(01/13/2020) The Meat That Perishes

Today, reply is on why Christians no longer observe dietary and other prohibitions that are recorded in the Old Testament. The covenant of Moses (we also say, the law) was provided as a “perpetual” covenant. Even so, GOD promised Israel that a new covenant would be made extending to the Gentiles, and to all mankind. While the demands of divine law and eternal purpose remain unchanged, how the living acknowledge, express and fulfill the law is now different. Mature Christian believers acknowledge the fulfillment of the divine promise for new covenant by the life, ministry, death on the cross, resurrection, and ascension into heaven of Jesus Christ along with men on the earth receiving the Holy Spirit. Where Jesus taught that man lives not by bread alone, rather, by every word that proceeds from the mouth of GOD, he also was declaring that life as a spirit process must come into view, not a carnal, material process such as eating and drinking. The word from divinity is to be understood as an appearance of the person and substance of GOD. By his word, GOD is active and present in the form of breath, life essence, speech and spirit. It is written: John 6: 47-54, King James Version (KJV): 47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 48 I am that bread of life. 49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. Acts 15: 28-29, KJV: 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. One of the fighters in the “Yahoo! Answers” public forum on Religion & Spirituality using the ID “Anonymous” (no profile data appears) posted the following:

Why do Christians drink alcohol and eat pork when it's prohibited in the old testament?

THE GOLDEN ARROW: Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. (John 6: 26-29, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The Place to Start (12/23/2019); Not By Bread Only (02/22/2019); Fed From The Altar? (06/19/2017); GOD’s Peculiar People (12/11/2016); Rebuked, And Not Baptized? (10/22/2015); Pork, A Stumblingblock? (03/06/2015); Salvation is Conditional? (01/30/2014); Lower-case or Capital? (01/31/2014)

“Anonymous”, there are those who argue that Jesus was a vegetarian, yet, mature Christian believers trust that Jesus regularly ate the lamb of Passover, and would have shared portions from such family sacrifices as calves and bullocks offered in thanksgiving. Many Christian believers, today, trust that the ancient dietary laws and Judaic ordinances (e.g., circumcision; observance of feasts and festivals; performing ritual washings to remove uncleanness; prohibitions against entering the home of a Gentile) that challenged the early church have been satisfied through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, and outpourings of the Holy Spirit. In addition to the multiple streams of truth that release the followers of Jesus from pursuing justification by obeying the “letter” of the law, the doctrine of Jesus is that men are to manifest and make visible righteousness, and the spirit imparted from the makeup of GOD that resides within all sacred law. A gathering of the apostles was held in Jerusalem to resolve the rifts and quarrels that began to appear over Gentile believers being required to behave as Jews, and over believers sharing food with their family and close friends that had been offered to idols. The outcome was four principles to be observed among both Gentile and Jewish believers. Consider the following that uses language from the Bible along with a selection from the music ministry of John Michael Talbot:

(1.) Ecclesiastes 3: 9-13, King James Version (KJV): 9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? 10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. 11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. 12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. 13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

(2.) 1^st Corinthians 10: 31, KJV: 31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

(3.) Acts 15: 18-20, KJV: 18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. 19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

(4.) Colossians 2: 16-23, KJV: 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. 20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

(5.) Romans 8: 1-9, KJV: 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (6.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG9T8UmN6VY.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.

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THE BLACK PHOENIX

Washington, DC

(12/11/2016) GOD's Peculiar People

 

Today, topics include access to divinity, acceptable animals for food and worship, and prohibitions against eating pork.   What began as the specific provisions to nourish life upon the earth would be reconfigured to serve as a mechanism to repair the relationship of oneness without sameness between the Creator and the created.  Inseparable aspects of the spirit content within the full GODhead would be imparted to indwell and transform mankind such as faith, forbearance, forgiveness, holiness, joy, love, purity, and truth.  Confirmed believers are to maintain themselves as fit and ready to receive, now, the emblems of bread and wine that transmit the sacred blood and body of Jesus Christ, and, later, to receive the Savior at his appearing (we say, the Advent, the harvest, the Rapture, the Second Coming).  The writer at “Yahoo! 7 Answers (Australia) using the ID “William” (Level 1 with 1 point, a member since November 08, 2016) posted the following:

 

Can gentiles eat pork? but its only forbidden for Jews and musslims?

 

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.  But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself:  the LORD will hear when I call unto him.  Stand in awe, and sin not:  commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.  Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.  (Psalms 4:  2-5, King James Version, KJV)

 

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Material Things in Heaven? (11/10/2016); Become Like Jesus Christ? (10/27/2016); More Than Food and Drink? (04/12/2016); Pork, A Stumblingblock? (03/06/2015); To Drink Holy Blood? (02/16/2015); Denying GOD by Eating Shrimp? (11/17/2013); The Dead in Christ? (11/18/2013)

 

“William”, it has been found that worms may be transmitted through pork as food, through the bare feet, through the eyes, and in other ways that are epidemic.  Even so, mature Christian believers generally hold that the Bible disciplines, laws, and teachings on diets and food have all been established in new light through the ministry of Jesus Christ:  The spirit content of a person must become recognizable as an appearance of inseparable substance from GOD (e.g., faith, holiness, longsuffering, lovingkindness, wisdom, wrath against sin).  At Creation, all living were to be nourished through the soil by grains, herbs, plants, seeds, and the fruit from trees.  Following the sin of the first pair, Adam, a divine curse was placed upon the ground in order to benefit mankind.  Later, when Noah entered the ark, he did so as a priest (one anointed to make offerings to GOD, such as praise, prayer, atoning blood), a prophet or spokesperson of GOD, and a vessel to preserve divine law, not merely as a fugitive from the flood.  Two classes of animals were identified, those that could be brought to the altar as offerings and sacrifices (the clean, fit) and those that should never be used in sacred service (the unclean, unfit).  After the flood, the eating of animals was permitted, as was the lawful killing of those who would murder.  Men would also be separated for service on the basis of their fitness and purity; and through the covenant of Moses, a detailed tradition of Levitical law would emerge on maintaining ones fitness and readiness for sacred service.  Even such things were addressed as correctly recognizing leprosy infections, the menstrual cycle of women, nocturnal emissions (wet dreams) among men, differences for restoring women to the congregation following the birth of female and male children, and quarantine for those displaying discharge, mucus, and pus from sexually transmitted diseases.  Consider again the following:

(1.)  Deuteronomy 14:  1-7, King James Version (KJV):  1 Ye are the children of the LORD your God:  ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.  2 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.  3 Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.  4 These are the beasts which ye shall eat:  the ox, the sheep, and the goat,  5 The hart, and the roebuck, and the fallow deer, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois.  6 And every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat.  7 Nevertheless these ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the cloven hoof; as the camel, and the hare, and the coney:  for they chew the cud, but divide not the hoof; therefore they are unclean unto you.

(2.)  1st Peter 2:  6-10, KJV:  6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious:  and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.  7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious:  but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,  8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient:  whereunto also they were appointed.  9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;  10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God:  which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (3.)  Romans 8:  5-9, KJV:  5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God:  for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(03/06/2015) Pork, A Stumblingblock?

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