Shellfish a question.

[Radagast]

Hello this is my first post as I am brand new to the forum. I hope I'm putting this in the right place. And I did a search and found nothing, but if there is already a place where this is answered point me in the right direction.

Anyway my question is about
Leviticus 11:9-12

9These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.

10And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:

11They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.

12Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.

Anyway I have been born and raised Christian but had never come across this verse. It’s pretty common practice in my family to shellfish. Even the church that I attend when they host bbqs usually have some shrimp kabobs mixed in with the chicken and beef. My question is there anywhere in the Bible is repealed? Is it a sin to eat mussels and clams? Generally why is okay to eat shellfish now but it wasn’t then? (Clam are my favorite food, so I’m hoping to find a new testament repeal of this!)

Any help would be welcome.

Shellfish are in the same category as pork -- forbidden under the old Jewish law.

No reason for Christians not to eat them, though.

 

[prodromos]

Hey Deliah, it is not about shellfish that God is concerned just like He is not concerned about oxen (1 Cor. 9:9) but with us in that we do not indulge in the mud of sinful pleasures just like shellfish live in the bottom of the sea and feed on dead fish as someone said. On the other hand, if we have fins, that is, the wings of grace [or faith, or prayer] and scales which are the virtues [or weapons of the spirit according to St. Paul], and like a scaled fish you swim through the sea of evil passions without sinking in the mud of sinful pleasures then you will be fulfilling this commandment in Spirit and in Truth as scripture says.

Darn, why is your Rep button disabled

 

[winslow]

Shellfish are in the same category as pork -- forbidden under the old Jewish law.

No reason for Christians not to eat them, though.

Exo 15:26 And He said, If you carefully listen to the voice of Jehovah your God, and do what is right in His eyes, and you give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will not put on you all the diseases which I have put on Egypt; for I am Jehovah your Healer.

 

[winslow]

I'm partial to 1 Corinthians 10:23-33 which spells it out pretty clearly.


Elrond

1Co 10:23 All things are lawful to me, but not all things profit. All things are lawful to me, but not all things build up.
1Co 10:24 Let no one seek the things of himself, but each one that of the other.
1Co 10:25 Eat everything being sold in a meat market, examining nothing because of conscience,
1Co 10:26 for "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness of it." Psa. 24:1
1Co 10:27 And if any of the unbelievers invite you, and you desire to go, eat everything set before you, examining nothing because of conscience.
1Co 10:28 But if anyone tells you, This is slain in sacrifice to idols, do not eat, because of that one pointing it out, and the conscience; for "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness of it." Psa. 24:1
1Co 10:29 But I say conscience, not that of himself, but that of the other. For why is my freedom judged by another's conscience?
1Co 10:30 But if I partake by grace, why am I evil spoken of because of that for which I give thanks?
1Co 10:31 Then whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things to the glory of God.
1Co 10:32 Be without offense both to Jews and Greeks, and to the assembly of God.
1Co 10:33 Even as I also please all in all things, not seeking my own advantage, but that of the many, that they may be saved.


Paul begins by stating an axiom of his time. He is not stating that all things are literally lawfull. Again the context of what he says about foods is concerning foods sold in the market that violated the conscience of some believers because they were sacrificed to idols, not because it was flesh foods that were a violation of God's health laws. This is clear in verse 28. Verse 31 tells us that whatever we do, do it to the glory of God. How can we consume things that are harmfull to us to the glory of God?