ANSWERS: 39
  • Yes. In Mark 7, Jesus makes it clear that spiritual "cleanness" is not affected by what goes into your mouth and stomach. Shrimp are scavengers so it makes sense to eat them in moderation. Personally I don't eat those foods but "Christianity" does not forbid it.
  • Yes, it is okay for Christians to eat shell fish for the same reason it is okay for us to eat pork. In Acts 10 Peter sees a vision in which he is shown all manner of unclean animals and is commanded to kill them and eat them. When Peter refuses, he is told, "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common." (Acts 10:15) Christians have interpreted this vision as having a double meaning. The symbolic meaning was that the Gospel was to be taken to the gentiles. The literal meaning is that we may now eat those things that were forbidden under the Law of Moses. This would include shellfish.
  • You have to remember that the word "unclean" is an english word that stands in the place of the original Hebrew word tame' (Strong's Number 02931). The translators of the Bible chose this english word as being the closest thing to the Hebrew word, but it is not an exact match. I don't believe there is an exact english word that fits the Hebrew meaning. It does not literally mean that these animals are "dirty" or unhealthy to eat. The word has a spiritual meaning, not a literal meaning. And as others have commented, Christians do not have to follow Jewish laws. The early Christian church had a debate about this subject; the discussion is recorded in Acts 12. This is also the subject of the book of Galatians.
  • These ye shall eat of all that are in the waters: all that have fins and scales shall ye eat: And whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it is unclean unto you. Deuteronomy 14:9-10
  • No, I don't think that it's okay. Theres is nothing in the entire Bible, New Testament or Old, that says that's it's okay. I think that it's important for us to take a very close look at the context in which things are said in the Bible. For instance, in Mark 7 Jesus was speaking about the ritual cleansing of the hands. Plus there's been disputes about the interpretation of the final verse ("thus He decleared all foods clean"). Second, Peter's vision in Acts 10 is about people (specifically Gentiles) not being unclean. If you read the entire chapter, then it's easy to see that it has nothing to do with clean and unclean foods. There are several resources on the web if you would like to look deeper into the subject. Simply do a search for "what the bible says about unclean meats".
  • Yes, we are not under the Mosaic Law.
  • Wew are no longer under the Mosaic Code. So yes, it's fine to eat, along with pork and pizza with sausage, and tacos with cheese. We can wear garments that are two different threads.
  • For your complete answer read Mark Chapter 7 verses 15-23. He clearly states that what goes in the man does not defile the man, but what comes out the man only defiles him.
  • In reading the answers so far given it surpirises me that so many would answer "yes" without looking at ALL the facts from the Bible and the Bible alone. First, it is incorrect to state the the command to abstain from eating certain animals was given to the Jews or in Mosaic law. If you look at the Genesis account of what the Lord commanded Noah beginning in CH6 vs19, Noah is commanded to bring "two of every living thing, Male & Female".Continuing in ch7 The lord expands the command to state the following in vs 2 " You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, a male and a female, two each of animals that are unclean, A male and a female. sad but most Christians do not know that there were seven pairs of clean animals on the ark. That again the Bible says was to keep the species going. Some of course woould be eaten by Noah and his family. Now lets make sure we realize, Noah was not Jewish . There were no Jews at the time of the flood. Neither was Adam or Eve Jewish. In fact the original diet given to man did not include any flesh meats at all, but the Lord did later on allow eating of certain animals after the fall of man. More on that a little bit later. Not until Leviticus chapter 11 are we given the qualifications of a clean and unclean animal.Certain flesh meats were not allowed, and rightly so, We can look at the medical field today and the first thing a Doctor will tell you for your health to improve is get away from meats high in Sodium and nitrates. Pig, Pork being the highest, shell fish being near to the top as well. Plus it is as someone in another answer gave, a scavenger.Also included in the unclean catagory were certain animals in the sea and oceans. These animales had to have scales and fins. Tuna, Trout, Swordfish, bass, and other like that were ok and still are except for our polluted waters makes them now somewhat questionable.The Bible does however state that crabs Lobster and shrimp among others as unclean. WE don't need to just look at the Bible to see that these shell fish are unclean anfd filthy, They procreate and live near bays where worlds waste pipes empty into. Those waters are filled with pollution and disease. In fact scallops which also are unclean are filter feeders and filter all that waste and dirt into their bodies and then Humans actually eat them. No wonder we see the whole human population is getting sick with disease. If we are to keep our bodies holy as a temple then why would we put such filth into them. read leviticus 11 for details on what the Lord said is clean and unclean, With respects to the answer in Acts cghapter 10. lets take a look at that a bit closer. First, Peter even though being told to eat three times never did eat. Ch 10 vs 17 after the sheet was taken up says that Peter "wondered or Marveled" at what the vision meant. He