Clean vs. Unclean Foods Does the distinction still apply today?

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1 Section: Walking With Jesus Category: Christian Lifestyle Action Item: Healthful Living Clean vs. Unclean Foods Does the distinction still apply today? Issues Dealt With in This Study Is the distinction between clean and unclean meats of divine or human origin? o At what time did it originate? o Why was it given? o What was its motivation and purpose? o Was it only for Jews, or should Christians also observe it? o Did either Jesus or his apostles abolish it for the Christian Church? What about the prohibition against eating blood? Is that still applicable? Difficult passages explored: o Jesus declared all foods clean (Mark 7) o What God has cleansed you must not call common (Acts 10) o I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself (Rom. 14) o But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do (1 Cor. 8) o Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience sake (1 Cor. 10) o For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving (1 Tim. 4) Take time to explore God s specific counsel in Scripture concerning clean and unclean foods, and how it has relevance for your life today. Man s Original Diet Man s original diet was vegetarian and consisted of fruits, grains and nuts (Genesis 1:29, 30) 1

2 After man sinned, vegetables, i.e. the plants/herbs of the field (Genesis 3:18) were added to his diet. o Evidently the quality & quantity of the fruits, grains & nuts were reduced to such an extent that man was required to look to the plants of the field for part of his diet. This change in diet could have been due to a change in climate, the curse upon the land or other unknown factors. Man s diet will once again be vegetarian in heaven o Revelation 22:2 On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. o Even the animals will be vegetarian there Isaiah 11:6-7 - The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. Clean & Unclean Distinction Before the Flood The distinction between clean and unclean foods was there before the Flood, before an Israelite existed o Genesis 7:8-10 Pairs of clean and unclean animals, of birds and of all creatures... came to Noah and entered the ark o SEVEN pairs of clean animals & ONE pair of unclean (Genesis 7:2) o Genesis 8:20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. Flesh Food Permitted After Flood It was after the Flood, when all the plant life was destroyed, that God for the first time, permitted man to eat flesh o Genesis 9:3 - Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs Every moving thing does not mean license to eat anything, since Noah already knew the difference between clean and unclean animals (Genesis 7:2). God was merely saying, You may now eat flesh foods. It is interesting to note that the distinction between clean and unclean animals occurs in Scripture at the same time when flesh foods are introduced into the diet of man (i.e. after the Flood) This distinction was made at a time when all of the ancestors of the human race, the 8 members of Noah's family, were still together in one group (one argument in favour of its universality) Although God does not here say which animals are clean and unclean and how they should be used in terms of diet, one could say that it is implied. By providing seven times more 2

3 clean animals in the Ark, God was also providing a sevenfold greater likelihood for eating clean animals after the Flood by Noah's immediate descendants. Book of Leviticus The distinction between clean and unclean foods is mainly found in the book of Leviticus Not everything that comes from the book of Leviticus was ceremonial or ritualistic Many of the laws in Leviticus did not only apply to Israel but are universal Some laws that Leviticus speaks against, that are still valid today: o Stealing, lying, deception, dishonesty (19:11-15) o Homosexuality, bestiality, prostitution, incest (ch. 18) o Communicating with the dead (19:26, 31) So just because it comes from Leviticus, it does not mean it was only for the Jews and therefore not applicable today What are Clean Animals? They have 2 characteristics: o Chew the cud (regurgitation and rechewing of food before further digested) AND o Have a spilt hoof o BOTH qualities are essential ALL clean animals are all herbivores. There are some unclean animals that are herbivores (like camels) but ALL clean animals are herbivores. Examples of clean animals are: cattle, sheep, goats, etc. Chewing the Cud and Having a Split Hoof What are Unclean Animals? They either chew the cud (camel) OR have spilt hoof (pig), but DON T have both features Unclean animals could be herbivores (like the camel), but are mainly carnivorous. Some Reasons Why Unclean Animals Are Unsafe Retention of Toxins o Example: The camel Is adapted to a desert environment. It tolerates heat by not sweating. The body temperature increases but it does not lose water like other animals, so it can survive in the desert. Any produced toxins like urea, will accumulate in the tissue and therefore it is not as fit for consumption as an animal that gets rid of its toxic substances (like a clean animal). Coprophagy (eating of own faeces) o Some animals extract more nutrition from grass by giving their food a second pass through the gut. Soft fecal pellets of partially digested food are excreted and generally consumed immediately They also produce normal droppings, which are not eaten. (Wikipedia) o When food passes through intestines, waste products are left, together with digestible products at the end, and when re- ingested some of the chemicals, which are detrimental, are added to the food chain. o These animals therefore have a higher toxic load than ruminants (such as cattle). 3

