Q: #154. Why do Christians eat pork when the Bible expressly forbids it?
A: The prohibitions God gave against eating pork (i.e. Lev 11:7-8, Deut 14:8, Isa 65:4, Isa 66:17) were a part of the ceremonial laws of the Old Covenant (see: Q: #17 for more on this). In short, ceremonial laws were given to symbolically purify and cleanse God’s people. They pointed forward to Jesus Christ through whom we are now purified and cleansed (The New Covenant).
While science has shown us that pork and the other “unclean” foods that God prohibited are indeed unhealthy, they are no longer forbidden foods. There are several verses in the New Testament that show us this.
Most importantly, Jesus Himself declared ALL foods clean:
(Mk 7:18-19)(NASB) … Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from the outside cannot defile him, (19) because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” (THUS HE DECLARED ALL FOODS CLEAN.) (Caps emphasis mine)
(Rom 14:2-3) For one believeth that he may eat ALL things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs (vegetables). (3) Let not him that eateth despiseth him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. (caps emphasis mine)
(1 Cor 10:25)(NASB) Eat anything that is sold in the market without asking questions for conscience’ sake;
(Acts 10:14-15) But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common (unholy) or unclean. (15) And the voice spake unto him again the second time, what God hath cleansed, that call not thou common (unholy).
(Col 2:16-17) Let no man therefore judge you in MEAT, or in drink, or in respect of a 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. (caps emphasis mine)
Also, it should be noted, that while man apparently did not eat meat before the flood (Gen 1:29-30), God allowed man to eat “EVERY MOVING THING” after the flood (Gen 9:2-4). He did not forbid any kind of meat until the law was given hundreds of years later.
The Bible tells us that in the end times, there will be an increase in those who command others “to abstain from meats which God hath created” (1 Tim 4:1-5).
The reason why certain religions, such as Judaism and Islam, prohibit the eating of pork and other “unclean” foods is because they do not accept that Jesus cleanses all who trust in Him by His shed blood on the cross.
I think you are wrong about any meat after the flood, because I think the unclean meats were still not allowed at that time. Both everything else you wrote seems spot on!
Hi aajay. I would have two questions for you. 1. How would they know what foods were “unclean” after the flood, since God had not yet told them that until the “law” was later given? 2. Where in the Bible does it say that they avoided “unclean foods” before the law was given?
Thank you and God bless you! This was such a blessing!
Thanks Wendy.