knew that the Lord would not tell him to eat unclean animals, After all his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ never did eat unclean animals nor ever stated anything to change or contradict what his Father commanded, after all, Jesus and God are one, correct?. As peter wondered the vision the three men came to him sent by Cornelius. again the Spirit tells Peter to go with them, which he does. Then the answer to the vision is plainly seen in vs 28. Peter says " God has shown me that I should not call any MAN common or unclean, and then the answer to the whole reason for the vision is given beginning in VS 34,35. " I perceive that God shows no partiality, But in every Nation whoever fears Him (God) and works righteousness is accepted by Him". There are more verses that in the past have been used to make man feel good about eating things that the Lord never gave to be eaten for example 1 Timothy 4:1-5 " 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 sanc- tified by the word of God and prayer." . Now, That verse has been many times used to say " see, Nothing is to be refused. But they leave out the rest If it be received with thanksgiving. The beginning of the text emphatically states " which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving . In order for it to be allowable it must have been created to be received with thankgiving. Obviously unclean meats given before there were Jews were not to be taken in with thanksgiving. Isaiah 66:15-17 speaks about the people who are eating swines flesh at the second advent as being an abomination and being consumed. There are soo many more text clearly stating that certain foods.It's funny but if we are to go by the Bible and the Bible alone. No one nowhere in the Old or New testament that was a follower of Jesus ate unclean meats. It's just not there. In closing, the Bible tells us that Jesus himself ate Lamb & fish. Clean animals were and still are ok, although it's getting more dangerous to eat them because of greed and pollution but none the less they were ok. Let me ask you a question. In heaven, do you think that we will eat animals, that there will be death. I think not. Thank you my brother in Christ for letting speak my mind on this issue. As Christians we owe the Lord one thing for the gift of eternal life given to each of us. That is to study his word and know him better. may God bless you. Al Montanaro
  • MrAL, thank you. Your essay is truly impressive. But then, from all the answers heretofore given, it seems that God contradicted Himself several dozen times. These meats are good to eat, but now later some of them are unclean. And still later everything is OK to eat, but only if you are Christian and if you "receive them with thanksgiving? . Humbug. That would make roaches and maggots acceptable foods.
  • Most Christians do many things that the bible says not to so I'm sure it's not a big deal...
  • Is it okay for a Christian to eat shrimp, lobsters, crabs or oysters if Deuteronomy 14 says they're unclean? well, to be honest, if anyone says the answer to that is question is yes, then surely they have to say yes to eating - poison Ivey, poison oak, thorns and thistles. Gen 3:18Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; ... i mean, did that verse specify what kind of PLANTS we are or are not supposed to eat? since it didnt, then... we should all eat any plant we come across... i mean, if we can eat unclean meats jus because we CLAIM they are clean in the new testament then... you can surely receive poison oak and posion ivy with THANKSGIVING. come one christians... surely you must ask youself some questions before you jump up and say yes to the question. what makes meat clean and unclean? if God made the meat unclean - and forbid us to eat it then, (humans beings) then, why agree for us to eat it now? if, its ok to eat oisters, shrimp, pork and rats, then.. its ok to eat people... dont you ALL see that... (those of you who gladly say yes its ok to eat unclean meats) listen... humans are unclean, if u say, we can eat unclean meat, jus because of your poor understanding of the scripture in the new testament, then answer the questions above. *if God says something is unclean, before the flood... is it clean after the flood? *God says, dont touch a dead animal who died of causes you dont know of, it is unclean to you... is that reversed because you receive the "food" with thanksgiving? is it ok to eat any plants that God made? is it ok to eat people? is it ok to eat blood? ALL these things would have to be given a YES, if christians say YES to the questions asked above. you know the problem with us christians, we still dont get it. the same God of the old testament, the one who saved the Jews, the one who lead, Noah, Abraham, Lot, Job, and Daniel, is the same God in the new testament! why - WHY would he UNDO what HE HIMSELF SET UP in the BEGINNING? God is not senile yall... he dont have MEMORY lapses or, COMAS... he KNOWS what he said then... and it applies NOW, UNLESS he says ITS NOT. no scriptural ref in the new testament sanctions the eating of UNCLEAN MEAT. NONE. you cannot BUILD doctrine on one verse or chapter in the bible. evidence: God tell Noah bout clean and unclean meats God tell Cain and Able about Acceptable sacrifices (relates to meat) God spell it out to moses. God makes it CLEAR, your body is His temple and if unholy meats were an INSULT to him when they were offered back then in Israel... why, WHY will he accept it NOW when you and i DIGEST filth? read Leviticus 11. it explains ALL meats clean and unclean, if you still want MORE evidence, God says - HE will consume all who eat pork and rat, and unclean MEATS... see it below. Friends, God isnt mocked... he says... Isaiah 66:17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD. bless up.