4 o Some animals that practise coprophagy: Rabbits, hamsters, squirrels, chipmunks, cats, dogs, horses, pigs, gorillas, apes. Young elephants, pandas, koalas, & hippos eat the faeces of their mothers or other animals in the herd to obtain the bacteria required to properly digest vegetation found on the savanna & in the jungle. Any reason why the above- mentioned animals are unclean? The Pig Also practises coprophagy Pigs eat enormous amounts of food (plant and animal materials garbage, faeces, decaying flesh, etc.) which dilutes the hydrochloric acid in the pig s stomach. This in turn allows toxins, viruses, parasites and bacteria to be absorbed into the animal s flesh. So if you eat a pig, you are exposing yourself to these dangers found in its flesh. Things such as skin and joint disorders, psoriasis, gout, etc., have been linked to eating pork Any guesses why pork is unclean and should not be eaten? Mozart s Untimely Death: Trichinosis Dr Jan Hirschmann of Puget Sound Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Seattle suggests the reason for Mozart s untimely death at the age of 35 was from trichinosis, caused by eating undercooked pork. Mozart had the same symptoms: fever, rash, limb pain and swelling Trichina are tiny little worms that work their way into one s muscles and can eventually kill a person Part of Mozart s letter, written to his wife 44 days before his mysterious illness, said: Trichina Under a Microscope o What do I smell pork cutlets? Che Gusto (what a delicious taste)! I eat to your health. He died 15 days after he became ill. o Trichinosis has an incubation period of around 50 days. In 1846, Dr. Joseph Leidy of Philadelphia was eating a slice of ham one day when he noticed some funny looking spots. He thought, That looks familiar. I saw those very same spots in the muscle tissue of the corpse I was dissecting the other day. He took his ham and put it under the microscope and found it full of tiny worms called Trichina. These worms work their way into your muscles and can eventually kill you. Physicians have confused trichinosis with 50 ailments ranging from typhoid fever, to acute alcoholism, arthritis, rheumatism, gall- bladder pain, swelling of the face, difficult breathing, sore eyes, stiffness of muscles, etc. Dr Don Colbert, author of What Would Jesus Eat? says: Mozart Cooking pork at 71 C or higher will kill the parasites but the centre portion of the pork steaks or chops must be heated to this temperature as well or they will not be killed. Often this does not occur. 4

5 The section that follows gives a list of representative animals in different categories, in order to extract some general principles. The fuller lists are found in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. Unclean Animals: Reptiles Lizards & Snakes o Their temperature is subject to the environment o When lizards are cold and have food in their stomachs, the food cannot digest properly. As a result toxins accumulate. o Snakes too are cold blooded and don t eat in winter because they can get such high toxic loads, that they could die from it. o Rapid digestion & elimination of food (which does not happen in reptiles) is required to avoid an increase of toxins. This is why reptiles are unfit for human consumption. Reptile: Lizard (Unclean) Clean Fish Have BOTH fins and scales Clean fish have a high ability to detoxify themselves Examples: hake, haddock, tuna, mackerel, sardines, cod, etc. Reptile: Snake (Unclean) Fish: Tuna (Clean) Fish: Haddock (Clean) Unclean Fish Eels, lampreys, catfish, etc., don t have scales. They are scavengers and eat virtually anything. Fish: Eel (Unclean) 5 Fish: Catfish (Unclean)

6 Sharks, rays don t have the ability of fish with fins and scales to rid themselves of the salts which constantly move into the body. They solve their osmotic water problem in a different way i.e. by retaining urea, a toxic waste product. Fish: Shark (Unclean) Fish: Ray (Unclean) Arthropods crayfish, lobster, prawns, etc., are scavengers. They clean up the dirt and therefore subject to higher levels of toxins than other fish. Arthropod: Lobster (Unclean) Arthropod: Prawns (Unclean) Thus by eating unclean fish people expose themselves to dangerous toxins. Clean Birds Examples: Quail, pigeons, chickens, etc. They have a crop and, similar to a ruminant, have fermentation at beginning of the intestine. Bird: Pigeon (Clean) 6 Bird: Chicken (Clean)

