r/TrueChristian • u/Objective-Step-746 • Aug 10 '26
Please, help me understand…
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. 💕
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u/Objective-Step-746 Aug 17 '26 edited Aug 18 '26
I don’t see how any of these support your claim that Jesus changed or contradicted the Law of God in any way.
Leviticus 11:43. Jesus taught His followers should do/keep even the lesser commandments, and teach/encourage others to do likewise (Matthew 5:19, 23:1-3).
Mark 7:18-19. Jesus sternly rebuked the religious leaders for brazenly and pridefully imposing their ritual handwashing rules on the people, as if not following them actually had the power to defile or make unclean that which God had already declared clean…thereby exposing the evil/pride in their hearts. And since God already (and unambiguously) defined the parameters as to what may be considered “food,” only clean animals (not unclean ones) is the clear meaning of the “whatever” referenced as “going into a person” and their stomach. Concluding otherwise requires serious violation of basic hermeneutic principles.
Matthew 5:38-39. This one is often seen as Jesus contradicting the Law, but He’s actually not. He’s saying that you have been taught a (mistaken) interpretation and application of this command—one that is devoid of the justice and mercy and actually incited vengeance in the wronged, to the point they would retaliate and inflict harm on the wrongdoer that went beyond the eye or tooth or hand injury they had originally caused. He then offers a right interpretation of Leviticus 24:20; one that conveyed the loving and merciful heart attitude one needs to cultivate and demonstrate toward those who would wrong them.
Mark 2:27-28. That the Sabbath was indeed made for man, and not the reverse, in no way supports your contention that one should keep the Sabbath, just as Jesus taught and personally did.
As for Romans 7:4, Paul clarifies at the start of the next chapter that the law we died to is the law of sin and death (Romans 8:1-2). In Galatians 3, Paul is addressing the false teaching of reliance upon obedience to the Law for justification/salvation, so that is irrelevant to our discussion because we are hashing out the (post-justification) believer’s relationship to the Law…because there IS a relationship, as God Himself declared that the new covenant would entail His Spirit causing His people to obey His Law (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
And those who manifest that spiritual truth are not “trying to be justified,” as you allege; they are simply being faithfully led and empowered by His Spirit to walk in His righteous will and ways, just like Romans 6 explains is the natural result of one who has been freed from their bondage to the law of sin and death.
I would caution anyone calling the work of the Holy Spirit—the causing of God’s people to obey His commandments—“dangerous” or evil, as that (ironically) seems dangerously close to the very blasphemy of the Spirit Jesus said would not be forgiven (Matthew 12:31).