Why Don’t Christians Keep Kosher?
Christians don’t keep kosher because that law doesn’t apply anymore, according to the New Testament. Acts 15 claims that only four commandments are applied to Christians, and the concept of kosher was challenged. Some Christians questioned its sanctity as they noticed that many foods that orthodox Christians were allowed to eat under the Old Testament were all unclean foods.
In addition, there’s no evidence about any Apostle, such as St. Paul, following the kosher rules during their lifetime. It’s pretty evident from this that the Apostles had coined a different definition of kosher and started viewing clean and unclean foods differently. In other words, Christians changed the description of what’s clean and what’s not.
The Concept Behind Uncleanliness
Since kosher suggests that no unclean animals are to be eaten, the question arises: how do animals happen to become unclean in the first place? God never created anyone (human or animal) to be unclean. He made every living creature as pure as possible. It’s the excessive sinning that made everything impure.
It’s clearly mentioned in Genesis 3: “Cursed is the ground because of you” (v. 17). The sins made by humans have tainted the universe that God has created, and according to the prophecy mentioned in Genesis 5, God is enlisting the Flood of Noah to un-taint the world He has created from the sins of humans.
As mentioned earlier, the take on uncleanliness is now viewed differently. Christ himself noted that it isn’t the food one consumes which is unclean, but the constant sinning and evil acts that make it unclean. Hence, Christians are no longer supposed to keep kosher but are still meant to practice it in a much deeper sense. Acts 10 tells Christians to eat whatever they want.
Prohibition Against Blood
After the Flood of Noah was over, God blessed Noah and his family with great rewards, including allowing them to eat meat. According to Gen. 9:4, “but flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.” This meant they could surely eat meat but not without draining its blood first. This applied to the meat of birds and mammals but not fish. Other Gentiles living with them were also instructed to do the same.
Not all kosher laws are explained in detail, but the reason behind the prohibition against blood is mentioned clearly in the scriptures. Lev. 17:11 says, “for the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” Hence, God had instructed them to drain the meat’s blood completely.
Reasons Behind Kosher Laws
Kosher laws fall into the category of statutes. Statutes are those laws that have no science behind them and have to be followed regardless. God hasn’t explained the purpose of imposing kosher on Christians. Neither the Torah nor the Bible has any explanations for kosher laws. We are supposed to follow these laws blindly, out of sheer love and respect for God.
However, if you look at kosher laws through modern medicine, you’ll find many benefits. Most health experts claim poor nutrition to be the leading reason behind diseases such as strokes, diabetes, arthritis, cancer, etc. Many people eat what they think is edible, but God has only allowed us to eat specific foods that He thinks are edible.
In addition, there’s no evidence about any Apostle, such as St. Paul, following the kosher rules during their lifetime. It’s pretty evident from this that the Apostles had coined a different definition of kosher and started viewing clean and unclean foods differently. In other words, Christians changed the description of what’s clean and what’s not.
The Concept Behind Uncleanliness
Since kosher suggests that no unclean animals are to be eaten, the question arises: how do animals happen to become unclean in the first place? God never created anyone (human or animal) to be unclean. He made every living creature as pure as possible. It’s the excessive sinning that made everything impure.
It’s clearly mentioned in Genesis 3: “Cursed is the ground because of you” (v. 17). The sins made by humans have tainted the universe that God has created, and according to the prophecy mentioned in Genesis 5, God is enlisting the Flood of Noah to un-taint the world He has created from the sins of humans.
As mentioned earlier, the take on uncleanliness is now viewed differently. Christ himself noted that it isn’t the food one consumes which is unclean, but the constant sinning and evil acts that make it unclean. Hence, Christians are no longer supposed to keep kosher but are still meant to practice it in a much deeper sense. Acts 10 tells Christians to eat whatever they want.
Prohibition Against Blood
After the Flood of Noah was over, God blessed Noah and his family with great rewards, including allowing them to eat meat. According to Gen. 9:4, “but flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.” This meant they could surely eat meat but not without draining its blood first. This applied to the meat of birds and mammals but not fish. Other Gentiles living with them were also instructed to do the same.
Not all kosher laws are explained in detail, but the reason behind the prohibition against blood is mentioned clearly in the scriptures. Lev. 17:11 says, “for the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” Hence, God had instructed them to drain the meat’s blood completely.
Reasons Behind Kosher Laws
Kosher laws fall into the category of statutes. Statutes are those laws that have no science behind them and have to be followed regardless. God hasn’t explained the purpose of imposing kosher on Christians. Neither the Torah nor the Bible has any explanations for kosher laws. We are supposed to follow these laws blindly, out of sheer love and respect for God.
However, if you look at kosher laws through modern medicine, you’ll find many benefits. Most health experts claim poor nutrition to be the leading reason behind diseases such as strokes, diabetes, arthritis, cancer, etc. Many people eat what they think is edible, but God has only allowed us to eat specific foods that He thinks are edible.
26-30, F
