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Submited By:
Elder Robert Stewart, JP
According to Genesis
1:29-30, man was given the herb bearing seed, and fruit bearing tree
for meat, whilst the animals were given every green herb for their
meat. When we move forward to Genesis 9:3-4 Man was told that every
moving thing that liveth, and the green herb was for his meat.
During their wanderings in the wilderness, God placed a very strict
dietary condition on the children of Israel. From what we now know
scientifically regarding meat we can appreciate the wisdom of God in
restricting the diet of his people during the wilderness sojourn.
The children of Israel persisted with some of the restrictions
linking them to their religious activities. By the time we get to
the New Testament, Jews as well as gentiles began following Jesus,
and the disciples, and we see fundamental differences arising
regarding diet.
In
Acts 15, contentions began in the church resulting in strife
concerning ceremonial law. Paul and Barnabas split company due to
dissension and disputation over circumcision. Further, down in the
chapter we see that the gentiles were not to be held accountable
under the ceremonial law. The council that met made a decree (vs.
28 & 29), in which meat was forbidden only if it was offered to idols,
or contained blood.
From 1 Corinthians 13 one may deduce that meat maybe forbidden not
because it is wrong, but because it may cause an offence to someone
else with an opposite view. And as the Apostle Paul said “All things
are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are
lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”(1
Corinthians 6:12). Finally Paul writing to Timothy had this to say,
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some
shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and
doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their
conscience seared with a hot iron; 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 is received with thanksgiving: For
it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”(1 Timothy 4:1-5)
[All scriptures are from The King James Version]
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