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Writer's pictureBible Brian

Should Christians eat like Jews?


Acceptable diet is an interesting discussion in Christianity. After all, it is an inherently Jewish faith, and the Jews have many dietary laws. Shouldn't Christianity also?

The fact that the laws of the Old Covenant no longer apply is evident from the large number of comments within scripture that explicitly say it no longer applies (e.g. Galatians 3:24-25). But obviously, some of it still does. For example, of the 10 commandments, only the command to observe the Sabbath is not renewed (at least as far as 6 days of work followed by a day of rest) in the New Testament. We cannot say that the command against murder, for example, is from the Old Testament, and thus we are no longer required to respect human life.

So, what about food laws? It's interesting that aside from not being renewed in the New Testament, food laws are expressly revoked. When questioned on eating with unwashed hands, Jesus declared all foods clean because it is not what goes into the body that defiles a man, but what comes out. You can eat all the bacon and prawns you like, that doesn't defile you, but if you say one profane word, Jesus says that's your real problem.

Thus, rather than worrying about what you eat, worry about what you say. Speak justice, speak mercy, speak truth, and speak love. No amount of pork pies will defile you, but woe betide you for your lying, murderous, covetous, adulterous, proud, blasphemous words. It is these for which the Lord was crucified.

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