Expert: Thurman C. Petty, Jr. - 1/25/2011

Question
Hello Pastor,

I noticed an archived answer of yours where you stated that the dietary law against the consumption of unclean meats was for health reasons. I am a Christian and challenge every doctrine that I hear and even believe against what the Bible and Bible alone says. Can you provide me even one scripture that backs up your claim that is not just an assumption but is heavily supported by scriptural evidence?

Thanks and God bless,
Ben

Answer
Dear Ben,

Thanks for your question about the dietary law that I dealt with in my answer to Scott. Let me quote from that answer:

“It’s true that God restricted the diet of His people to clean animals. Some say that these restrictions were for the Jews only. But I submit that there is no difference between the body and metabolism of a Jew than that of any other human being. THE RESTRICTIONS OF LEV. 11 AND DEUT 14 ACTUALLY ARE NOT ONLY A COMMANDMENT, BUT AN APPEAL FROM GOD TO KEEP OUR BODIES PURE AND DISEASE FREE.”

I’ve emphasized the last sentence to show that I don’t consider these dietary laws to be given merely for health reasons. I believe, and keep, these laws because they are a command from God, and because I know for a fact that the animals listed as unclean are indeed bad for my health. I suggest that you read the two chapters mentioned in the paragraph, if you haven’t already. God is quite clear that these animals are taboo/off the list/not acceptable for His people to eat.

The distinction between clean and unclean was known before the Flood, at least 3000 years before the Exodus (see Genesis 7:2). Then during the Exodus God clarified which animals were included in the clean and unclean classification in Lev. 11 and Deut. 14.

But many Christians today try to teach that Jesus cleaned up the unclean animals and made them fit to eat. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Jesus didn’t die to clean up unclean animals: Jesus died to clean up and save sinful humans who otherwise would be lost. And some will go so far as to say that the 10 commandments were nailed to the cross, citing Col. 2:14. If Jesus could have done away with the 10 commandments that actually describe what sin is, then He wouldn’t have had to die (compare 1 John 3:4 with Rom 3:19).

But let’s get back to clean and unclean animals. There are several pieces of evidence in the Bible that show that the distinction of clean and unclean is still recognized in the Christian era.

Isaiah prophesied about the second coming of Christ in chapter 66:
Isa 66:15  For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
Isa 66:16  For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.
Isa 66:17  They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating SWINE'S FLESH, and the abomination, and the MOUSE, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.

You’ll notice that just before Jesus comes the second time, there will still be those who will be eating unclean meat, and the surprising part, to many people, is that they are consumed by the fire that comes from before the Lord.

Another verse in Revelation points out that there will still be a distinction between clean and unclean animals at the very end of time.
Rev 18:2  And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every UNCLEAN AND HATEFUL BIRD.

I think one of the best indications of the dietary laws still being used in the Christian era is found in Acts 10. Peter had a dream in which all kinds of unclean animals were lowered before him in a sheet, and a voice said to him, “Arise, Peter, kill and eat.” To which Peter responded:
Acts 10:14  But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I HAVE NEVER EATEN ANY THING THAT IS COMMON OR UNCLEAN.

(There are those who attempt to use this vision to prove that it’s all right to eat what was at one time considered unclean meat because God said: “What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.” Peter himself said later in the chapter (vs. 28) that God had told him not to call any man common or unclean.)

I want to look at what Peter said: “I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.” Peter spent 3 ½ years with Jesus and listened to everything He said. If Jesus had told His disciples that He had cleaned up the unclean animals, wouldn’t Peter know it? Of course he would. And through the decade or so since Christ had ascended you’d expect that he’d have widened his diet a bit to include some of those things. But Peter didn’t eat them, and he evidently didn’t have knowledge of any change.

So, you can see that there is evidence other than in Lev. And Deut that God considers some animals clean and some unclean.

Reading the Bible is so important to the Christian. It would be very difficult to maintain a saving relationship with God without it. And learning about God and His requirements for us would be nearly impossible without some connection with God’s Holy Word.

Actually, if we watch for Him, we’ll find Jesus Christ in almost every passage of the Old and New Testaments. Sometimes He’s known as the Creator (cf. John 1:1-4, 10, 14); sometimes He’s known as “the Angel of the LORD” (Ex. 3:1-14; cf. John 8:56-58); sometimes He’s known as the “servant” (Isa. 52:13-53:12); and sometimes as the Messiah. Often He’s behind the scenes, working through those who live according to His will.

If you have difficulty understanding the Bible, there are many aids available to help you do this, (see list below). But above all, read your Bible for yourself, and pray that God will help you understand it.

There’s a web site that is especially for Biblical questions. Go to Bibleinfo.com and check it out.

Stay close to Jesus.

Thurman C. Petty, Jr.
PettyPress@gmail.com
www.PettyPress.com (20 Books; 42 Bible Study Guides; more)

Sources of Bible study aids and answers for your questions:
Mail order Bible lessons: Amazing Facts Bible Lessons, PO Box 1058, Roseville, CA 95678
Telephone questions answered: 3ABN 1-800-752-3226 (pastoral dept., ext. 1)
On-line: Bibleinfo.com; Itiswritten.com (Bible studies/Discover Bible Guides)
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