Do Christians follow any dietary Laws?

Rational wrote: But if you follow Jesus (as), he never ate pig? Or did he?

Greetings Rational,

We'll never really know what Jesus ate other than what is spoken of in the scriptures, which was fish and bread and wine, will we?
Did He eat pork...

Probably not and if I wanted to follow Jesus completely... if I wanted to become a Jew... I guess I would not... but I was born a gentile and I grew up eating bacon which I love, so while there is a part of me that hears the old testament and the laws given to the Jews and a part of me feels that I want to follow God in every way... a part of me says to give up pork, but I doubt I will ever give it up completely... it's 'the other white meat'(aside from chicken that is) and healthier than beef which I don't eat at all anymore.  In fact I hardly eat meat. 

This does not mean I would ever want, or expect those raised to not eat it to change their ways either, and I would restrain myself from eating anything offensive in their presence as it says to do in the new testament... 'to not do what is offensive to thy brother' or 'that which might cause them to stumble'.

But as a gentile I have never been told that there was anything I could not eat.  These things were not the concern of Jesus.

Salaam,
Caringheart

Jesus never ate a pizza either.

Hi Placid,

Placid wrote: Yes I think this has pretty well run its course.

Conveniently for you, maybe.

Placid wrote: Was it not you Rational, that quoted this about a page back? --- What Jesus said about the law in Surah 3: 50 (I have come to you), to attest the Law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was (Before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord. So fear God, and obey me.

Yes I did say that, along with a question that was ignored. He did make things lawful that were forbidden. Where does it state that he made pork lawful? Placid, Do you have this statement from Jesus (as) ?

Placid wrote: I don't believe Jesus or the other Jews ever ate pork

Because Jesus (as) follows the OT.

Placid wrote: I wonder if you Muslims realize how vulnerable you can make yourselves by this great stigma you have about pork? What if a transport plane landed in a country where so called Muslims were attacking innocent people, --- and the plane was loaded with pigs. So, if they landed the plane, released the pigs and chased them in all directions, then the so called Muslims would take off, would they not?

What are you talking about??? Diverting from the subject completely Placid

Placid wrote: so called Muslims were attacking innocent people

Exactly, so called muslims. They are not muslims to me or you. And where are those attacks taking place that you mention?

Greetings Rational, 

I guess you would like to surmise that I am acknowledging that Jesus did not eat pork, but as I said, we don't know what Jesus ate other than fish, bread and wine.

I do want to follow Jesus completely.  The phrasing, if you read and understand what I wrote is, "if I wanted to become a Jew".  So it's not about following Jesus... it would be about choosing to follow the Jewish mitzvot and following Jewish practices.   We must remember, however, that Jesus challenged the Jewish practices.

I am following Jesus completely, just as a gentile, not a Jew.

Jesus is the new covenant, the good news, the new thing that God was doing, which supercedes the old testament.  I believe in what Jesus taught and He taught that it is not the letter of the law but the spirit.

6 ... not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord�s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

9 If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!

10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory[of Jesus*].

11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

You are right it's what I was taught, and I believe in what Jesus taught.

I don't believe God is going to send me to hell for eating pork.  I believe God is way more interested in what is in my heart, than what I put in my stomach.
The laws God gave to the Jews were for a purpose, for the good of His people.  Everything in the scriptures has been given as a guide for our good, they are not things that affect God, but ourselves and our well being.  This is why God has given them.  There is no harm today in eating pork.  I believe I also shared how this was likely a law given to the Israelites as they left Egypt in order to prevent their returning since pork was the main part of the diet in Egypt.

Salaam,
Caringheart

* added by me for clarity and understanding



Edited by Caringheart - 08 February 2013 at 9:28am