I wanted to share this with you, because it was interesting to me. (I didn't know that putting this together would take up so much time. But I'm happy about learning something new.)
Are we what we eat? Of course, just ask any health guru, or the bodybuilder, or the beauty contestant. For them, just about everything is forbidden, if they want to attain their goal of 3% bodyfat, or 22-inch waist, respectively. Well, that takes discipline, and strict adherence to specific food regimens meticulously designed to meet that purpose. They are willing to practice, practice, practice to win.
In the same manner of diligence, some cultures maintain strict adherence as a matter of law. They set standards for food which can or cannot be eaten, and even how to prepare them. The Jewish culture, for example, have a set of dietary laws which requires kashrus, or more commonly known as kosher "from the Ashkenazi pronunciation of the Hebrew term kashér, meaning "fit", or proper and correct. (memidex.com/kashrut).
Memidex.com/kashrut describes foods that meet these dietary standards. Quite intriguing. Some foods are alright to eat in and of themselves, but not in combination. For example, some meat and dairy products cannot be consumed together. You can find a lot of YouTube videos concerning just that. It's even growing in popularity today whether you're Jewish or not because it is healthy.
The set of Dashrut Dietary Laws, (jewfaq.org) has its roots in the first 5 books of the Bible called the 'Torah’ or The Law of Moses, mostly in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Even any utensils that in contact with meat may not be used with non-kosher food may not be used with kosher food. (This applies only where the contact occurred while the food was hot.) Grape products made by non-Jews may not be eaten. These guidelines are being followed up 'til now.
What about Christians, do we follow the same. Why not if for health benefits? But we're not strictly bound by it because the Law of Moses was written specifically for that time.
Please note: the Bible verses are cited by ordained ministers, not me. Never me. But I will read the Bible for myself if I feel like it. I also have the Quran for reference. (I got it from Amazon and was told after the fact that I could have gone to any mosque and get one for free. LOL)
Moving on, The Laws of Moses were meant form the nation of Israel at that time. Proof? It's Written in the Bible. In (Deut. 1:5-3 TEV) Moses called together all the people of Israel and said to them, “People of Israel, listen to all the laws that I am giving you today. Learn them, and be sure that you obey them. At Mount Sinai the LORD our God made a covenant, not only with our fathers, but with all of us who are living today.”
Common misconception that all the laws that the Jewish people then or people of their God followed them is explicable to our time. But what many people failed to realize is that there are many laws that the Jews observed that lasted for only a period of time.
We could actually read that was in time of John the Baptist, in fact written in the book (Luke 16:16 CV) it says “Until the time of John the Baptist, people had to obey the Law of Moses and the books of the prophets. But since God’s kingdom has been preached, everyone is trying hard to get in.”
John the Baptist prepared the way for our Lord Jesus Christ. What is the significance of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ? It marked the beginning of the Christian era, but also brought the law of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Gal. 6:2 TEV) “Help carry one another’s burdens, and in this way, you will obey the law of Christ.” With Him came the law. Thus, Moses’s Laws had not been applicable since then.
Another video (from Joel Osteen on YouTube): He tells us all those things the Scriptures told us not to eat. They didn’t touch it then because “a pig will eat anything”, therefore it is unclean. In the Christian Era that law no longer applies.
What is the law of Christ regarding the pork or other meats that even the Kosheritary laws prohibits?
(Acts 10:10-15) He became hungry and wanted something to eat; while the food was being prepared, he had a vision. He saw a vision. He saw heaven opened and something coming down that looked like a sheet being lowered by its four corners to the earth. In it were all kinds of animals, reptiles, and wild birds. A voice said to him, “Get up, Peter: kill and eat” But Peter said, “Certainly not, Lord! I have never eaten anything ritually unclean or defiled.” The voice spoke to him again, “Do not consider anything unclean that God has declared clean.” This was during the Christian Era what God declares as clean.
But if you are told not to eat pork because it was told to you in the Christian Era, don’t eat pork for health reasons, that’s a different issue altogether. But if you are told it’s because you’re not supposed to in the Christian Era, it’s wrong for anyone to claim that the Bible tells Christians you’re not supposed to eat pork.
What about Lenten dietary laws? Why is there a need to fast and why are certain foods forbidden?