  • Is it okay for a Christian to eat shrimp, lobsters, crabs or oysters if Deuteronomy 14 says they're unclean? well, to be honest, if anyone says the answer to that is question is yes, then surely they have to say yes to eating - poison Ivey, poison oak, thorns and thistles. Gen 3:18Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; ... i mean, did that verse specify what kind of PLANTS we are or are not supposed to eat? since it didnt, then... we should all eat any plant we come across... i mean, if we can eat unclean meats jus because we CLAIM they are clean in the new testament then... you can surely receive poison oak and posion ivy with THANKSGIVING. come one christians... surely you must ask youself some questions before you jump up and say yes to the question. what makes meat clean and unclean? if God made the meat unclean - and forbid us to eat it then, (humans beings) then, why agree for us to eat it now? if, its ok to eat oisters, shrimp, pork and rats, then.. its ok to eat people... dont you ALL see that... (those of you who gladly say yes its ok to eat unclean meats) listen... humans are unclean, if u say, we can eat unclean meat, jus because of your poor understanding of the scripture in the new testament, then answer the questions above. *if God says something is unclean, before the flood... is it clean after the flood? *God says, dont touch a dead animal who died of causes you dont know of, it is unclean to you... is that reversed because you receive the "food" with thanksgiving? is it ok to eat any plants that God made? is it ok to eat people? is it ok to eat blood? ALL these things would have to be given a YES, if christians say YES to the questions asked above. you know the problem with us christians, we still dont get it. the same God of the old testament, the one who saved the Jews, the one who lead, Noah, Abraham, Lot, Job, and Daniel, is the same God in the new testament! why - WHY would he UNDO what HE HIMSELF SET UP in the BEGINNING? God is not senile yall... he dont have MEMORY lapses or, COMAS... he KNOWS what he said then... and it applies NOW, UNLESS he says ITS NOT. no scriptural ref in the new testament sanctions the eating of UNCLEAN MEAT. NONE. you cannot BUILD doctrine on one verse or chapter in the bible. evidence: God tell Noah bout clean and unclean meats God tell Cain and Able about Acceptable sacrifices (relates to meat) God spell it out to moses. God makes it CLEAR, your body is His temple and if unholy meats were an INSULT to him when they were offered back then in Israel... why, WHY will he accept it NOW when you and i DIGEST filth? read Leviticus 11. it explains ALL meats clean and unclean, if you still want MORE evidence, God seh - HE will consume all who eat pork and rat, and unclean MEATS... see it below. Friends, God isnt mocked... he says... Isaiah 66:17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD. bless up.
  • No, they can have the chicken and give all the shrimp, lobsters, crabs & oysters to me. I'm sure their god doesn't mind
  • Yes. We are no longer under those laws. Mark Chapter 7 14Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.'