7 Unclean Birds Examples: Eagles, ospreys, hawks, vultures, kites, pelicans, bats, etc. They are either carnivores or scavengers Bird: Vulture (Unclean) Bird: Pelican (Unclean) Thought for Consideration What if you take clean animals (like chickens) and feed them what they do not naturally eat (like fishmeal, carcass meal, etc.) Thus you are making them carnivores, which then categorises them as unclean animals. This is what is being done today on a large scale with animals that are prepared for the food industry. Insects Grasshoppers they are strict herbivores Dung beetles, are coprophages and are unclean The preying mantis and dragonfly are carnivorous are therefore unclean Insect: Locust (Clean) Insect: Dung Beetle (Unclean) Leviticus 11 The distinction between clean and unclean foods is put in Leviticus 11 not simply to indicate which animals are clean and may be sacrificed. For example, the list reveals many animals like fish that were unacceptable as sacrifices 7

8 Unclean Animals Always Unclean Unclean animals are perpetually unclean & no ritual could make them clean In the case of all other kinds of ceremonial uncleanness (leprosy, sexual defilement, touching dead carcasses, etc.) there was provision for the person or thing to be cleansed by certain rituals. While these objects were only temporarily unclean, unclean foods are permanently unclean, i.e. unclean by nature. Touching Unclean Animals There is no evidence that touching an unclean animal brought defilement. o Jesus, for instance, rode into Jerusalem on a donkey o Dogs are unclean and yet serve as pets Unclean Foods: Universal Application Whenever the Bible condemns the practices of pagans, it implies that Israel was not to do those same things and therefore that practice is a UNIVERSAL prohibition both pagan and Israelite were not to do it. o Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways [incest, adultery, child sacrifices, homosexuality, bestiality, etc.], because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled. Even the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants. But you must keep my decrees and my laws. The native- born and the aliens living among you must not do any of these detestable things for all these things were done by the people who lived in the land before you, and the land became defiled. And if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you. If the nations were punished for these sins (of adultery, homosexuality, etc.), then it means they were aware of these laws (cf. Romans 3:20), it applied to them, but they willfully chose to disobey them. With this in mind, notice how the distinction between clean and unclean foods is put in the context of the nations: o Keep all my decrees and laws and follow them, so that the land where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out. You must not live according to the customs of the nations I am going to drive out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them. You shall therefore distinguish between clean animals and unclean (Leviticus 20:23-25) According to the verses we have just read, God includes the eating of unclean foods among the practices that made Him vomit out the nations he was about to drive out before Israel. Thus the distinction between clean and unclean foods is universal. As we have seen, Leviticus 18 and 20 mention the activities of these nations that caused the land to be defiled, and to vomit out its inhabitants. They included: o Homosexuality, incest, bestiality, adultery, child sacrifices as well as eating unclean foods Principle for Both Israelites & Foreigners Whenever the Bible forbids things to foreigners as well as Israelites, the prohibition is UNIVERSAL 8 Jesus Rode into Jerusalem on an Unclean Animal

9 In Leviticus 17:13 the distinction between clean and unclean foods is implied as pertaining to the stranger as well as the Israelite o Any Israelite or any alien living among you who hunts any animal or bird that may be eaten must drain out the blood and cover it with earth. o This verse implies that there are certain foods that may be eaten and others that may not be. When compared to the rest of Scripture it can only apply to clean and unclean foods. o Thus the prohibition is universal. Abomination The specific Hebrew word for abomination, used for the inherently defiling activities in Leviticus 20, is also used for the unclean meats in Deuteronomy 14:3. o Deuteronomy 14:3 - Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing. These are the beasts ye shall eat: [list of clean animals follows]. This passage also gives a list of unclean foods [Deuteronomy 14:7 onwards] Notice other uses of the word abomination o Leviticus 18:22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination [homosexuality] o Leviticus 18:26 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations [incest, child sacrifices, homosexuality, bestiality], either any of your own nation or any stranger who dwells among you o Deuteronomy 17:2-4; Ezekiel 8: Idolatry is called an abomination o Deuteronomy 18:11-12: Communication with the dead is called an abomination o 2 Kings 16:3: Child sacrifices are called an abomination o Deuteronomy 14:3: Eating unclean foods is called an abomination o Notice the category in which eating unclean foods is listed. It is placed together with homosexuality, child sacrifices, idolatry, communicating with the dead, etc. Rationale for Eating Clean Foods Leviticus 11:44, 45 - I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves about on the ground. I am the Lord who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy. The first reason why the Israelites were not to eat unclean foods: Because God saved them and brought them out of Egypt. This is the same way the 10 Commandments begin which have a universal application as well. The second reason why they were not to eat unclean foods: Be holy for I am holy. God wanted a holy people. Compare this to Exodus 19:4-6, which says: o (God to Israel): You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation 9 Idolatry: An Example of An Abomination

