Anonymous Asks:

A friend of mine forwarded me a link to Joel Osteen speaking about how the bible tells us we should not be eating pork and shellfish.

I’ve never heard a Christian speak about not eating these foods so I thought it was interesting.

Any input? Opinions? Thoughts?

Beloved by Him Replies:

Such a good question—and I’m going to tell you up front that there is not a simple “right” or “wrong” answer. This is one area of scripture that is subject to much interpretation, and sadly, can become a source of division and judgment in the body of Christ. So I would like to ask the Lord Jesus to please give me His wisdom right now, that by the Holy Spirit, I would be able to accurately and helpfully share His word, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

The issue of “clean and unclean foods” originates back to the Old Testament, before the Law was given to Moses for the people of Israel. In Genesis, when Noah built the ark, there was a distinction made between what God called clean and unclean animals. Clean animals were brought on in seven pairs, and unclean animals were brought on in single pairs (Gen. 6:20, 7:2). In Leviticus and Deuteronomy, there is more extensive clarification of what foods were to be called clean or unclean, based on how they were created, i.e. the animal’s diet, its digestive system, its species or origination, etc. The Israelites were to follow God’s guidelines and abstain from any unclean foods, which helped to prevent disease and promoted good health (Lev. 11, Deut. 14).

When Jesus, and the doctrine of grace, came into the world, the focus was no longer on the letter of the law, but on liberty, especially as Gentiles became partakers in Jesus’ salvation. The change was in the attitude of the heart, as Jesus pointed out in Mark 7:15, 17-18, when He said that it’s not what goes into a man that defiles him, but what comes out of him (the testimony of a man’s heart as evidenced by what he says and does). The first Christians, Jews by birth and upbringing, were struggling with the inclusion of others into God’s kingdom, and the Gentiles were wondering if they needed to conform to Jewish tradition in order to be righteous. This again is where God’s grace stepped in, commanding for people to remain in the same calling in which they were called. It wasn’t about trying to affect some outward change to earn righteousness, but instead having the desire and commitment to keep the commandments of God (I Cor. 7:18-24).

This is where things get complicated. It’s true that in the Old Testament, there are specific laws regarding the consumption and use of clean and unclean foods. However, there are also many scriptures in the New Testament that would indicate that Christians are no longer bound by those restraints. Particularly, the apostle Paul spoke at length in Romans 14 about this issue, and he makes a bold statement in verse 14 of that chapter. He said, “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.” Paul wrote extensively about liberty and living according to one’s own conscience before God, and this is not the only place that he discussed the issue of food. In I Timothy 4:4-5, he said, “For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” And in two places in I Corinthians he affirms that we are under liberty and grace, and that we should not be as concerned about where our food is coming from as the attitude with which we eat it. If there are foods that challenge our self-discipline or health and well-being, or if we are in the company of someone who might be offended by what we are eating, then it is good to abstain from those things (I Cor. 6:12-13, 10:23). Otherwise, the attitude of our heart should be one of faith and thanksgiving, since “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” (Ps. 24:1)

So again, it becomes an issue of personal conviction. If the idea is to try and become more righteous in God’s sight, then that is wrong. Christians are not made perfect by keeping the law (Heb. 7:19). We’re not under the law, but under grace (Rom. 6:14-15). But if it’s a matter of eating healthier, then that’s different. There are definitely foods out there that are not good for you, and they are not confined to the clean/unclean differentiation. For example, if we eat beef (a clean animal), and make a point of eating the fat, then that’s not good. If we only eat chicken and turkey products, then should we be eating hot dogs? They are usually “mechanically separated,” and if you think a machine is going to catch all the claws and beaks…well, you get the idea. Too much shrimp is bad for our cholesterol levels, but low-fat potato chips cooked in Olestra can tempt us to overeat and give us digestive problems. The point is, as I again quote the apostle Paul, “He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.”

We each need to put this issue before the Lord, and do as the Holy Spirit leads and convicts us. We must be confident in our own faith regarding what we approve or don’t approve, and we can’t judge those who believe differently (Rom. 14:3-4, 22-23). The good news is that our salvation and standing with God definitely do not hinge on our decision, because “the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 14:17) We can trust that God will provide us good things to satisfy our appetites and take care of our bodies (Ps. 81:16, Ps. 103:5); let’s agree to receive with thanks whatever He provides from His hand (Ps. 104:28, 145:16).

Much love,
Beloved by Him

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