SCRIPTURE CAN STAND ON ITS OWN "One sentence of scripture is of more value than ten thousand of man's ideas or arguments." —E. G. White "The Bible is an anvil that has worn out many hammers." —an early reformer   Of course, in our effort to defend our lifestyles, we turn to the Bible, which truly is the best and only place to turn. Let's look at some verses that are sometimes used to condone our unfortunate dietary habits. I think you will, through your own sense of truth and right, agree that these verses are really being misunderstood and taken advantage of. Acts 10:10-16   The leaders of the first Christian church clearly saw the importance of following the dietary rules, even the ones for the clean meats (see Acts 15:20,29; Acts 21:25). Some people believe that these next verses in Acts are telling us that it is fine to eat unclean meats today, but let's take a careful look at the obvious context. And [Peter] became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, and saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to earth: Wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts...and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.   Here it seems that God actually commands Peter to eat unclean animals! However, as ready and willing as Peter was to obey God, he was sure beyond any doubt that God did not change His word. He also knew that there was some important meaning in the vision, and that God would reveal it to him in His own good time and way (see verse 17). And God did just that. When Peter met the servants of Cornelius (who was a Gentile) and heard their message, he understood the vision and later gives us the interpretation. ...Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean....Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons Acts 10:28,34 (emphasis added).   Now it all made sense to him! God had used the animals only to illustrate His point. He was not changing the rules, He was trying to change Peter's heart. It was never in His plan for the Jews to be segregated, cloistered to themselves and shunning all others. Yes, they were to be distinct and pure from the world, but they were to be missionaries evangelizing in the world. But Peter still clung to the philosophies that were erroneously cultured in him from his infancy by his parents and society. This is what God was striving to change, and this is not the last time that Peter needed correcting in this area (see Galatians 2:11,12). Thankfully he was willing to learn! Romans 14:14 and 1 Corinthians 10:25-28   Now let's take a look at two very similar and sometimes confusing texts. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean Romans 14:14. Whatsoever is sold in the [meat market], that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:...If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it... 1Corinthians 10:25-28.   Both scriptures are talking about food offered to idols. Those new Christians who had recently left idolatry were fearful of eating such food. While the food was clean, they considered it unclean because it had been offered to idols. In order to not offend these new Christians, Paul told the more mature believers, who knew that the idols were nothing, that in their own homes they were free to eat of this food. But if their freedom of conscience was a cause for others who were weaker in the faith to stumble, then they should abstain so that no one would be offended.   The subject is not the "clean" and "unclean" that we defined in Leviticus, rather the supposed "clean" and "unclean" of the already established "clean." These foods may well have been fruits and vegetables, as the term "meat" in the Bible means food in general. Only when it uses the word "flesh" does it mean meat the specific way we think of it today1. 1 Timothy 4:4,5   We will look at just one more text that has been sometimes misunderstood and see if we can find what it is really saying. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving...   Here is where most people stop, saying, "See, you can eat whatever crawls across your plate, as long as you thank God for it." But you will notice that this is not the end of the sentence. It goes on to say, ...for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer 1 Timothy 4:4,5.   We already know that God's word does not sanction the eating of unclean meats, the fat or the blood. Man cannot bless what God has already cursed. Letting the verses explain themselves is enough. Again, Paul is talking about what has already been established as good. It must be sanctioned by the Word before God can bless it. A Final Word on Mark 7:19   Some Bible translations have rendered this verse with an entirely different and wrong meaning. They say that Jesus was declaring all meats clean. However, this was not what Jesus was saying at all. The King James Version renders this verse the most clearly and accurately of all the versions. The body purifies what goes into it, but what goes into the mind stays and defiles. Again, remember also that meat in the Bible means food, not flesh. Unfortunately, the translators of some of the more recent Bibles changed and added to what Christ was really saying. All rights reserved Copyright © 2006 By J. Lee