In reaction to the recent revival of the conversation on whether certain meat are unclean or not, I took to Facebook to share this. I hope it blesses you. The discussion starts from Peter’s vision ahead of visiting Cornelius in Acts 10.
A voice came to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean.” (Act 10:15, WEB)
The verse above is part of a narration of how God led Peter to preach the Gospel to Cornelius who was a Gentile. God’s vision to the Apostle was instructive. A plate from heaven served him with animals that were unclean per Jewish laws and customs. A good Jew would not eat them. Peter would not eat them. The Voice insisted a second time, making it three times. Three times, he was asked to, “Rise, kill, and eat” the animals. Peter’s response was, “Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” We are not told that Peter consumed the animals in the vision. Instead, the plate went back to heaven after the second repetition.
The meaning of the vision is clear from the aftermath of that vision. God was calling Peter to send the Gospel to Cornelius, a Gentile. Gentiles eat those animals Jews considered unclean, which is one reason why it was unlawful for Jews to mingle with Gentiles (Acts 10:28). I mean, they don’t eat same stuff. The vision clearly means that God had endorsed the association with Gentiles which Jewish customs forbade. It would be the greatest show of a broken partitioning if a Jew could eat “unclean” meat from the plate of Gentiles. The vision goes beyond eating but does include it. The people who Jews considered unclean for eating “unclean” meat were being invited and accepted by God in Christ, and the Apostle(s) must accommodate them too. That is the meaning of the vision. Maybe Peter forgot about this vision later in life and had to be rebuked by Paul. (Gal. 2:11-16)
Now, the words to Peter in this vision are very instructive: “What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean.”
1. THE ANIMALS USED TO BE UNCLEAN
No one reading the Old Testament will argue that God did not clearly pronounce certain species as unclean and unfit for consumption by Israelites. It’s in so many places. The New Testament affirms that these animals were indeed unclean by saying that those animals have been CLEANSED. To be “cleansed” suggests and confirms that they used to be dirty. So there WERE INDEED unclean animals. The New Testament does not shy to admit that.
2. THE ANIMALS HAVE BEEN CLEANSED
The Scripture says that those animals served to Peter which were formerly unclean had now been cleansed. They are referred to as “what God has cleansed”. The context suggests that God cleansed them on account of the death of Jesus Christ who is the altitude and climax of divine revelation, the Real and not a shadow. Jesus’ death invites Gentiles to God, thus their menu was sanitized by God. Their acceptance would be based on faith in Christ and not adaptation to Jewish culture and customs which were themselves largely from God. Clearly, there is a change in the status of the animals Peter considered unclean. They are cleansed.
3. GOD HAS CLEANSED THEM
What the verse tells us again is that God is the one who cleansed the unclean animals. From his response, Peter must have known or thought he was speaking to the “Lord”. Maybe he considered it a test. So he was simply reiterating to God that He (God) had already declared those animals unclean. I believe this was a vision from God. So God is saying in effect, I have cleansed these animals. I (God) declared them unclean and I have made them clean now. Where it is tied is where it is untied. God said, don’t eat. Now, he says, Eat. This is the understanding Peter would get. GOD HIMSELF had cleaned them. Those words were a contest of authority: What GOD has cleansed, YOU must not call unclean.
4. YOU MUST NOT CALL IT UNCLEAN
God does not say you must eat everything He has cleansed. He did not force the meat down Peter’s throat. The point of the vision, I believe, was not even to make him eat compulsorily. It was not about food. God was saying that, “don’t call it unclean”. You would not be successful in your ministry to the Gentiles if you continue to consider their delicacy as detestable. Do not continue to hold your old beliefs about what God has cleansed. Do not go on to share that belief. Don’t CALL them unclean. They have been cleansed. At least, call them CLEANSED.
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To be sure, the animals on the menu were four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles and birds of the sky. (Acts 10:12) It’s instructive the more that the specific animals were not mentioned. It is the categories instead. Peter confirms that the animals presented were all unclean. The specific animals were most likely among those forbidden for consumption in Leviticus 11:1-17, 20:25 and Deuteronomy 14:3-21. The Bible says, God has cleansed them.
