THE BIBLE DIET (3)
(Message by Tanny Keng)
0. Introduction
a) Are Old Testament instructions on the kinds of animals and fish God does and does not want in our diet no longer VALID? Did Jesus change his Father's laws to allow us to eat pork and shrimp? Was the vision given to Peter God's way of communicating a CHANGE in His will regarding what is an acceptable diet? Did the apostle Paul encourage a church to eat whatever they like in spite of what others may think?
1. Did Peter's vision permit eating pork and shrimp?
a) Another well-worn argument regarding the diet God approves of revolves around the vision God gave to Peter in Acts 10. In the vision Peter sees a sheet full of many animals whose flesh was "unclean" to eat (Acts 10:11-12). Three times he is offered the opportunity to kill and eat the animals on the sheet. His response to God's offering is direct and to the point.
i) 'In no way, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.' (verse 14).
b) God's response was that what He cleansed Peter ought not to call 'common.' Does this somehow entail a new ruling by God that what HE HIMSELF had designated as unclean to consume was no longer valid and could be ignored? Was this rare vision given for the sole purpose of allowing church fellowships to have shrimp, pork and catfish at their potlucks? Hardly! Such an interpretation would be ridiculous to Peter. He tells us, while talking to who would become the first Gentile convert to Christianity (Cornelius), what was the REAL meaning of his vision.
i) But GOD has shown me (e.g. I did not conclude this myself or have someone else tell me) that no MAN should be called common or unclean. (verse 28).
c) In short, Peter's vision had NOTHING to do with changing God's commands regarding diet or with annulling ANYTHING in his law. The vision was not God's way of communicating a change in his will, rather, it was meant to change PETER'S biased and bigoted view regarding non-Jews!
The End ...
0. Introductiona) Are Old Testament instructions on the kinds of animals and fish God does and does not want in our diet no longer VALID? Did Jesus change his Father's laws to allow us to eat pork and shrimp? Was the vision given to Peter God's way of communicating a CHANGE in His will regarding what is an acceptable diet? Did the apostle Paul encourage a church to eat whatever they like in spite of what others may think?
1. Did Peter's vision permit eating pork and shrimp?
a) Another well-worn argument regarding the diet God approves of revolves around the vision God gave to Peter in Acts 10. In the vision Peter sees a sheet full of many animals whose flesh was "unclean" to eat (Acts 10:11-12). Three times he is offered the opportunity to kill and eat the animals on the sheet. His response to God's offering is direct and to the point.
i) 'In no way, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.' (verse 14).
b) God's response was that what He cleansed Peter ought not to call 'common.' Does this somehow entail a new ruling by God that what HE HIMSELF had designated as unclean to consume was no longer valid and could be ignored? Was this rare vision given for the sole purpose of allowing church fellowships to have shrimp, pork and catfish at their potlucks? Hardly! Such an interpretation would be ridiculous to Peter. He tells us, while talking to who would become the first Gentile convert to Christianity (Cornelius), what was the REAL meaning of his vision.
i) But GOD has shown me (e.g. I did not conclude this myself or have someone else tell me) that no MAN should be called common or unclean. (verse 28).
c) In short, Peter's vision had NOTHING to do with changing God's commands regarding diet or with annulling ANYTHING in his law. The vision was not God's way of communicating a change in his will, rather, it was meant to change PETER'S biased and bigoted view regarding non-Jews!
Comments
Post a Comment