10 o So by comparing Exodus and Leviticus, we see that holiness is not just a spiritual state, it includes what we eat. God Made This Distinction God Himself made the separation between clean and unclean foods, not man: o Leviticus 20:25 You shall therefore distinguish between clean animals and unclean, between unclean birds and clean, and you shall not make yourselves abominable by beast or by bird, or by any kind of living thing that creeps on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean. If God made the distinction and He said we should not eat unclean foods, then it is a serious matter. Clean/Unclean Distinction Still Around in Time of Isaiah Isaiah writes in 8 th century BC (God to Israel) - I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people Who sit among the graves, and spend the night in the tombs (a heathen cult practiced in Judah); Who eat swine s flesh and the broth of abominable things is in their vessels. Behold, it is written before Me: I will not keep silence, but will repay (through judgment) Even repay into their bosom (Isaiah 65:2, 4, 6) So God was to judge Israel for doing these evil practices (which included eating unclean foods). Thus God s laws did not change since Leviticus 11. See also Isaiah 66:17 An Aside: Eating No Blood - A Universal Law Genesis 9:4 (given to the original 8 in the ark) o But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. Leviticus 17:10-11 (an elaboration of Genesis 9) o Any Israelite or any alien living among them who eats any blood - I will set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from his people. For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one s life. Blood Cells Acts 15:28, 29 (universal laws that applied to both Jew and Gentile) o For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Reasons for Not Eating Blood The life of the flesh is in the blood Blood has been given for atonement, therefore, blood should not be consumed by man Blood contains the nutrients of the body as well as its toxins. Therefore eating it can be harmful to the body. Christians, if they do eat meat, are therefore to eat kosher meat, according to the Bible. 10

11 Famous New Testament Passages Used to Prove Clean/Unclean Distinction Has Been Abolished Mark 7 Acts 10 Romans 14 / 1 Corinthians 8 & 10 1 Timothy 4 Acts 15 We will take a look at each of these individually Mark 7 1 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and 2 saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were unclean, that is, ceremonially unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders) 5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, Why don t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with unclean hands? 6 He replied, Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites. 8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding to the traditions of men. 14 Again Jesus called the crowd to Him and said:. Nothing outside a man can make him unclean by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him unclean 18 Don t you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him unclean? 19 For it doesn t go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body. (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean. ) It is of importance to note that the washing of hands referred to here was strictly ritualistic, not sanitary. A small quantity of water was poured on the fingers & palm of each hand, followed by a particular ritual. Before we can unravel this passage, we need to understand another concept first, viz., defilement by association. Defilement by Association During the period between the Old Testament and the New Testament (about 400 years) a non- biblical idea arose of defilement by association, i.e. if something clean (like an apple for instance) touched something unclean (e.g., hands that were ceremonially unwashed), the apple would become common or defiled. It was common to the world (i.e. Gentiles could eat it), but forbidden to pious Jews. So there were 2 types of unclean foods at the time of Christ: o Unclean foods by nature (Leviticus 11). This is what GOD commanded o Unclean foods by association. This was a MAN- MADE commandment Jesus rejected this false understanding of uncleanness, calling it a tradition of man. The Traditions of Men always compete with the Commandments of God (Mark 7:8) Notice Jesus response in vss 18 and 19 - Don t you see that nothing (i.e. no clean food) that enters a man from the outside can make him unclean (since true uncleanliness comes from within a person)? For it (i.e. what the person eats) doesn t go into his heart (the place where morality comes from) but into his stomach (a mere digestive organ), and then out of his body. (Jesus was more concerned about morality than rituals) [In saying this, Jesus 11

