Ham Fighters

So what did you find, when it comes to food in the Bible?  We went carefully through the book of Amos, as the man across the table from us suggested last week.  But in all nine chapters, we found NO mention of pork products.  Here's the closest possible reference we see:

Go to Bethel and sin; go to Gilgal and sin yet more.  Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three years.  Burn leavened bread as a thank offering and brag about your freewill offerings -- boast about them, you Israelites, for this is what you love to do, declares the Sovereign Lord.  "I gave you empty stomachs in every city and lack of bread in every town, yet have you not returned to me," declares the Lord. - Amos 4:4-5

There's nothing here about eating animals, but the passage mentions a couple of things ancient Israel was instructed to do while it was in the wilderness: give tithes and present offerings.  But those are topics for another post.  During the time of wandering, God also gave these instructions....

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Say to the Israelites: 'Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may eat.... the pig, tough it has a split hoof completely divided, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you.'" - Leviticus 11:1-2, 7

Animal rights groups might not like it, but God said people could eat animals.  Yet the poker player who didn't want ham in his grilled cheese sandwich was correct in noting the Bible warns against it. (In fact, the warning is repeated in Deuteronomy 14:8.)

On the other hand, some Christians might raise objections to this command -- especially in a city like ours, which loves Southern-style barbecued pork.  They're more likely to turn to a New Testament book, instead of Amos....

One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.  The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. - Romans 14:2-3

We've seen this section of the Bible turned and twisted in several directions.  We think Paul's point is that the foods we eat should not become things which divide believers in God.  And note these additional words....

Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food.  All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything which causes someone else to stumble. - Romans 14:20

We personally stopped eating pork products many years ago.  We worship with friends who have made the same decision, so we still avoid those products.  But we think the final yardstick for Christians when Jesus comes back will not be their supermarket or restaurant receipts -- it will be whether they've repented of their sins and accepted Jesus as their Savior.