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Clean Meat and Unclean Meat

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Rhys 🕊:
Here is an email from Ray

http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,1186.msg10634.html#msg10634

I'm a little mixed up on a certain topic. What does the bible say about eating meat?
Does God want us to kill and eat animals? Thank you for taking the time to read this
email and hopefully responding.
 
                                                                  Sincerely,
                                                                  Matt
 
Dear Matt:
Eating meat is fine.  Why even the Passover Lamb was eaten, as were other sacrifices of animals. Herding was a major profession among God's people, Israel. In the Prodigal the father killed the fatted calf, etc., etc., etc.
God be with you,
Ray

Doug:
I get it that eating the "unclean meats" is not a sin. However, I still feel like they are disgusting meats to eat and not healthy. Maybe it was too many years in the Worldwide Church of God.

AwesomeSavior:
George:

I personally cannot eat pork because of preexisting health conditions, so a lot of it comes down to my own physical health status. The Lord causes me to pray each day that all our food goes through our systems safely. He is Faithful and True!

Dean

indianabob:
Hi Doug,
I have the same problem. Regarding pork and shell fish. I do like a cool beer however.
We used to substitute veggie bacon bits for the real thing but even those taste spoiled or stale now. When we go to Ponderosa for the senior salad bar they put bacon grease in the green beans to enhance the flavor, a benefit which for me is entirely unnecessary. I love green beans with just a little salt, but now I have to eat broccoli instead.
I-bob



--- Quote from: Doug on September 03, 2016, 10:56:08 AM ---I get it that eating the "unclean meats" is not a sin. However, I still feel like they are disgusting meats to eat and not healthy. Maybe it was too many years in the Worldwide Church of God.

--- End quote ---

Colin:
Hello Alex

Quote : Since I'm not certain entirely what you are trying to say, I will re-iterate that Jesus nailed the handwriting of ordinances--which were those things not written on stone tablets, these Leviticus laws--To the cross. That's scripture. So these laws were abrogated by Jesus who fulfilled the law.    So I don't see how the abomination clause still applies.   [end of quote]   

Hi Alex, the reason why you are unable to see how the term abomination is still applicable is due to reading Colossians 2:14 incorrectly.     If you have E-Sword, as I do, you will find the following

Col 2:14  Blotting outG1813 theG3588 handwritingG5498 of ordinancesG1378 that was againstG2596 us,G2257 whichG3739 wasG2258 contraryG5227 to us,G2254 andG2532 tookG142 itG846 out ofG1537 theG3588 way,G3319 nailingG4338 itG846 to his cross;G4716

The Greek word cheirographon is translated “handwriting” and we are given this information:
G5498 Χειρόγραφον    cheirographon    Neuter of a compound of G5495 and G1125; something hand written (“chirograph”), that is, a manuscript (specifically a legal document or bond (figuratively)): -  handwriting.

The Greek word dogma is translated “ordinances” and we are given this information :
 G1378 Δόγμα  dogma    From the base of G1380; a law (civil, ceremonial or ecclesiastical): - decree, ordinance.

In olden times, it was the custom to have a list of infractions, committed by felons, nailed up publicly to declare, to one and all, what a convicted person was guilty of.    It does not take too much effort for us to see how this example has been used to demonstrate how Christ “blotted out” our sins and that He did so by dying for us, as a sin offering, on the cross.

G1813 ἐξαλείφω exaleiphō    From G1537 and G218; to smear out, that is, obliterate (erase tears, figuratively pardon sin): - blot out, wipe away.   

Jesus said that He came neither to “destroy”, pull down, nor obliterate the law – nor the prophets.  Whereas He did come to “take away our sins”…..smear out, or wipe away the list of our sins.    Once you see that difference, Alex, things will “clear up”.  Ray spoke of this in several of his papers.

The misuse of Colossians 2:14 has led many into confusion.    Christ said that not one jot or tittle of the law will “disappear” until ALL be fulfilled.    We are to obey those same laws, which Jesus gave to Moses, but, as we now better comprehend from the Sermon on the Mount, they are to be kept “in the spirit”.   

When it comes to the laws of hygiene, cleanliness, it becomes a little harder perhaps to see how to observe them without doing so literally, such as abstaining from unhygienic practices or declining to eat prohibited unclean meat.   

As I tried to clarify how I viewed this thread, I showed where Leviticus 11 was only a part of the section which covered healthy living, the avoidance of contagious diseases and perverted sexual practices, which are found mentioned in this same Old Testament book.  I proposed the idea that God (Jesus) gave those to Moses from a loving concern He had for the people He was dealing with. 

 I cannot separate our benefiting from following those statutes by imagining we can avoid such problems if we ignore any of those statutes.     I am glad that a doctor or dentist "scrubs up" after he has dealt with a prior patient, before he pokes his finger in my mouth, for example.    Cleanliness is one of the points covered in Leviticus.

Have any heard or read about Ignaz Semmelweis?  He was a Hungarian doctor who was instrumental in saving many new mothers from dying from puerperal disease because he taught doctors to wash after they had done an autopsy and who then had proceeded immediately to assist at birthing.....a life-saving technique, straight from "Moses".     You can "Google" Semmelweis.....for an interesting read.

 We, with a spiritual attitude, can approach those statutes from a different level of understanding and gratitude, by acknowledging that God (Jesus) instructed out of love and not as a “harsh kill-joy”.     

Anything mentioned in scripture as an abomination remains in that category, I feel, until such time it is unquestionably turned into something “UNabominable”.    Certain verse in the New Testament appear to do that, as some have indicated - but on closer inspection, that is not the case.  I will offer them in a separate post for discussion.

 I, in no way, wish to be viewed as criticizing or being demeaning towards any who see things differently.  All I wanted to do was to contribute to the forum how I see things and leave it up to members/readers to be convinced/convicted one way or the other.   

As a medical-man-in-training, Alex, I take your point with regard to the effect of cooking to destroy (sometimes only partially) pathogens which are likely to lead to illness.  I have been involved in bacteriology during my working life and always kept the “little critters” at arm’s length.   I would hesitate to say it dogmatically, but guess that most people do NOT cook their oysters.  It is a well-known fact that restaurateurs are keenly aware of the worrisome quick spoilage of sea-food and they are likely to “quickly hit the panic button” if they hear of food poisoning from anybody who has eaten seafood (prawns, crabs) at their establishment.   

When it comes to the statute given in Deuteronomy 23:13 of covering over human waste I am in full agreement…..how about you?   I can’t see how we comply without literally doing it (these days most use flush toilets – it’s the same principle however) – that certainly is something I would NOT argue needs “doing away with”.  For many years, that was an underlying reason for plagues in large cities, where filth flowed in the streets.

 I will not attempt in this posting to answer points raised by others who responded to my earlier post, but will try to do so, briefly, "next time".        Colin

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