12 declared all foods clean. ] - i.e. Jesus declared all foods HE originally approved for man as clean even if they had been touched by ceremonially unclean hands Note the word Jesus uses in vs. 19: In saying this, Jesus declared all FOODS clean. The word for foods here in Greek refers to ALL kinds of food, flesh or non- flesh in nature. Mark did not say: Jesus declared all unclean meats clean, but he declared all FOODS clean. The issue in Mark 7 is not about unclean meats, but about food in general. As mentioned, the Jews believed that ALL food (apples, grapes, nuts, beef, etc.) touched with ceremonially unclean hands became common or defiled. The problem between Jesus and the Pharisees in this story had nothing to do with the kind of food to be eaten (whether clean or unclean) but the way in which it was to be eaten with or without ritual hand washing (vs. 2, 3) Acts 10 Context of Peter s vision o There was a kind, God- fearing man by the name of Cornelius, who prayed daily but did not have a knowledge of the Messiah (10:2, 36-43) o He was a Roman centurion (10:1) and therefore looked upon by the rabbis as a heathen and therefore unclean. o While in prayer one day, an angel appeared to him and directed him to send for Simon who was in Joppa (10:3-7) o Shortly thereafter, Peter got the following vision of common and clean animals on a sheet (10:9-23): Peter s Vision: Acts 10: The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance and saw A Roman Centurion heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of four- footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 13 And a voice came to him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat. 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean. 15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, What God has cleansed you must not call common. 16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again. Is the Bible, as many believe, here teaching that we can eat unclean meats? If so we would immediately have a few problems: o If in Mark 7, as some claim, Jesus declared all foods clean, why is Peter, 5 years later, still saying that he had NEVER eaten anything common or unclean? o Unclean animals were permanently unclean they were such by nature. So if God said that Christians could now eat unclean animals, did he suddenly change the physiology, eating and sanitary habits of these animals? How Did Peter Understand This Vision? Peter does not seem to have understood this statement in a literal way, for immediately after the vision it is stated that "Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision which he had seen might mean" (vs. 17). 12

13 It was at this moment that messengers from the Gentile Roman centurion, Cornelius arrived at Peter s door. By the time that he had arrived at the home of Cornelius, Peter had apparently discovered the meaning of the vision, for he later said, You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or visit any one of another nation; but God has shown me (i.e. in the vision) that I should not call any man common or unclean (Acts 10:28). It is also interesting to note that the vision does not say that the sheet was just full of unclean animals. In fact there were 2 types of animals on the sheet: 1. Common (Gr: koinos) animals: clean animals that had been contaminated or defiled by contact with unclean animals 2. Unclean animals (Gr: akathartos): Animals unclean by nature In the vision, the Voice never mentions "unclean" animals but reprimands Peter for calling creatures "common" which God had made clean So Peter was reprimanded for regarding clean creatures as defiled, just because of their association with unclean creatures Purpose of Peter s Vision God was trying to each Peter (and the early church) a critical lesson. Using the language of the vision He basically said: Clean foods (as Jews considered themselves) do not become common or defiled by associating with unclean food (i.e. Gentiles, as Jews viewed them). The point of the vision was that Jews could mingle with Gentiles and would not become defiled This vision helped Peter (and the first Jewish Christians) to overcome their prejudice towards Gentiles and to stop seeing the latter as sinners and unclean people It was God s call for the Jews to reach out and mix with Gentiles in order to bring salvation to them. This vision therefore has NOTHING to do with allowing man to start eating unclean foods. Romans 14 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. 2 One man s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him 14 I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. Some people interpret this as follows: Paul says that no food is unclean in itself, but is unclean to the person who regards it as such. So, if I eat pork and don t consider it unclean, then for ME it is CLEAN. But if you don t eat pork and consider it unclean, then for YOU it is UNCLEAN. This reasoning does not make sense. Pork is either clean or unclean; it cannot be clean for some and unclean for others Is the cleanness or uncleanness of an animal only in the MIND of the eater? Let s explore this concept further. So What is Paul Really Saying? A number of Bible commentators believe that it is reasonable to assume that Paul in Romans 14 is dealing with the same problem as in 1 Corinthians 8 & 10, viz., foods offered to idols: Let s look at the issues in 1 Corinthians 8 & 10 first and then come back to Romans 14 and tie the two together 13

