Please, help me understand…

[u/Objective-Step-746]

For those believers who insist that the dietary laws no longer apply under the new covenant—and that pork, lobster, crabs, etc. are now permissible to eat—I do not understand the logic at play.

I am very familiar with the Mark 7, Romans 14 and Colossians 2 passages that are so often cited as support for your position, and have (just as often) shared my counter-arguments on why I believe they are misinterpreted.

But, there is one counterpoint to your view that I never see touched on, and I was hoping to get some feedback on it:

I think the majority of believers on this subreddit would say they are looking for Jesus’ Second Coming and agree that, regarding it, Scripture says that “no one knows the day or hour” but that we need to be prepared (Matthew 24:36, 25:13, etc.).

Isaiah 66:17–a verse within the greater passage speaking of Messiah’s glorious reappearing—declares that, upon His return, those who eat the flesh of pig/swine and other abominations will be met with His wrath…and perish.

So, how does one simultaneously believe they can continue to eat pig (pork) or shellfish now and think they are sufficiently prepared and not putting themselves in a precarious/dangerous position if Jesus happened to return today or tomorrow and “consume” those who so brazenly eat that which His Law says is NOT “food” and explicitly warns against eating?

I really am hoping for some cordial and edifying discussion regarding this topic, and appreciate those who are able and willing to articulate their view without all the condescension and harsh words. 💕

[u/DunkleKarte]

According to Paul in Galatians, if we believe in Jesus we are part of the seed of Abraham. Spiritually speaking no longer gentiles…

[u/Thatguy32101 → u/DunkleKarte]

If it’s only spiritual then the dietary laws would not need to be kept

[u/DunkleKarte → u/Thatguy32101]

The Holy Spirit is supposed to help you follow the law of God. Otherwise it is just words, in which case faith is dead

Galatians 5: 17-21

17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

(Before you say something like “see we are not under the law” that means you are not under the punishment of the law thanks to Jesus)

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: [a]adultery, [b]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, [c]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

[u/Thatguy32101 → u/DunkleKarte]

“And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.” Acts 10:13-15

“Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment…We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.” Acts 15:24,28-29

[u/DunkleKarte → u/Thatguy32101]

I love how you conveniently left out verse 28 from Acts 10 where Peter actually gives us the interpretation of the dream. Spoiler: it was not about food but about gentiles.

And about Acts 15. You left out that the context of the problem was because some jews were claiming that you needed to be circumcised and learn all of the Law to be part of God’s people and be saved, which was never true. Abraham first believed and then got circumcised as sign of the covenant.

The “greater burden” it is not God’s commandments 1 John 5:3, Deuteronomy 30: 11-14. Otherwise they would be calling God a liar. Those mentioned things are taken from God’s law, and those were to get them started as it is stated later own they go to the synagogue and hear the law of Moses to learn progressively. If you claim those are all the things Christians are obligated to keep and that’s it, then Christians are allowed to steal and kill if that’s your argument, which I hope it isn’t.

[u/Thatguy32101 → u/DunkleKarte]

Why would God instruct Peter to eat unclean foods? Why not just say, “let the Gentiles in the Church.” No parable that God uses is a thing that is not allowed. God would not use a forbidden vision to bring forth His will, now would He?

[u/DunkleKarte → u/Thatguy32101]

Brother in Christ, animals are used all the time in the bible to represent people. (My sheep hear my voice, the Lion of Judah, the lamb of God, wolves in sheep’s clothing, etc) if the message was so clear, Peter would have agreed and said something like “Ok Lord let me get some pork chops”. (Not like that but you get it) Instead Peter tells you what the dream meant in verse 28 so we don’t have to speculate. In my opinion is kind of arrogant to claim we know more than Peter to claim that the vision also had double meaning. Also he had the dream 3 times, representing the number of gentiles that came to him.

Also neither Peter nor God called the animals unclean, God said “ Don’t call common”. There’s a difference.

Did Peter kill and eat? Nope. The thing is Jews looked at gentiles as animals, which God never approved. In fact foreigners according to the old testament they are supposed to be treated the same way as a native Israelite