How do they apply today for Christians

There is some misconception and debate about the Food Laws of the Old Testament and the teaching of Jesus Christ and Paul’s in the New Testament. It is important for us as disciples of Jesus to understand His teachings and the connection with the Old Testament teachings of Moses.

Some Christians ask the question, “Should we follow the food laws of the Old testament?” This is then followed by, “can we eat this etc?”

Before we go too far let me pose a question. If you had no refrigeration and you bought meat from the market where it has been hanging on a hook outside with dust and flies on it.

Q1/ Would you eat it without washing it? (YES or NO)

Q2/ What if it had been left on the table for twenty-four hours, would you still eat it? (YES or NO)

Q3/ If you saw worms in it would you eat it? (YES or NO)

3500 years ago there were no Refrigerators and sickness was a great problem. The sickness was coming from the unhealthy storage of food and the undeveloped farming techniques of that period.

A good farmer of today will give his pigs medicine to kill the worm in the meat and therefore the pig will grow much bigger and be stronger. In the old days pigs lived in the rubbish and ate the waste of humans, they uprooted plants and ate the roots, and in doing so they picked up worm from the earth and passed them on to man.  This can still happen in undeveloped areas with uneducated farmers.

Q4/ Do you know of anyone who has had worms? (YES or NO)

Leviticus 11:32 If something made of wood, cloth, or leather touches one of their dead bodies, it must be washed, but it is still unclean until evening. 33 If any of these animals is found dead in a clay pot, the pot must be broken to pieces, and everything in it becomes unclean.34 If you pour water from this pot on any food, that food becomes unclean, and anything drinkable in the pot becomes unclean. 35 If the dead body of one of these animals touches anything else, including ovens and stoves, that thing becomes unclean and must be destroyed.( CEV)

It has only been the last hundred years that people have known about microorganisms and the danger of such things in medicine, plus countless germs in and on food products. The Bible is not only Spiritual, but also a practical set of directions for man to live by to reduce the problems in life.

Q5/ Do you think Moses was trying to stop sickness with these laws? (YES or NO)

Some have taken this law and tried to make it Spiritual. That is to say if you don’t eat these food God will be happy with you. It has nothing to do with making God happy or making you more Spiritual. It was to keep people safe and healthy when living in a very dirty environment and bad food practices.

Q6/ If you don’t eat these foods are you more spiritual than someone who does? (YES or NO)

1 Corinthians 8:8 But food doesn't bring us any closer to God. We are no worse off if we don't eat, and we are no better off if we do. (CEV)

Now here in Corinthians it is clear it doesn’t play any part in bring us closer to God. Nevertheless we need to consider our fellow man that means if we eat thing, which cause a problem with our brother, we may lose their fellowship and friendship.

It is sad to say that many have broken there fellowship with other Christians based on bad teaching, which has caused a chasm in the body of Christ. Such as the food laws, Lord’s return, speaking in tongues, and other subjects.

Jesus said He did not come to take away the Law but to add to it. Paul writes here in Romans ALL FOOD IS FIT TO EAT but if you think it’s not good for you, don’t eat it and don’t force your opinion onto others. I believe Paul is saying it depends on what you think. Importantly be guided by LOVE in what you do.

Romans 14:14 The Lord Jesus has made it clear to me that God considers all foods fit to eat. But if you think some foods are unfit to eat, then for you they are not fit. 15 If you are hurting others by the foods you eat, you are not guided by love. Don't let your appetite destroy someone Christ died for. (CEV)

Q7/ Should we force people to eat what we think is right to eat? (YES or NO)

Q8/ When eating with people should we consider what they would like to eat? (YES or NO)

Colossians 2:16 Don't let anyone tell you what you must eat or drink. Don't let them say that you must celebrate the New Moon festival, the Sabbath, or any other festival. (CEV)

Here again Paul is saying don’t let people force you to do things which are not in accordance with the Bible and for us to be lead by God. We do not have to do anything except believe in Jesus.

