Dietary laws, do you keep them?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Hakawaka

Active member
Jul 1, 2021
308
157
43
#1
Do you guys keep the dietary laws of Leviticus 11? I believe it is smart to do so, not because we are REQUIRED to, but because God as the creator knows what is most profitable for us to eat when it comes to meats. The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, I know. All im asking you guys is: Do you personally keep the dietary laws? Do you think it is beneficial?`I sure do. Lots of bad things have happened in history including many pandemics due to eating unclean meats.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
13,990
5,668
113
#3
Yea there’s a lot of wisdom in them but like you said not a requirement or judgement they fall into the new testement in this idea

“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come;

the reality, however, is found in Christ.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2:16-17‬ ‭NIV‬‬
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,938
29,304
113
#4
Yea there’s a lot of wisdom in them but like you said not a requirement or judgement they fall into the new testament in this idea

“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival,
a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.
These are a shadow of the things that were to come;
the reality, however, is found in Christ.” ‭‭
Colossians‬ ‭2:16-17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Colossians 2:16-17
:)
 

Ballaurena

Well-known member
May 27, 2024
416
276
63
#5
Do you guys keep the dietary laws of Leviticus 11? I believe it is smart to do so, not because we are REQUIRED to, but because God as the creator knows what is most profitable for us to eat when it comes to meats. The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, I know. All im asking you guys is: Do you personally keep the dietary laws? Do you think it is beneficial?`I sure do. Lots of bad things have happened in history including many pandemics due to eating unclean meats.
I used to. Since I was raised with them I tend not to eat a lot of the "unclean" meats to this day, but for psychological reasons (I learned to be disgusted by them). I have wondered about this being preferable for health, but God doesn't seem to think so since HE has talked to my current church a lot about healthy eating and never suggested in the slightest that we should resume such dietary practices. Rather He has indicated that we should eat organic and stay away from sugar.
 

Squigglylines

Active member
Jul 10, 2024
202
33
28
#6
Do you guys keep the dietary laws of Leviticus 11? I believe it is smart to do so, not because we are REQUIRED to, but because God as the creator knows what is most profitable for us to eat when it comes to meats. The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, I know. All im asking you guys is: Do you personally keep the dietary laws? Do you think it is beneficial?`I sure do. Lots of bad things have happened in history including many pandemics due to eating unclean meats.
3. For the same reason, too, do the prophets compare them to irrational animals, on account of the irrationality of their conduct, saying, "They have become as horses raging for the females; each one of them neighing after his neighbour's wife." And again, "Man, when he was in honour, was made like unto cattle." This denotes that, for his own fault, he is likened to cattle, by rivalling their irrational life. And we also, as the custom is, do designate men of this stamp as cattle and irrational beasts.

4. Now the law has figuratively predicted all these, delineating man by the [various] animals: whatsoever of these, says [the Scripture], have a double hoof and ruminate, it proclaims as clean; but whatsoever of them do not possess one or other of these [properties], it sets aside by themselves as unclean. Who then are the clean? Those who make their way by faith steadily towards the Father and the Son; for this is denoted by the steadiness of those which divide the hoof; and they meditate day and night upon the words of God, that they may be adorned with good works: for this is the meaning of the ruminants. The unclean, however, are those which do neither divide the hoof nor ruminate; that is, those persons who have neither faith in God, nor do meditate on His words: and such is the abomination of the Gentiles. But as to those animals which do indeed chew the cud, but have not the double hoof, and are themselves unclean, we have in them a figurative description of the Jews, who certainly have the words of God in their mouth, but who do not fix their rooted stedfastness in the Father and in the Son; wherefore they are an unstable generation. For those animals which have the hoof all in one piece easily slip; but those which have it divided are more sure-footed, their cleft hoofs succeeding each other as they advance, and the one hoof supporting the other. In like manner, too, those are unclean which have the double hoof but do not ruminate: this is plainly an indication of all heretics, and of those who do not meditate on the words of God, neither are adorned with works of righteousness; to whom also the Lord says, "Why call ye Me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say to you? " For men of this stamp do indeed say that they believe in the Father and the Son, but they never meditate as they should upon the things of God, neither are they adorned with works of righteousness; but, as I have already observed, they have adopted the lives of swine and of dogs, giving themselves over to filthiness, to gluttony, and recklessness of all sorts. Justly, therefore, did the apostle call all such "carnal" and "animal," -[all those, namely], who through their own unbelief and luxury do not receive the Divine Spirit, and in their various phases east out from themselves the life-giving Word, and walk stupidly after their own lusts: the prophets, too, spake of them as beasts of burden and wild beasts; custom likewise has viewed them in the light of cattle and irrational creatures; and the law has pronounced them unclean.
 

p_rehbein

Senior Member
Sep 4, 2013
30,675
6,865
113
#8
Do you guys keep the dietary laws of Leviticus 11? I believe it is smart to do so, not because we are REQUIRED to, but because God as the creator knows what is most profitable for us to eat when it comes to meats. The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, I know. All im asking you guys is: Do you personally keep the dietary laws? Do you think it is beneficial?`I sure do. Lots of bad things have happened in history including many pandemics due to eating unclean meats.
Yes and No. There are some things I do not eat because I do not like them. Some things I do not eat because they do not like me.

