Why do Christians eat pork?

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Question: Why do Christians eat pork?

Answer:

Christians eat pork primarily because the dietary laws of the Old Testament, which prohibit the consumption of pork, are not considered binding under the New Testament. Here are some key reasons:

1. New Covenant Teachings

Jesus’ Teachings: Jesus declared all foods clean in Mark 7:18-19, saying, “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” This indicates that the dietary restrictions of the Old Testament are not necessary for Christians.
Peter’s Vision: In Acts 10:9-16, the apostle Peter has a vision in which he sees a sheet with all kinds of animals, and a voice tells him to “kill and eat.” When Peter objects, saying he has never eaten anything impure, the voice responds, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

2. Paul’s Letters

Freedom in Christ: The apostle Paul teaches that Christians are not bound by the old Jewish dietary laws. In Romans 14:14, he writes, “I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself.”
Colossians 2:16-17: Paul advises, “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”

3. Cultural and Historical Context

Early Church Practices: As Christianity spread to Gentile (non-Jewish) populations, it adapted to different cultural contexts. The early church councils, such as the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15), decided that Gentile converts did not need to follow Jewish dietary laws.

4. Spiritual Focus Over Rituals

Inner Purity: The New Testament places greater emphasis on inner spiritual purity rather than external ritual purity. This shift is evident in Jesus’ teachings and the writings of the apostles, which focus on faith and the state of the heart over dietary laws.

These teachings underscore that, for Christians, dietary laws like the prohibition against eating pork are seen as part of the old covenant with Israel, and not applicable under the new covenant through Jesus Christ.