The idea of forbidden food all stem from the Old Testament Levitical law that was given to the children of Israel. We shall see below a partial list of some of these forbidden food. We must understand the purpose of why these laws were created by God. In effect, God was creating a picture of how we could be holy as He is holy. Therefore the observance of these laws teaches about that as we read them;
Leviticus 7:23 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Ye shall eat no manner of fat, of ox, or of sheep, or of goat.
Leviticus 7:19 And the flesh that toucheth any unclean thing shall not be eaten; it shall be burnt with fire: and as for the flesh, all that be clean shall eat thereof.
Leviticus 11:4 Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
Leviticus 11:42 Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.
Leviticus 19:26 Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.
However in the new testament we are given a new command. as we read in 1Timothy 4:3-5; We are giving the accompanying verse so that we could read the applicable verses in its context.
1 ¶ 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.We can see the strong tone of these verses in which the Apostle Paul is condemning them that have departed from believing the truth of Christ and the Gospel. In no uncertain terms Paul calls these people that do these things as believing in the doctrines of the devil, yes the devil Satan. Those that still observe these things do not read the Bible and if they do they are given the spirit of slumber so that they would not understand. We find collaborating scriptures as we also read a blanket statement that covers anything that we eat as Jesus' disciples was accused of eating with unclean hands. Matthew 15:11
Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
Even though that we find this command straight forward and direct, we warned that there is a diplomatic, for lack of a better word, way of going about conducting ourselves in the presence of a weaker brother in 1Corinthians 8:8-9
8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. 9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
God is concerned about our witness. After all the life of the believer should be that of being a witness. We should not insist in eating meat or those things that offend our brother or sister We are given the admonition in verse 13 of the same chapter;
13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
Our most important task is bringing the Gospel, if we are a child of God. We find a similar admonition from Romans 14:2
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.
This is a beautiful chapter that discusses this issue in details. It's a good idea to read it because it gives us counsel of how we should live our lives if we are to be witnesses for Christ. As we read the final thoughts of this chapter.
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.
As clearly as it could God gives this idea of a non-challance attitude because it has no effect on anything we do in compliance with our faith in Christ. This issue, as most of these Levitical laws, divide many people. Our attitude should be that we do not insist on being one or the other. Those that choose to not eat meat is O.K. by God and so do those that choose to, May God give us love and peace as we live with our brother whether he is one or the other. May God give us the eyes to see and the ears to hear.Questions or Comments All Rights Reserved*TOGODBETHEGLORY.com