14 1 Corinthians 8 In 1 Corinthians 8:7-11 Paul says: o 7 Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. 9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol s temple, won t he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. Furthermore in 1 Corinthians 10:25-28 Paul Says: 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience sake; 26 for the earth is the Lord s, and all its fullness. 27 If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience sake. 28 But if anyone says to you, This was offered to idols, do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience sake; for the earth is the Lord s, and all its fullness. A Meat Market Implied Issues in 1 Corinthians 8 & 10 A careful study of this section reveals 3 issues that Paul was addressing: 1. Could a Christian join friends/relatives at a pagan temple and eating foods sacrificed to idols? 2. Could a Christian buy clean meat in the marketplace that has been associated with idolatry (i.e. buy clean meat offered to idols and then later sold in the market)? Wouldn t it be defiled meat? 3. Could a Christian accept an invitation to a pagan s home if such meat was offered there? Paul s Response to These Issues 1. Do not accept invitations from friends or relatives to eat food in pagan temples (since it would imply worship to such gods): 1 Corinthians 10: Flee from idolatry The sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons You cannot have a part in both the Lord s table and the table of demons 1 Corinthians 8:10 For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol s temple, won t he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? 2. But you can buy clean meat that has been offered to idols / associated with idolatry (since an idol is nothing 1 Corinthians 8:4) 14

15 1 Corinthians 10:25 - Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience sake o Paul is really saying: Eat whatever clean meat is sold in the market even if it has been offered to idols. 3. You can accept invitations from pagan friends or relatives who offer you such foods see 10:27: 1 Corinthians 10:27 - If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience sake. o What Paul is saying is: Eat whatever clean meat he/she puts before you without asking them if it had been offered to an idol first. The meat is clean anyway. Clean meat does not become unclean by association. One Exception If eating clean food sacrificed to idols (when either buying it in the market or eating it at a pagan friend / relative s home) violated the weak conscience of someone, then you should not eat it for the sake of your weak brother, even though there is nothing really wrong with such food. A principle for Paul: Your personal freedom and rights must always be subservient to the interests of others. Let s now consider the concept of absolutes before bringing this discussion in 1 Corinthians 8 and 10 to a conclusion. A Word on Absolutes Absolutes are when you use: all, everything, only, always, nothing, never, whatever, etc. Example: A son asks his dad for a R500. Dad tells his son that he only has R150 in his wallet. After some discussion dad then tells his son: You can have all my money. What did the dad mean? All his money in the bank on fixed deposit, all his policies, all his assets? No, in the context he is merely saying: You can have all the money in my wallet understood from the context. So when Paul says: Eat whatever is sold in the meat market it is understood the meat is clean, since this is the only food the Bible regards as fit for man. He doesn t have to repeat it all the time. Another absolute: Jesus said - If I be lifted up [i.e. on the cross] I will draw ALL men to me (John 12:32). Yes the cross does have a magnetic, drawing power, but will ALL men be drawn to Christ? Will all be saved? No. It is understood from the context that: If I be lifted up, I will draw all men [who respond to Me] Be careful of absolutes. Check out the context. Back to Romans 14 2 One man s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who is strong person here, who eats all things? 15