I am reminded of this Scripture:

Colossians, Chapter 2

16Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

However, it is true that the Jews were restricted in their dietary habits. A few Scriptures about this:


Deuteronomy 15:22
Verse Concepts
You shall eat it within your gates; the unclean and the clean alike may eat it, as a gazelle or a deer.

Ecclesiastes 9:2
Verse Concepts
It is the same for all. There is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked; for the good, for the clean and for the unclean; for the man who offers a sacrifice and for the one who does not sacrifice. As the good man is, so is the sinner; as the swearer is, so is the one who is afraid to swear.

Genesis 7:8
Verse Concepts
Of clean animals and animals that are not clean and birds and everything that creeps on the ground,

Leviticus 11:2-47
“Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘These are the creatures which you may eat from all the animals that are on the earth. Whatever divides a hoof, thus making split hoofs, and chews the cud, among the animals, that you may eat. Nevertheless, you are not to eat of these, among those which chew the cud, or among those which divide the hoof: the camel, for though it chews cud, it does not divide the hoof, it is unclean to you.read more.
Deuteronomy 14:3-21
“You shall not eat any detestable thing. These are the animals which you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope and the mountain sheep.read more.
Leviticus 11:9-12
‘These you may eat, whatever is in the water: all that have fins and scales, those in the water, in the seas or in the rivers, you may eat. But whatever is in the seas and in the rivers that does not have fins and scales among all the teeming life of the water, and among all the living creatures that are in the water, they are detestable things to you, and they shall be abhorrent to you; you may not eat of their flesh, and their carcasses you shall detest.read more.
Deuteronomy 14:9-10
“These you may eat of all that are in water: anything that has fins and scales you may eat, but anything that does not have fins and scales you shall not eat; it is unclean for you.

Leviticus 11:13-19
‘These, moreover, you shall detest among the birds; they are abhorrent, not to be eaten: the eagle and the vulture and the buzzard, and the kite and the falcon in its kind, every raven in its kind,read more.
Deuteronomy 14:11-20
“You may eat any clean bird. But these are the ones which you shall not eat: the eagle and the vulture and the buzzard, and the red kite, the falcon, and the kite in their kinds,read more.
Leviticus 11:20
Verse Concepts
‘All the winged insects that walk on all fours are detestable to you.

Deuteronomy 14:19
Verse Concepts
And all the teeming life with wings are unclean to you; they shall not be eaten.

Leviticus 11:29-31
‘Now these are to you the unclean among the swarming things which swarm on the earth: the mole, and the mouse, and the great lizard in its kinds, and the gecko, and the crocodile, and the lizard, and the sand reptile, and the chameleon. These are to you the unclean among all the swarming things; whoever touches them when they are dead becomes unclean until evening.

Leviticus 11:3
Verse Concepts
Whatever divides a hoof, thus making split hoofs, and chews the cud, among the animals, that you may eat.

Deuteronomy 14:6
Verse Concepts
Any animal that divides the hoof and has the hoof split in two and chews the cud, among the animals, that you may eat.

Leviticus 11:42
Verse Concepts
Whatever crawls on its belly, and whatever walks on all fours, whatever has many feet, in respect to every swarming thing that swarms on the earth, you shall not eat them, for they are detestable.

Leviticus 11:27
Verse Concepts
Also whatever walks on its paws, among all the creatures that walk on all fours, are unclean to you; whoever touches their carcasses becomes unclean until evening,

Bible Theasaurus
Clean (318 instances)
Unclean (414 instances)
From Thematic Bible
Animals » Clean and unclean
Beasts » Clean and unclean
Fish » Clean and unclean
Animals » Clean and unclean
Genesis 8:20
Verse Concepts
Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

Leviticus 7:21
Verse Concepts
When anyone touches anything unclean, whether human uncleanness, or an unclean animal, or any unclean detestable thing, and eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings which belong to the Lord, that person shall be cut off from his people.’”

Leviticus 20:25
Verse Concepts
You are therefore to make a distinction between the clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean bird and the clean; and you shall not make yourselves detestable by animal or by bird or by anything that creeps on the ground, which I have separated for you as unclean.