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Does this call for senseless orgies on all kinds of meat? No!
Our eating – all of it – must be in the following attitudes or confines.
1. IN THANKS TO GOD (1 Tim. 4:3)
God created food “to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.”
2. TO THE GLORY OF GOD (1 Cor. 10:31)
The Bible says, “Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
3. WITHOUT CAUSING OTHERS TO STUMBLE (Rom. 14:20, 1 Cor. 10:32-33)
“Don’t overthrow God’s work for food’s sake. All things indeed are clean, however it is evil for that man who creates a stumbling block by eating.” (Rom 14:20, WEB)
4. NOT AS PARTAKING IN IDOL WORSHIP OR FELLOWSHIPPING WITH DEMONS (1 Cor. 10:14-23)
“But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God, and I don’t desire that you would have fellowship with demons.” (1Cor 10:20, WEB)
5. NOT AS REGARDING IDOLS UNNECESSARILY BECAUSE THEY ARE NOTHING (1 Cor. 8:4-8, 10:19)
Paul brings the balance and says that idols are indeed nothing. Food linked to idol worship is not to be dreaded because idols are powerful but because Christians should dissociate from idols.
6. NOT WITH TOO MUCH QUESTIONING (1 Cor. 10:25-28)
‘Whatever is sold in the butcher shop, eat, asking no question for the sake of conscience, for “the earth is the Lord’s, and its fullness.”’ (1Cor 10:25-26, WEB)
7. RESPECT FOR THE CONSCIENCE OF THE WEAK (1 Cor. 8:8-13, 10:29-33, Rom. 15:2)
Believers who are purportedly matured should not cause others to stumble due to careless indulgence of religious liberties. “But food will not commend us to God. For neither, if we don’t eat, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better. But be careful that by no means does this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak.” (1Cor 8:8-9, WEB) You are not free to cause others to stumble by not caring what they think. It is not Christian to tell people to “go to hell”. Don’t wound the conscience of God’s precious children. “Therefore if food causes my brother to stumble, I will eat no meat forever more, that I don’t cause my brother to stumble.” (1Cor 8:13, WEB)
8. NOT SEEKING YOUR OWN PROFIT BUT THAT OF MANY (1 Cor. 10:31-33)
If avoiding a cleansed meal can lead to many being saved, do that. It still stands though: don’t call it unclean. “Even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.” (1Cor 10:33, WEB) A matured believer is one who sacrifices his comfort and tastes for the greater good, all to the glory of God.
9. NOT WORSHIPING YOUR STOMACH (Phil. 3:19, 1 Cor. 6:13, Matt. 4:4)
Because both food and stomach will be destroyed in the end, it’s important not to worship our stomachs, nor to worship food. If your god is your belly, you won’t mind what anyone says or thinks. You will live to serve it and everything else can be collateral damage. No! Man does not exist to eat alone. Man shall not live for stomach alone but by every word of God.
10. NOT SEEING EVERYTHING THAT’S ALLOWED AS PARTICULARLY EDIFYING/GOOD (1 Cor. 6:12, 10:23, 1 Tim. 5:23)
This is also one key principle that God gives us. He says that some things may be permissible but we should avoid them when they are not edifying to us and to others. On this basis, you can stop eating meat even altogether if it’s not healthy for you. The point of Scripture is not that we should eat indiscriminately. Don’t only ask if it’s acceptable. Ask also if it’s wholesome and expedient. ‘“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are profitable. “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things build up.’ (1Cor. 10:23, WEB) I’ll say therefore that “profitable” also entails personal health. Consider Paul’s advice to Timothy. Our health is important when it comes to what we choose to eat and drink.
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These by far are some of the biblical principles surrounding eating and drinking of all kind, especially in matters of clean or unclean meat in light of the Old Testament and the New Testament positions. I hope this post puts out the balanced truth, at least, if not the full truth. Shalom!
Originally a Facebook post by Pious D. Serwonu
Image from Gina Amon Channel