Can Christians Eat Pork?

Name: JB
Question: God told man not to eat swine in the Old Testament. Did he ever change His mind on this? Or anything else for that matter.

Answer: Thank you for the question JB.

We’re going to learn, the Bible says do not eat pork. While eating pork is not a sin to death, it certainly is a sin against our health. We’re even going to learn that God hates those who eat swine.

Look, we can eat any animal that has a divided hoof and chews its cud. If the animal does not do that, then it is unclean to eat. God never changed His mind about that or anything else for that matter. That is why we can always count on Him and His words to be true, (Malachi 3:6).

Is Eating Pork A Sin?

Eating pork is not really a sin.

However, let’s turn to Isaiah to see what God thinks about Christians who eat pork.

Isaiah 65:4-5
4 Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine’s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels.

5 Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.

What is like smoke in God’s nose?

Christians who eat pork.

If you’re a Christian and you eat pork, then you’re like smoke in God’s nose.

What exactly does that mean?

It means you’re an irritant.

Have you ever had smoke in your nose?

Did you like it?

Of course not.

You probably coughed and blew your nose to get rid of the irritation. Well, God considers those who eat pork and other unclean animals an irritation.

Do you really want to cause our Heavenly Father irritation over a piece of meat?

Look, God created us. He knows what is healthy, and what is harmful to us. Further, it has been proven scientifically that pork is bad for your health, so stay away from it. Live longer, and stay healthy, all while following God’s health food laws, then we all win.

All right, now let’s open our Bible to see where it says not to eat pork.

Where In The Bible Does It Say Not To Eat Pork?

Right here…

Leviticus 11:7
And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.

There we have it.

The Bible said pork is unclean, those are God’s words.

Notice, God did not say pork was unclean as it likely contained viruses that make you sick. God said the way He created the animal makes it unclean for you to consume. Pigs are pigs, they have always been pigs, and God never changed them. Pork was unclean then, and pork is unclean today.

We have more…

Leviticus 11:8
Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.

God could not have made it any more clear. Pork is unclean food, and God commanded us not to eat swine. When God tells us not to do something, we should listen. He is our Creator, and He truly knows what is best for us.

If we keep reading Leviticus 11 we will find all of the creatures God does not want us to eat. From those in the water, (Leviticus 11:9-12), to those that fly in the air, (Leviticus 11:13-20, eating ducks).

You will notice, most of the clean animals do not eat meat, certainly not animals who scavenge for survival. Hey, they are all good creatures, they all serve their own purpose for God, but being on our plate is not one of them.

What Does The New Testament Say About Eating Pork?

Not a thing.

Unfortunately, many Christians have been led to believe God cleansed pigs, but that is simply not true. You won’t find a single verse in the Bible that says Christians can eat pork. However, a few verses in the New Testament have been distorted to make it sound that way.

Let’s cover the details.

1 Timothy 4:3
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.

Now, in the prior verses, God said in the latter days, there will be false teachers among us. Some will say we cannot marry if we keep the Christian faith. Others will say, we cannot eat any meat at all, even the meat God created to be received. So that is our take away from this verse.

Notice what the verse said…

• “Abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving.”

Hey, those people already know we cannot eat unclean meat, they were simply distorting God’s Word by saying we cannot eat any meat at all. Yet, God never said that.

God said, we can eat meat, we can eat the animals God designated for us to eat in Leviticus 11. Those animals that were “created to be received.” However, pork is not among them. God did not create pigs to be “received” on your plate.

1 Timothy 4:4
For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving.

This is the prime New Testament verse that is often cited to justify eating pork. Yet, Christians totally miss the point in the last verse. “Created to be received.”

Hey, of course every creature of God is good. God told us that way back during the Fifth and Sixth Day of Genesis, (Genesis 1:21, 31). God created everything to serve some good purpose.

However, the qualifier here was in verse 3.

Every creature can be used for meat “which God hath created to be received.”

God did not create pigs to be received on our plate.

God created them for other good purposes, but not to be our breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Nowhere in the Bible will you find that God cleansed pigs, or that God said you can eat pigs. God said very specifically, pigs are unclean, they are an abomination to you, and those who eat pork are like smoke in His nose.

