Behe's Boy,

I have read Acts Chapters 10 and 11 as you have said. There is a vague description of Cornelius recieving a vision from God tellng him to eat and that God had made unclean animals clean, but that is it. It is not specific about which animals that were made clean in Cornelius' vision or does it say that it is now okay for Christians to reject the laws of Moses. It in fact says that Cornelius was confused by this vision.

I think that there are many Christians who have disobeyed God's law for so long that they will look for any excuses to justify their beahviors. When I became a Christian I made and oath to God that I would change my ways and live by His word. I am disturbed that other Christians have not made this oath. I do not think that you can call yourself a Christian if you laugh at and dismiss the word of the Lord.

 

[AndOne]

It was actually Peter who had the vision - And I would consider it much more than a vague description.

Okay now that you have read Acts Chapter 10 - try reading Romans 14:13-18.

 

[kosh]

Salvatore,

I am glad to find out that I am not alone in my convictions. I think it takes a strong heart to obey the laws of the Lord in such a secualr society. I do not blame others for their ignorance, but I think that if you have learned about God's laws then as a Christian, you have a duty to follow them.

 

[AndOne]

From Romans 14:

"Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. 14As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food[2] is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. 15If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. 16Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. 17For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
19Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
22So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin."

 

[kosh]

Behe's Boy,

I just read Acts Chapters 10 and 11 and it was very clear in saying that the vision was given to Cornelius. Also I'd like you to give me the reasons as to why you may disobey God's laws - in your own words.

"But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. 15If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died."

This is not a defense of eating pork or shellfish. It distress me that you would do so. This is not acting in love. God Himself told Moses that eating pork and shellfish was wrong. What you posted in no way reverses that law.

 

[AndOne]

What Bible are you reading?

 

[kosh]

I am reading the New International Version. I have been told and I believe this is the most accurate Bible available because the scholars went back to the original Hebrew and Greek writings to translate this version. There are even footnotes that tell when there are differences in opinion about the translations of certain words and they even define achaic words. I think that gives a very fair and objective view of the Bible. This is the Bible that converted me; I never could comprehend the King James' Version.

 

[AndOne]

First - you are not reading your Bible clearly enough - please do so before you judge me according to it and the law. (Peter had the vision!)

Second - this is turning into a debate and does not belong in this particular forum - suggest you start posting on this subject in the General Theology forum or somewhere more appropriate.

Third - Romans 14 was not a defense but offered to you to help you in dealing with the issue - I answered your post because I thought you had legitimate concerns concerning this issue. It is apparent that your only (or main) motive was starting a debate. I will not destroy the work of God for the sake of food - if you want to persist in this nonsense - do so without casting judgement at least.

 

[Salvatore Gonzales]

Let me be clear I am not condeming people
who eat pork!

I was citing Paul in the sense of his 'remain
as they are when they came to Christ' on this
topic.

 

[kosh]

Behe's Boy,

I apoligize. You are correct; the vision was given to Peter. The passage was talking about Cornelius and then jumps to Peter and I misread that part.

And why do you think that I am passing judgement on you? This thread ws not started to incite a debate. I was just stating God's law as I had read it in the Bible and I did not misread that part. It is you who is debating me. You are telling me that I am wrong and that the Bible is wrong. I cannot accept this. And if you think that by not accpeting what you say is passing judgement, then you have to redifine the way you use that term. I made this thread to share something about the Bible that I assumed other Christians were unaware of since they praticed eating pork and shellfish.

If you or any others have an explanation about why you do so, I will be happy to read it. But so far I have not been given, what I think, is a proper explanation. Or at the very least let's have an open discussion about the matter.

 

[Symes]

The laws about health were in place long before the Children of Israel were thought of. At the time of Noah God took less of the unclean into the ark than the clean.

Gensis 7:2
"Take with you seven [1] of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and two of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate"

This shows that they had unclean as well as clean animals and beasts.

Then later when Moses was shown by God more information about what was clean and unclean. God does not change. So when we come to a passage in the New Testament that some say now God has said we can eat unclean food. Then as God does not change it must then be our interpretation of that passage that is wrong. God cannot change. Unclean is unclean forever.

 

[Salvatore Gonzales]

Some other thoughts:

The food prohibitions by God came into place long
before science showed humans that there were
problems with raw pork and red tides infected
shellfish.

Also, if we had followed these rules, we certainly
would NOT have mad cow disease, ie, by feeding cows
to other cows in the first place.

Once again, we learn the hard way that God's way
is the only way.