  • Isn't Deuteronomy in the Old Testament? Much, if not all of the New Testament contradicts the laws of the OT, hence the title. I think you'll be fine as a Christian. If you were Jewish, different story. :)
  • It is forbidden for us to consume what the bible outlines to us as unclean meat (pork,shrimp,lobster, crab etc).I mean there MUST be a reason why all the food we eat the bible either classifies as clean or unclean. Furthermore there is no where in the bible where it is stated that we can now eat pork etc. Would any of you eat a John crow??? dont u see that these unclean foods are scavengers?? take d crab for example ..it eats decaying and dead matter just like d crow..and we r so fixated on our lust and passion for food that it has blinded our reasoning capabilities. As human we tend to see guidelines in the bible as unecessary and that we can eat what we want and do what we want without being held accountable. We also tend to see guidelines as burdensome, foreceful, and rigid; we never stop to think that God in His wisdom gives us guidelines to protect us. I have come to realise alot of things about Christians and one of the most heart breaking ones is that we tend to listen to doctors over our own spiritual guide (God)..if a medical professional or some medical board/association should put out a publication telling us that pork is unhealthy and should never be consumed most of us would stop eating it immeadiately and would emplore our families and friends to do the same; yet when our bible tell us that these foods are unclean to us we ignore it. y???? i think it says alot about where our allegience lie. Look how pathetic it is people..we believe a doctor that has had a couple years of study put we have no trust in the one who new us before we were born..the one who made us and wants the best for us...the one who is all knowing and all powerful ..no wonder aetheist mock and scorn us as Christians. I leave these last words: "They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD." Isiah 66:17 ALICIA
  • you'll be ok
  • Acts 11 Peter Explains His Actions "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air. Then I heard a voice telling me, 'Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.' "I replied, 'Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' "The voice spoke from heaven a second time, 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.' This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.
  • Wow Sandman. You are denying that the voice in Acts 11 is that of the Lord? Peter was speaking to Jesus so I guess He is not God after all, based on your logic. When one studies Galatians, Hebrews, Colossians, 2 Corinthians 3, it becomes quite evident that we are under the Law of Christ (Gal 6:2), not the Law of Moses. Paul said in 1 Timothy 4:4 concerning those who would teach that one should abstain from certain foods, "For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving." We'd better listen up and not bind where God has loosed. The same goes for the Sabbath!
  • Used to be only on Fridays?! ;-)
  • i dont get it guys. the God of the old testament is the same God of the new testament. (yes, JESUS SAME ONE) God says, He (GOD) doesnt change... as in, core things - and His ways, and character. i dont get how one can think that because moses law was abolished (and it is) that we can now eat what we want? ... so... someone answer me these questions... 1. does God bless the food that we present to Him out of disregard for His word, or does He bless what He says is right for us to eat? 2. is your body the temple of God...? if it is - when has God ever found it OK to put, UNCLEAN MEATS or things, inside HIS SANCTUARY? 3. what food (meat) has God said is OK to eat and... what did he say is NEVER ok to eat? please use scripture to support your answers. God bless.
  • Yes it is okay... Orthodox Jews still practice that, not Christians. Dont ask me where the whole No Meat on Friday thing came from Im not Catholic?
  • oh good grief. "Rise, Peter, kill and eat"
  • Yes, The New Testament replaced the Mosaic Law. In Mark 7:18-23 it is made clear that the defilement associated with eating certain foods under the Mosaic dietary laws is removed by Jesus – verse 19 explicitly says that all foods are declared clean. There are further examples of Scripture passages which support a removal of the Levitican dietary laws. In Acts 10:10-16 Saint Peter has a vision, wherein the Lord tells him to eat of "unclean" animals.
  • I love the verse that people are using to invalidate this old testament 'abomination' Mark Chapter 7:14-15 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.' I would think the gays could apply the same justification...
  • love your answers people, but i have to share this. the chapter of acts 10 must be read in context and frankly, properly. peter was hungry, got a vision from God, God show him unclean animals and say - arise, kill and eat. peter says NO to God and made it clear, he doesnt eat anything unclean. did God seem upset with peter? NO, God went on to say, in vs 15... do not call anything God cleansed, unclean. now, people... who did Jesus cleanse at Calvary - people, or animals? i leave this with you all.. your interpretations are wrong and PETER made it CLEAR what the vision meant, he said it in vs 27: "27Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean." ********************************* thats what the vision meant! God never gives visions without interpretation (so as to avoid confusions like these). the vision wasnt a "GO AHEAD" to eat lizards, toads, dogs and all manner of UNCLEAN stuff. the bible speaks for itself people... be careful and stop taking it out of context - we decieve our own selves when we trun away from the plain truth. read the chapter ACTS 10 for your selves, in its entirety and grasp the bigger picture. Peter had problems with gentiles, God had to tell him that what Jesus did on the cross has made EVERY MAN clean, so he should STOP calling what GOD has CLEANSED unclean. again... did Jesus cleanse ANIMALS or PEOPLE at Calvary?