That never changed.

In order for God to have cleansed pigs, He would have needed to change their DNA, and everything about them, keeping it secret from you. God does not do that.

Look, pigs will eat anything, even you if you fall into their pen. Further, pigs do not sweat, which means, the toxins inside them do not come out as easily as they do in other animals. Rather it is retained in the fat of the animal. No wonder science discovered pork is unhealthy to eat, but God knew all along.

Why?

• God created pigs.
• God created you.
• God knows pork is not healthy for you to consume.

Peter’s Vision Was Not About Animals, But Gentiles

To completely prove my point, I want to discuss Acts 10.

I want to tell you about a story concerning Peter and a name named Cornelius.

Cornelius was a Roman soldier, a Captain over 100 men. Being a Roman meant he was a Gentile, this is very important to understand. Cornelius was a devout man who loved God along with the rest of his household.

Due to his faith, God sent an Angel to Cornelius who told him God heard his prayers. The Angel instructed Cornelius to send some of his men to Joppa to visit Peter who would tell Cornelius what he must do, (Acts 10:1-8).

As these men traveled toward Joppa where Peter was, Peter went on top of his house to pray. During his prayer, Peter became very hungry, and a vision appeared before him. Heaven suddenly opened, and a great sheet descended with “all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air,” (Acts 10:9-12).

God’s voice came out of Heaven and told Peter to eat, (Acts 10:13).

Act 10:14
But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

Peter never ate pork, which means, Jesus did not eat pork, as it was considered unclean.

Now, on this sheet that came down from Heaven were all sorts of unclean animals, no doubt all of them were unclean. Peter is telling God, hey, I do not want to eat those unclean animals, I followed the health laws of Leviticus 11 since birth.

Acts 10:15
And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

Due to misunderstandings, many Christians are led to believe God cleansed unclean animals here, but that is not true at all. We are going to learn, this vision is symbolic of God cleansing the Gentiles, and we know Cornelius was one of them.

We have to remember, throughout history, God was only with the Twelve Tribes of Israel, and even then, He only communicated with the High Priest essentially. It was not until the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that Salvation became available to all of us, and as the veil was torn from top to bottom, this signified we could all now commune with God, (Matthew 27:51).

So we’re learning a spiritual lesson about salvation, not what to put on our plate.

Let us continue.

Acts 10:17
Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate.

All in all, God told Peter to eat those unclean animals three times, but Peter refused every single time.

Why?

Peter was smart enough to know the vision had nothing to do with eating unclean animals, it meant something else. Peter just did not understand what it meant, but he would. That should be obvious, I mean, you don’t tell God, “No.” Yet, Peter did, as Peter knew the vision was not about food.

Shortly after, Peter met the three men God sent to him, and they all traveled to Caesarea where Cornelius lived. Peter entered the home of Cornelius and encountered his entire family who was waiting for him.

Acts 10:28
And he said unto them, 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.

Did you catch that?

Peter finally realized what the vision was about!

It was about salvation for the Gentiles.

So then, the unclean animals in Peter’s vision were symbolic of people God once considered unclean. However, God had now cleansed them through the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ.

Hey, you have to remember, throughout history God constantly told the Twelve Tribes of Israel to stay away from the people of the land. Those people (Gentiles) were idol worshippers, and they served false gods. That is primarily why they were considered unclean by God.

Note: Peter was a Judean, not a “Jew” as we think of the word today.

Cornelius then told Peter he wanted to “hear all things that are commanded thee of God,” (Acts 10:33).

Acts 10:34-35
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.

35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Also: Acts 11:4-18

God has never been a respecter of persons.

Yet, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ opened the door of Salvation for all, cleansing all, and bringing all people into God’s Household, if they so choose, (Ephesians 2:19).

Cleansing pigs and other unclean animals have no basis here, they were merely symbolic.

The Bible Says Do Not Eat Pork

Nowhere, I mean nowhere do we find anything about God saying it is okay to eat unclean animals, including pork.

The entire point of Peter’s vision was to prove that he was to share the words of Jesus with all men, who once were considered “unclean,” now no more.