Ask Theology – Connecting People to the Truth of Christ

Bacon, breakfast sausage, and ham. All major pieces of the American diet. Most Americans are perfectly fine eating meat derived from pigs. But every once in a while I hear this question: "As a Christian, is it okay for me to eat pork?" Nearly all Christian theologians agree that Christians can eat pork. The biblical mandates to abstain from pork are found in the Levitical laws given to the Israelites as a way to keep them set apart from their surrounding nations. The Levitical laws do not dictate how Christians today should live their day-to-day life. But what exactly does the Bible say about eating pork? There are actually more references than you might think. Let's do a deep dive and break down all of the references and how they apply to Christians today. Old Testament References The first biblical reference to eating pork comes from Leviticus, a book primarily filled with laws given to Moses for the Jews. Here in Leviticus 11, we see a list of clean and unclean sources of meat for the Israelites to eat. Pigs, though they have divided hooves, do not chew the cud—they are unclean for you.Do not eat any of their meat or touch their carcasses—they are unclean for you.Leviticus 11:7-8 We see a near-exact copy of this instruction also in Deuteronomy 14:8. And the pig, because it parts the hoof but does not chew the cud, is unclean for you. Their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch.Deuteronomy 14:8 It is more than clear that the Israelites were instructed not to eat pork or even make physical contact with their dead bodies. These laws were viewed very highly by the Jewish people and taken very seriously. We also see a couple of examples from Isaiah of people consuming pork as a reference to God's people living in rebellion. A people who provoke me to my face continually, sacrificing in gardens and making offerings on bricks; who sit in tombs, and spend the night in secret places; who eat pig's flesh, and broth of tainted meat is in their vessels...Isaiah 65:3-4 Those who sanctify and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following one in the midst, eating pig's flesh and the abomination and mice, shall come to an end together, declares the Lord.Isaiah 66:17 Again, it is clear that there is significance to the decree that the Israelites should not eat pork. We now have 4 clear verses suggesting that eating pork is taboo among God's people. So why might it still be okay to eat it? It comes down to 2 solid theological arguments. Interpreting Acts 10:9-16Understanding Levitical Law Let's take an in-depth look at both arguments. Interpreting Acts 10:9-16 9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.Acts 10:9-16 When reading this verse, there seems to be a clear indication that the dietary restrictions on clean and unclean animals have been lifted. Peter is explicitly told by God to "kill and eat" animals that would have been forbidden by Jewish law and custom. Why would this be? Peter's vision occurs right before he is approached by the men sent by Cornelious the Centurion. Cornelious was not a Jew, so according to Jewish custom, he should not have accepted the invitation. In fact, interacting with someone who was "unclean" like Cornelious would require Peter to undergo an extensive purification process to be deemed "clean" again. Nearly all scholars agree that the vision Peter saw was specifically given so that Peter would go with Cornelious' men and share the Gospel with his household. This is the first recorded instance of gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit, showing that Jesus came not only to bring salvation to the Jewish people but to everyone. Circling back to the purpose of this article, it is generally held that while the vision Peter saw was an allegory having to do with the cleanliness of the gentiles, the statement "What God as made clean, do not call common" is to apply to the dietary restrictions placed on the Jewish people as well. Therefore, the vision that Peter saw suggests that the dietary restrictions given in Leviticus and Deuteronomy are no longer necessary under the new covenant. We are free to eat animals that were once deemed unclean, including pork. Understanding Levitical Law Now that we've seen that the vision of Peter in Acts 10 more explicitly explains why the law surrounding the consumption of "unclean" animals is now okay, it's worth taking a moment to dig into the interpretation and application of Levitical Law as a whole. The first 5 books of the bible, the Torah, were given to the Israelites by God through Moses after they were freed from Egypt. The books gave the history of the Israelites as well as for instructions on how they were to worship God and be a people distinctly set apart. The laws and decrees found in Leviticus and Deuteronomy served several purposes, but two of them apply to the discussion around whether or not Christians can eat pork. The first is that the laws set the Israelites apart from other nations. They would work, rest, celebrate, worship, and eat differently than any other nation around them. This would cause them to stand out as a people uniquely chosen by God. The other reason is actually believed to be God providing the Israelites with principles that would keep them healthy. When using this lens, it becomes clear that several of the laws acted as rules for hygiene that were centuries ahead of their time. If we take the hygiene approach to defining certain animals as clean or unclean, it makes a lot of sense. Pigs are known for eating anything around them, including their own feces and rotting dead animals. If not raised in very hygienic ways, they can be breeding grounds for disease. By giving the Israelites laws that caused them to stay away from pigs, God was actually caring for the health of his people. Now that we have a deeper understanding of hygiene and nutrition, we can safely eat pork without worrying about any disease. On top of these arguments, there are actually a few verses in the New Testament that explain specifically that eating unclean food is now okay. New Testament Verses About Eating Unclean Food The first verse in the New Testament that references eating unclean food can be found in Mark 7. In this passage, the Pharisees had approached Jesus about the disciples not properly cleaning their hands before eating, which would be deemed an unclean act. Jesus responds to this confrontation by stating that it is not what someone consumes that makes them unclean, but what comes out of them. 14 And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”[e]17 And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18 And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?”[f] (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”Mark 7:14-23 This indicates that God cares much more about the heart of a person than what they are eating. This is the only passage where Jesus directly addresses the topic of eating unclean food, but it is quite clear that the dynamic between ritualistic cleanliness and mankind's relationship with God has changed with the coming of Christ. Another passage from the New Testament that discusses the eating of unclean food can be found in Romans chapter 14. As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.Romans 14:1-4 Here we see that God is more concerned with the unity of believers than the issue of certain foods being clean or unclean. Later in the same chapter, Paul explains that if a believer intentionally eats something around someone who believes that it is not okay, then they are acting out of sin and not love for their brother or sister in Christ. Lastly, we have Paul's first letter to Timothy to give us confirmation that unclean food is no longer an issue for the believer. Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.1 Timothy 4:1-5 In this passage, Paul goes so far as to say that anyone who teaches that specific foods need to be abstained from has departed from the faith and is using the teachings of deceitful spirits and demons. We clearly have a lot of evidence to support the view that it is okay for a Christian to eat pork. Now that we have made that case, let's answer one final question: Is There Ever A Time A Christian Shouldn't Eat Pork Based on the passage in Romans 14, we should not eat something if it will cause someone else to stumble. If you are ministering to people of a culture or religion that view pork as unclean, then you should eat in a way that is respectful of them and will not cause them to have a stumbling block on their way to hear the Gospel. Other than this, feel free to grab an extra helping of bacon and enjoy that spiral-cut ham.

Connecting people to the truth of Christ.

Connecting people to the truth of Christ.

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