To Eat-Or Not To Eat

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; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 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. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by
​the word of God and prayer. 1Ti 4:1-5

This post is going to be clear and give ample scripture to present the case for freedom in the foods we choose to eat in our diets, with moderation, and using wisdom and prayer with thanksgiving in what we eat, and drink. This debate will go on until Jesus returns, but I've studied this subject enough to be convinced in my own conscience, that we are not under the Law of Moses any longer, when it comes to the foods we choose to eat. Of course we want the most well cared for animals, and poultry, and want cleanliness in caring for them. But the verses 1Timothy 4:4-5 will be focused on answering the questions as to whether a Christian should eat pork or not. 
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Verses 4 and 5 tells us that every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving. For, it is sanctified by the word of God, and prayer. Is God a liar? Did He really mean EVERY creature? Yes. Now in Acts, this debate was brought to the Apostles in Jerusalem, and when they came together they had a council on these matters. This is the beginning of the New Covenant being instituted, the believing Gentiles being received and presenting what God had given them on the changes in the Jewish laws. Regarding eating meats, they presented this:

Act 15:19  Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 
Act 15:20  But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 
Act 15:21  For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. 
And again, 
Act 15:25  It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 
Act 15:26  Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
Act 15:27  We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. 
Act 15:28  For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 
Act 15:29  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. 
I strongly advise reading the entire chapter of Acts 15, and cross references are:  Act_21:20, Act_26:5-6; Php_3:5-8; Act_15:1, Act_15:24; Gal_5:1-3

For the believer's-both Jew and Gentile alike, I direct you to the verses above, to make my case, as to whether we are under the bondage of Old Testament sacraments and laws. But, if we are attending a gathering, and the people putting on the celebration are Jewish, and still believe they are under the law, and won't eat pork or shell fish, what are we to do? If I attend such a gathering, I eat what they eat, and do not make a big issue of it. If I ever have someone come to my house who doesn't eat pork, or shell fish, I cook something I know they allow in their diet, and persue peace with them. I refer to the verses that tell us to avoid offenses among those who are weak in faith:

Rom 14:19  Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 
Rom 14:20  For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. 
Rom 14:21  It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. 
Rom 14:22  Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. 
Rom 14:23  And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Also see:
ye abstain: Act_15:20, Act_21:25; Lev_17:14; Rom_14:14-15, Rom_14:20-21; 1Co_10:18-20; Rev_2:14, Rev_2:20

This issue could branch off into many directions and take hours to go further into. If you have a desire to know the deeper aspects of this subject, do some cross-referencing with the book of Galatians, and pray about it as you go, asking the Lord to open your eyes to the meaning of the Holy Spirit on this subject. It will set you free, in many ways.

In posting this, I already know there's some Jewish and legalistic believer's who will pick this apart, and dissect it to prove me wrong-this debating was never-ending for Paul, and the Apostle's, and I don't believe it will be any different for me. My only response is these scriptures, and will stand on them. I am convinced in my own mind, conscience and spirit-that I've been set free from the bondage of the Jewish Pharisees', and won't debate any further. Many of these believer's have twisted the scriptures, and mingled again the Old Testament Laws, with grace and made their own gospel, which is not the gospel of Christ. If they won't read and believe the scriptures given here, there's not point in arguing with them.
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Rom 14:2  For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
Rom 14:3  Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 
Gal 4:9  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? 
Gal 4:10  Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Ye observe days. These are specifications of how they were "turning back" to the Jewish law. Compare Col_2:16. The days are the Jewish Sabbaths. The months are the new moons; the times are the Jewish festivals; the years are the Sabbatical years. In observing these there was legal bondage to an obsolete system.  [B.W. Johnson]
Col 2:16  Let 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: 
Col 2:17  Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 
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My stand in this issue is in Galatians:

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

​Gal 3:10  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 
Gal 3:11  But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 
Gal 3:12  And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 
Gal 3:13  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 
Gal 3:14  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Finally, as Paul emphasized many times, the important thing in this is to peruse peace. We are all at different places in our walk with God, and we have to give people space, and patience. It's not always easy, but, it's God's way. Let's walk as much as we can, in that direction, and defeat the devil as we do.
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1Pe 3:11  Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 
1Pe 3:12  For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 
Rom 12:18  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 
Lorna Couillard
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