Lent (Latin: Quadragesima) is a solemn observance of the liturgical year of many Christian denominations, fasting for approximately a period of 40 days, and approximately 6 weeks leading up to Easter Sunday. In the general Latin-rite and most Western denominations Lent is taken to run from Ash Wednesday to Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday) morning or to Easter Eve. (Wikipedia.org) This includes prayer, penance, self-denial as well as other things. The reason behind this tradition is to commemorate the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in the Bible.
What foods are being forbidden? In an article “Ash Wednesday Fasting: Meat and Other Foods Forbidden during Lent” by Torie Bosch/AOL News, meats and other foods are forbidden during lent:
No meat if you are 14 or older. Fish is permitted, as are eggs, milk, cheese, etc. But no chicken, steak, or hamburgers—animal organs and meat should be avoided.
Fasting if you are 18 to 59. Those between the ages of 18 to 59 are expected to fast. This doesn’t mean eating nothing, however; rather, it means eating less than usual.
Snacking or eating between meals is not allowed.
What is the basis of all this? The rules for fasting and abstinence in the (Roman) Catholic Church, for Romans, are set forth in the code for Canon Law, and in the Code of Canons for Oriental churches or the Eastern Catholic Churches.
They can be modified by Bishops for each particular country; or in the Eastern churches for each particular rite.
Not in the Bible, though. In Isaiah 58:6 Geneva Bible Translation, “Is this the fasting that I have chosen? To loosen the bands of wickedness, to take off the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?”
So, if there is a fasting pleasing or worthy of God it is to lose that kind of wickedness or to avoid sin in our life. In other words, to lead a clean, righteous way of life. So, it doesn’t mention here at all to fast from any type of foods.
It is important for us to understand that when we’re talking from a religious perspective or Biblical perspective that restricting the eating of meat what they should understand that this is not a teaching of God to Christians.
In fact, if we read from (I Tim. 4:1-3) this is actually a teaching of the devil and this is what Apostle Paul actually says to us, “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; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God had created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
So, according to what we read from Paul we have to be careful in the observance of God’s rules because it may be a doctrine of the devil as explained by Apostle Paul because we have to remember in the Christian Time, those formally unclean foods are now made clean for us since Christ. This is the Christian Era. So, it would be wrong for us to use the Bible to support our abstinence from eating meats.
But—there is something that can be eaten that is forbidden from the Bible, that many do eat.
Another video (viewer advised): Forbidden Foods, TLC/YouTube, “and I am addicted to drinking animal blood…there’s never a bad time to drink blood.” Michelle had been drinking blood for 10 years. She needs 7 liters to satisfy her cravings and can’t start her day without a sip.
(Genesis 9:1-4) God blessed Noah and his sons and said “Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth. All the animals, birds, and fish will live in fear of you. They are all placed under your power. Now you can eat them, as well as green plants; I give them all to you for food. The one thing you must not eat is meat with blood still in it”. I forbid this because the life is in the blood.
Why? Because it is for the forgiveness of sins, and written here in (Lev:7:11), the life of every living thing is in the blood, and that is why the LORD has commanded that all blood be poured out on the altar to take away the people’s sins. Blood, which is life, takes away sins.
Blood should not be eaten because it has a holy, pure purpose, which is a cleansing intention which is of course to forgive us of all our sins, therefore it shouldn’t be eaten at all.
In many parts of the world it’s part of people’s dietary practice, but what people don’t understand it’s not biblical or against the Bible. Examples: Dinuguan, Europe-blood sausages, in Korea there’s what you call the Black Sunday, kind of a black pudding, Australia something called Blood Platter, Sweden something called Blood Pancakes, in Poland you have Blood Soup. Many cultures have as part of their cuisine, the eating of blood. But what people don’t know, don’t realize that this is forbidden by God.
So then and now, blood uh-uh. Written in Acts again 21:25 “But as for the Gentiles who have become believers, we have sent them a letter telling them we decided that they must not eat any food that has been offered to idols, or any blood, or any animal that has been strangled, and that they must keep themselves from sexual immorality.
So, the eating of blood was forbidden from the days of Noah up till our time today, the Christian Era. So once again, we should not eat blood.
Be careful from some practices because they might lead you away from the Lord our God and from our Lord Jesus Christ, instead of leading us closer.
Source of Discussions: Edwil Zabala, Quezon City; Barry Thompson, San Francisco; Glen David, Sydney, Australia; and Solomon Joves in Los Angeles, California; and of course, the references, books, articles, and YouTube. :D