Today, focus is upon the Christian response to prohibitions against eating foods and continuing practices that once separated believers as unclean (we say, unfit) for participation within the congregation, and for uninterrupted service to GOD. Carnal being (we say, existence as an animal; existence in the flesh) is dependent upon involuntary and mechanical operations such as appetite (e.g., hunger, thirst, sexual cravings), elimination (e.g., bleeding, discharge, sweating, vomiting to remove poisons from the body), sensation (e.g., hearing, seeing, tasting, touching) and emotion/mental functions (e.g., anger, fear, imagination, recall). By contrast, inner spirit vital to ones existence is built up, cleansed, edified, and nourished only through operations of divinity such as atonement, forgiveness, rebirth, and repentance. While the holy writings record that food and drink have been used repeatedly as instruments for sacred admonition, comfort, communion, healing, judgment, revelation, and sanctification, strictness regarding diet and foods is not to be an obstacle against coming to GOD through Jesus Christ. More important is a believer holding to the principles of salvation, and righteousness through faith as taught in the Scriptures. (For example, see Ephesians 2: 8-9, Romans 4: 3-25 and 1st Corinthians 20-29, KJV). A fighter at “Yahoo! Answers India” using the ID “CoolCat” (Level 1 with 63 points, a member since August 24, 2012) made the following thrust:
Why christians eat pork? Leviticus 11:7?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Take thou also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentiles, and millet, and fitches, and put them in one vessel, and make thee bread thereof, according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon thy side, three hundred and ninety days shalt thou eat thereof. And thy meat which thou shalt eat shall be by weight, twenty shekels a day: from time to time shalt thou eat it. Thou shalt drink also water by measure, the sixth part of an hin: from time to time shalt thou drink. And thou shalt eat it as barley cakes, and thou shalt bake it with dung that cometh out of man, in their sight. And the LORD said, Even thus shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, whither I will drive them. Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth. Then he said unto me, Lo, I have given thee cow’s dung for man’s dung, and thou shalt prepare thy bread therewith. Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and with care; and they shall drink water by measure, and with astonishment: That they may want bread and water, and be astonied one with another, and consume away for their iniquity. (Ezekiel 4: 9-17, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Denying GOD by Eating Shrimp? (11/17/2013); The Dead in Christ? (11/18/2013); Destroyed in Noah’s Flood? (04/28/2013); Both Born Holy? (04/29/2013); Henceforth, Of This Fruit (11/21/2012); Unexceptional Beginnings (11/22/2012)
“CoolCat”, many of those acknowledging the authority of the Scriptures are guided by the following points from the holy writings that may clarify for you Christian belief and practices about diet and foods:
(1.) Romans 14: 1-4 (KJV): Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
(2.) Romans 14: 13-18 (KJV): 13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. 14 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. 15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. 16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
(3.) Acts 11: 5-10 (KJV): 5 I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: 6 Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. 8 But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. 9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 10 And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.
(4.) 1st Timothy 4: 1-7 (KJV): Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. 6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. 7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
There is far more to be said, correctly understood, and properly apprehended. (For example, (5.) Romans 14: 20-23 (KJV): 20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. 21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. 22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. 23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith and spiritual maturity.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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