16 o He is the man of knowledge, strong in the knowledge that an idol has no real existence. Therefore, whether the food has been offered to an idol or not makes no difference to him. Who is the weak man who eats only vegetables? o He is the recent convert from paganism, who has not entirely overcome his fear of his former gods, and therefore, to eat clean meat offered to idols would defile his conscience. To him the food is common and defiled. Let s Look at Romans 14:14 Again I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. The word for unclean here is actually common i.e. unclean by association, not by nature. Taking the context into account, Paul is trying to say the following: I know and am convinced as one enlightened by the Lord that nothing which God created as food for man can become unclean by association, but if someone considers clean meat that was offered to idols as common (i.e. defiled by association with idolatry), then for that person it is unclean by association, not by nature. By eating such meat, this recent convert from paganism to Christianity would feel that he is going against his convictions. But be tolerant, he is still growing in his understanding and faith. Notice that the uncleanness does not lie in the nature of the food but in the believer s view of it. Paul, therefore, appeals for mutual love and patience to the weaker brother So if properly understood, the distinction between clean and unclean still remains. Unclean foods are still unfit as food. Let s Look at 1 Corinthians 8 and 10 Again So with this understanding, let s read the passages in 1 Corinthians 8 & 10 again with clearer insight: o 1 Corinthians 8: 7 Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food [i.e. clean food, whether sacrificed to an idol or not] does not bring us near to God [i.e. God s favour is not obtained by using or avoiding food that has been offered to idols. God looks at the heart and takes note of the thoughts and motives] we are no worse if we do not eat, [i.e. by refusing to eat foods sacrificed to idols, the believer does not increase his excellence or moral worth] and no better if we do. 9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol s temple, won t he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. o 1 Corinthians 10: 25 Eat whatever [clean meat] is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience sake; [without asking if it had been sacrificed to idols or not] 26 for the earth is the Lord s, and all its fullness. 27 If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever [clean food] is set before you, asking no question for conscience sake [i.e. don t ask them if the meat they are giving to you has been sacrificed to an idol]. 28 But if anyone [i.e. most likely a weak brother] says to you, This was offered to idols, do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience sake [i.e. the conscience of the weak brother]; for the earth is the Lord s, and all its fullness. 16

17 1 Timothy 4:1-5 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. 4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. Interpretation held by many: Everything God created (such as pigs, crocodiles, snakes, lobsters, etc.) is good and should not be rejected. They are cleansed by the word of God and prayer (i.e. the prayer you say just before eating them) What Does the Text Really Say? The false teaching spoken about here is one that forbade marriage (something which God instituted) and required abstinence from foods that God created for man from which to receive his necessary nutrition. The Bible (in Genesis) identifies the foods that God gave at creation for man's nourishment. o At creation: fruits, grains, nuts (Genesis 1:29, 30) o After entrance of sin: vegetables (Genesis 3:18) o After the Flood: clean flesh foods (Genesis 9:3) With that in mind, let s read the passage again: The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving 4 For everything God created [as food for man] is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving The foods that God created for man to be clean were only clean foods. Thus this text cannot be used to support eating unclean foods. Acts 15:28-29 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. This was the conclusion of the first General Church Council in Jerusalem. The issue at stake here was how many regulations which were specifically Jewish in nature should be imposed upon Gentile converts. Some say: See the council did not mention clean and unclean foods and therefore that Old Testament distinction does not apply for the Christian in the New Testament period. Since most of the first Gentile converts had previously been attending the synagogue even before they heard the gospel, they would in all likelihood have known about the Jewish dietary restrictions. Most likely they were already avoiding unclean meats. The fact that the matter of unclean meats was not mentioned may merely indicate that that particular issue was already understood and did not need to be spelled out further. Furthermore, the council did not cover all moral issues. For example, the fact that the council did not advise the converts not to steal or kill did not, obviously, mean that it was now acceptable for Christians in the New Testament to steal and kill. 17

18 Conclusion God has given us enough wise counsel in the area of Clean and Unclean Foods. We have seen that the distinction came about at the time of the Flood when flesh was introduced to man s diet. We saw that unclean animals contain more toxins and diseases All clean animals are herbivores getting their nutrition directly from plants Unclean animals are perpetually unclean and can never be made clean through any ritual God called the eating of unclean foods an abomination, the same word he uses for homosexuality, idolatry, child sacrifices, etc. The warning not to eat unclean foods is a universal law for all mankind, not only the Jews God never changed this law at anytime throughout the Bible, even in New Testament times Bibliography Boonstra, Shawn & Hardinge, Fred, Easy Steps for Better Health, Nampa: Pacific Press, 2007 Davidson, Richard, Clean and Unclean Foods: Still Relevant? Andrews University [This is a revised excerpt from his article, Revelation/Inspiration in the Old Testament, in Issues in Revelation and Inspiration (Adventist Theological Society Occasional Papers, vol. 1; eds. Frank Holbrook and Leo Van Dolson; Berrien Springs, MI: AT Society Publications, 1992), ] Shea, William, Clean and Unclean Meats, Biblical Research Institute, December 1988 Veith, Walter, Clean and Unclean, DVD. By Shandrell Penniken 18