  • I see many people taking Bible scripture OUT of context-such as talking about gentiles being able to come into the church. That was not about unclean meats-please read the WHOLE chapter of your Bible on that subject before coming to a conclusion. Many here seem Bible illeriterate-really read the Bible and don't take your pastor's word for it!! The Bible is consistant and clear. Pork, shrimp, and crab was not made to eat and those rules were set in motion before the Old Covenant! Notice Noah took 7 pairs of clean animals and 2 of unclean animals on the ark. God did not intend Noah to eat the pork. They were in the ark almost a year! It rained 40 days and 40 nights but read your Bible-they had to wait until the waters subsided. This is a great article about clean and unclean meats: http://www.lcg.org/cgi-bin/lcg/studytopics/lcg-st.cgi?category=Christianity1&item=1116549049 People that are religious should abstain from eating these foods. And really, do you want to eat something that was made for the purpose of eating garbage? Ewww! Also, there are worms you can get in your BRAIN from eating swine. I have seen the videos of it-a woman gettign aworm removed from her brain. Doctors say it could have been in pork that she ate. Yikes! Do yourself a favor-look into it further-the advice on here was staggering-not the best (sorry guys). You won't regret sticking to the clean meats-I know I think that God's standards are a blessing! He gives us instruction because he loves us and wants the best for us! :)
  • How many times do we have to go around on this? This question has already been asked and answered at least a dozen times on AB alone. It was asked and answered in the NT itself at least a dozen times. READ IT! . As for a past AB answer, see - http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/622437
  • unless u are a Judaist and still live under OT laws,,Jesus told the disciples to "eat what was put before them"....so YES..it is.....
  • Shrimps are bottom feeders and swines are scavengers, that is why God said not to eat them. You wouldn't eat a vulcher would you? If Paul would have suggested to start eating pork he would have been stoned faster than Stephen. Some Christians of today always try to quote the same texts to justify their disobediance to God and satisfy their lusts, even though those texts are not even discussing clean and unclean foods. Jesus, Paul, and Peter would never eat shrimp or pork, nor will I.
  • Elijah ws fed by a raven(unclean)1 Kings 17... we can eat what we want, Romans 14:14 "nothing is unclean in ITSELF; but to him who thinks it unclean" and thats okay too, if it makes u feel unclean or bad, there is nothing wrong with that, and each should respect that...but Jesus told the Apostles when HE sent them out to "eat what was put before them"..i think the worst of eating should be directed more to health...fried, fatty, bad foods..because we are supposed to take care of our "temple" and gluttony is wrong....in Genesis, God gave all animals and plants for us to eat.... the Chosen, HE had to "civilize" to fullfill HIS PLAN....the basic thing today, is drain the blood,as it was then...Hope this helps:)justme
  • Yes. Matthew 19:17-78 states: Now someone approached him and said, "Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?" He answered him, "Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." For Christians, Jesus fulfilled the Law of Moses. Christians are not held to the ceremonial parts of the Mosaic Law concerning of dietary purity, temple worship and sacrifices. Christians are held to the moral law of God, some of which is expressed in the Ten Commandments. However Jesus took the Ten Commandments to the next step summarizing them into the two Great Commandments: • You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. • You shall love your neighbor as yourself. And teaching things like • Everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. • Everyone is our neighbor including our enemies. Therefore we have to go much farther than the original recipients of the Ten Commandments ever dreamed. For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, part 3, section 2: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt3sect2.shtml With love in Christ.
  • Will eating these things bar you from Heaven? No, so eat what you want, you will be forgiven.
  • romans 10:4 says that Christ is the end of the law. this meaning that upon his death the mosaic law was no longer in force. therefor the prohibition of not eating certain foods was no longer observed by the christian congregation. the only requirement that christians had to obey was to not eat blood. they were to bleed any animal, before it was to be consumed. (acts 15:28,29)
  • Yes. The food laws are meant for health of the body. Not health of the spirit. The forbidden food is bad for you physically. So if you follow them you will be in better shape.
  • This is what the Lord said to Peter in a vision - Acts 10:9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. 13Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat." 14"Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." 15The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."
  • All things are lawful for Christians, but not all things are expedient. The rule is: if it causes someone weaker in their faith than you to stumble, you should not do it.
  • However you slice it, you've got a problem with contradictory scriptures. From Deuteronomy to Acts, either a. God changed his mind more than once, or b. He was deceiving Peter, or c. it was a different god speaking. Or Peter was high on something and hunger made him see what he wanted in his "vision."

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