Theologians have long assumed that the laws of clean and unclean meats originated under the Old Covenant with ancient Israel and came to an end with the establishment of the New Covenant. Numerous laws from the Old Testament are thus seen as no longer applicable to Christians.
Many believe that Paul confirmed this approach when 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" (Romans 14:14).
This reasoning places God in the role of master physician in the Old Testament and Jesus in the role of liberator from God's law in the New. If we assume that God was simply looking out for the health of the ancient Israelites, the Bible lists of clean and unclean animals become only primitive health issues for which modern, enlightened, liberated mankind no longer has need. Reasoning that Christ understood this and gave His followers the freedom to decide for themselves in such matters, some believe God will honor any decision we make for ourselves in these matters.
This popular view is taught by most churches, but does it accurately reflect biblical teaching?
God's view is different
God made mankind in His own image (Genesis 1:26-27). In doing so God gave men and women the ability to reason. What a wonderful gift that is! But our thinking ability is not infallible. When ancient Israel's reasoning went awry, God said, "Come now, and let us reason together" (Isaiah 1:18).
But Scripture also records God telling us: " 'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' says the LORD. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts'" (Isaiah 55:8-9). So God, not man, should be the authority on our conduct (Proverbs 14:12), including what foods may or may not be eaten.
In addition, the great prophet Jeremiah candidly admits, "O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps" (Jeremiah 10:23,
In light of these verses from the Bible, we need to carefully examine the matter of clean and unclean meats. We need to be sure we understand God's perspective instead of relying exclusively on human reasoning.
The origin of the distinctions
The first biblical account noting distinctions between clean and unclean animals occurs long before the Exodus. Almost a thousand years before there was a covenant with the nation of Israel, God told Noah to take two pairs of unclean animals and seven pairs of clean animals into the ark (Genesis 6:19-7:2). God does not tell Noah in this account that He was, for the first time, making a distinction between animals. God simply says, " You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal . . .; two each of animals that are unclean . . ." (Genesis 7:2).
God did not have to define for Noah the meaning of "clean" and "unclean"; Noah understood God's instruction and what was required of him, and obeyed. To understand what God meant by these terms, we must go to other chapters of the Bible such as Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14.
The account about Noah shows that the distinction between clean and unclean existed early in human history, long before God ratified His covenant with Israel. Thus the popular idea that animals' cleanness and uncleanness originated with the Old Covenant is shown from the Bible to be untrue. Since these distinctions existed before the Israelite sacrificial system and Levitical priesthood, it does not follow that these distinctions would cease with a change in the sacrificial system or the priesthood. As we will see, the Bible teaches that the distinction between clean and unclean has never been rescinded.
These commandments-including the food laws in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14-exist for our benefit.
In Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 we find lists of clean and unclean animals. Both chapters give the same reason for God's instruction on clean and unclean meats. In Leviticus 11 God says not to eat of the unclean things to "be holy" (verses 44-45). In Deuteronomy 14 Israel was told not to eat "any detestable thing" (verse 3), "for you are a holy people to the LORD your God" (verses 2, 21). To be holy means to be set apart.
An examination of these chapters reveals no mention of distinguishing between clean and unclean animals specifically for health's sake. Although the larger context of Leviticus and Deuteronomy includes issues of health and hygiene, the specific purpose God gave for avoiding unclean meats is holiness. He wants us to be holy. In God's sight, refraining from eating unclean animals is an identifying sign of the holiness of those who have been set apart through a relationship with Him.
Holiness is reflected in the thoughts and actions of those set apart through a relationship with God. God requires holy conduct-a way of life distinctly different from that of the rest of the world. Holiness in conduct concerns attitudes toward God, others and self resulting in actions that avoid causing pain and suffering and build lasting beneficial relationships. Of course, being holy means much more than merely avoiding unclean meats. Christ spoke of the "weightier matters of the law" such as judgment, mercy and faith (Matthew 23:23).
God gave His laws to physical people who are cursed when they do not follow those laws. Breaking the law against adultery, for example, can destroy a marriage and much suffering for the family. Deuteronomy 28 records numerous calamities that befell the Israelites when they failed to obey the laws of God. But He said he would establish them as a holy people if they would keep His commandments (verse 9).
God's continuing desire for His people to be holy has remained constant. As Paul said, "He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love" (Ephesians 1:4).
Hearkening to God's instruction in Leviticus 11 on unclean meats, the apostle Peter admonished Christians, under the New Covenant, to live "as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy' " (1 Peter 1:14-16).
Of course, Peter had in mind a far wider range of godly behavior than just refraining from unclean meat. So did Paul when he reminded the Corinthians of God's instruction: "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty" (2 Corinthians 6:17-18).
I think that if something is bad for you, you shouldn't eat it. I'm a pretty huge hypocrite when it comes to stuff like that, and it annoys me when someone is looking down on someone for eating meat when they're eating ton's of ice cream/cheese/sugar. However, I do not think Jesus would eat a ham sandwich, not because it's "ham", but probably because it is not a "healthy" food by any means. The health/food laws in the old testament weren't some mystical "don't eat this because it will degrade your soul", it was "be healthy". God wanted the Israelites to eat only mana, and they did for a long time. When they came to a point where they were begging for meat, God said "ok, here...have some meat and see what happens". He didn't cause a plague to come on them, their own gluttony and intemperance brought it on themselves. Meat isn't the best thing for us to eat, and it's not a natural thing. We weren't designed to eat it. We won't eat it in heaven. We won't even kill plants in heaven. So when offered a ham sandwich I think Jesus would say "pass the nuts/fruit/grain, please". That said, it's ok to meat in a sinful world. Just try to be as healthy as possible. Jesus killed/ate fish, it's not something that's going to send you to hell.