Q9/ Are we saved by faith in Jesus plus nothing? (YES or NO)

Q10/ We must eat and drink what someone has told us to do? (YES or NO)

1 Corinthians 8:7–9   Not everyone knows these things. In fact, many people have grown up with the belief that idols have life in them. So when they eat meat offered to idols, they are bothered by a weak conscience. 8 But food doesn't bring us any closer to God. We are no worse off if we don't eat, and we are no better off if we do. 9 Don’t cause problems for someone with a weak conscience, just because you have the right to eat anything. (CEV)

Again Paul is say it depends on your conscience what you eat. If we pray consecrating and blessing the food God covers it and it is safe to eat

Q11/ Should we pray and give thanks for our food? (YES or NO)

1 Corinthians 10:25–28 However, when you buy meat in the market, go ahead and eat it. Keep your conscience clear by not asking where the meat came from. 26 The Scriptures say, "The earth and everything in it belong to the Lord." 27 If an unbeliever invites you to dinner, and you want to go, then go. Eat whatever you are served. Don't cause a problem for someone's conscience by asking where the food came from. 28 But if you are told that it has been sacrificed to idols, don't cause a problem by eating it. I don't mean a problem for yourself, but for the one who told you. Why should my freedom be limited by someone else's conscience? (CEV)

Now we will look at the Spiritual aspect of eating.

Paul writes it’s Okay to eat anything if we don’t know where it comes from, even if it has been sacrificed to an idol. Asking the host where it came from would be seen as an insult. Then in verse 28 he says but if we informed that it’s been dedicated to an idol we shouldn’t eat it.  This looks like a contradiction but it isn’t, the person who tells you that it has been sacrificed to an idol has only mentioned it because God has pricked their conscience. Therefore we don’t eat it with the possibility of their loss of salvation. By not eating we give a witness to them.

Q12/ Could we eat what ever we like if our conscience is clear? (YES or NO)

Q13/ Would it be an insult a host to ask where the food came from? (YES or NO)

Q14/ By not eating, smoking and drinking alcohol can it give a good witness? (YES or NO)

Q15/ Is it Okay for a Christian to eat, smoking and drinking alcohol? (YES or NO)

1 Corinthians 6:12 Some of you say, "We can do anything we want to." But I tell you that not everything is good for us. So I refuse to let anything have power over me. (CEV)

Yes we are free to eat and drink and smoke if we feel our conscience is clear. We need to be clear that our action is not causing others to stumble. We need to understand that we are The Temple of the Holy Spirit and our action may cause the lifting of His presence in our life. Also we need to understand even good healthy food eaten in excess can cause damage to our body.

The fear that some Christians have about what they can or cannot eat or drink etc is they don’t want to ask God in case He might say that’s not good for them.  

1Timothy 4:1 God's Spirit clearly says that in the last days many people will turn from their faith. They will be fooled by evil spirits and by teachings that come from demons. 2 They will also be fooled by the false claims of liars whose consciences have lost all feeling. These liars 3 will forbid people to marry or to eat certain foods. But God created these foods to be eaten with thankful hearts by his followers who know the truth. (CEV)

Q16/ False teacher will come and try to lead people away from the truth. (YES or NO)

Q17/ False teachers will say you can’t eat certain foods? (True or false).

I believe that we have clearly shown by Scripture that we needn’t follow the old food laws. But we don’t have to causes a problem for a brother or sister who desires to follow them based on their lack of sound teaching of the New Testament. We as disciples need to clearly bring the teaching of Jesus and Paul to the forefront so liars can’t fool people.

Romans 14:3 But you should not criticize others for eating or for not eating. After all, God welcomes everyone. 4 What right do you have to criticize someone else's servants? Only their Lord can decide if they are doing right, and the Lord will make sure that they do right. (CEV)

Q18/ Are we called to be critical of other people. (YES or NO)

Q19/ God is the only one who can decide what is right and what is not. (YES or NO)

In 1 Timothy 4:3 clearly shows that it will come to pass that false teachers will try to lead people away in the end days, they will try to draw people back under the bondage of the Old Law. No one can keep the law that is why Jesus came to set us free of the Law. It is by grace and the love of Christ plus nothing, which has set us free.

Q20/ If you are in Jesus are you free to eat anything after giving thanks. (YES or NO)

Grace and mercy and the Love of Jesus Christ cover us.