Deuteronomy 14:3-20
"You shall not eat any detestable thing. "These are the animals which you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope and the mountain sheep. read more.
Acts 10:11-15
and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. A voice came to him, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat!" read more.
More verses: 1 Timothy 4:3-5
Beasts » Clean and unclean
Deuteronomy 14:3-20
"You shall not eat any detestable thing. "These are the animals which you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope and the mountain sheep. read more.
Fish » Clean and unclean
Leviticus 11:9-12
'These you may eat, whatever is in the water: all that have fins and scales, those in the water, in the seas or in the rivers, you may eat. 'But whatever is in the seas and in the rivers that does not have fins and scales among all the teeming life of the water, and among all the living creatures that are in the water, they are detestable things to you, and they shall be abhorrent to you; you may not eat of their flesh, and their carcasses you shall detest. read more.
Deuteronomy 14:9-10
"These you may eat of all that are in water: anything that has fins and scales you may eat, but anything that does not have fins and scales you shall not eat; it is unclean for you.


Let us remember that Jesus fulfilled the Law. So, as you said, we are not required to follow these restrictions.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,773
113
#9
Do you guys keep the dietary laws of Leviticus 11? I believe it is smart to do so, not because we are REQUIRED to, but because God as the creator knows what is most profitable for us to eat when it comes to meats
Christians at liberty to eat either according to the dietary laws of the OT, or the teachings of the NT. The only OT restriction which now applies is rhe consumption of blood. Christ said that it is not what goes into the stomach that defiles a person. Rather it is what comes out of his heart. And Paul gave us the truth about all meats:

1 TIMOTHY 4: GOD HAS REMOVED ALL RESTRICTIONS ON MEATS
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.
 

Aaron56

Well-known member
Jul 12, 2021
2,799
1,597
113
#10
A man I know was vegan. He was invited to a meal with other believers and was served meat. He saw it was more important to receive the food with thanksgiving rather than disrespect his host. He ate the meat. Now, he’s no longer vegan but is, instead, led by the spirit when it comes to meals.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,411
13,754
113
#11
Do you guys keep the dietary laws of Leviticus 11? I believe it is smart to do so, not because we are REQUIRED to, but because God as the creator knows what is most profitable for us to eat when it comes to meats. The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, I know. All im asking you guys is: Do you personally keep the dietary laws? Do you think it is beneficial?`I sure do. Lots of bad things have happened in history including many pandemics due to eating unclean meats.
“Many pandemics due to eating too unclean meats”… please provide evidence.
 

awelight

Well-known member
Aug 10, 2020
1,629
490
83
69
#12
Do you guys keep the dietary laws of Leviticus 11? I believe it is smart to do so, not because we are REQUIRED to, but because God as the creator knows what is most profitable for us to eat when it comes to meats. The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, I know. All im asking you guys is: Do you personally keep the dietary laws? Do you think it is beneficial?`I sure do. Lots of bad things have happened in history including many pandemics due to eating unclean meats.
In short NO. However, I appreciate that you do.

I would have to say, nevertheless, that I am influenced a little by it.
 

Blade

Well-known member
Nov 19, 2019
1,776
624
113
#13
No you are right we are not required to. Do we know why He told them to do this? Seems its not the reason you are doing it. Hmm what did God then say to Peter? Granted there was more to that :) NT and (law) not binding on believers today? Kinda missing the point as to what God was telling Israel by that then NT.
 

Edify

Well-known member
Jan 27, 2021
1,559
654
113
#14
Acts 10
9On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 10And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 12Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
While this scripture shows God's acceptance of the Gentiles, God cleansed these unclean things for consomption because He said He did.
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
2,855
418
83
#15
They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods,
which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe
and who know the truth.
For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is
received with thanksgiving. 1 Timothy 4:3-4​


Careful!

That is not an endorsement for eating just anything with thanksgiving.

1 Timothy 4:4 does not condone junk food. There was no such thing as junk foods when that was written.
Everyone was eating organic, and simply called it "food."

The Greek is specific. It is declaring that everything God created - (as He had created it) - is good!

I have seen people saying a prayer over junk, and later wondering why they get sore throats and feel ill.

In Christ.... GeneZ
 

Inquisitor

Well-known member
Mar 17, 2022
2,917
852
113
#16
Do you guys keep the dietary laws of Leviticus 11? I believe it is smart to do so, not because we are REQUIRED to, but because God as the creator knows what is most profitable for us to eat when it comes to meats. The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, I know. All im asking you guys is: Do you personally keep the dietary laws? Do you think it is beneficial?`I sure do. Lots of bad things have happened in history including many pandemics due to eating unclean meats.
Not sure how pandemics are related to unclean meat?
 

NightTwister

Well-known member
Jul 5, 2023
2,087
783
113
65
Colorado, USA
#18
They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods,
which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe
and who know the truth.
For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is
received with thanksgiving. 1 Timothy 4:3-4​


Careful!

That is not an endorsement for eating just anything with thanksgiving.

1 Timothy 4:4 does not condone junk food. There was no such thing as junk foods when that was written.
Everyone was eating organic, and simply called it "food."

The Greek is specific. It is declaring that everything God created - (as He had created it) - is good!

I have seen people saying a prayer over junk, and later wondering why they get sore throats and feel ill.

In Christ.... GeneZ
I say a prayer before every Twinkie I eat.