The Shellfish Copout

2011-11-09

Many unbelievers, skeptics, and adversaries of God criticize students of the Bible. One way they do this is referring to the passage in Leviticus that forbids the eating of certain animals that were deemed unclean. Since many people in our society eat pork and shellfish, skeptics bring it up constantly that a Christian person is a hypocrite if they eat these things. I am writing this to debunk their ignorant assumptions.

Here is a short portion of Leviticus 11:

Leviticus 11:9-12: “These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat. And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you: They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination. Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.”

The Bible critics refer to this, slam the book closed, and call Christ and his followers charlatans for reason to perpetuate their rebellion against God.

From the beginning, this edict concerning the unclean animal was not so. When Noah and his family got off the ark, they were instructed by God the following:

Genesis 9:3: “Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.”

I do not want to be ignorant that for the sake of sacrifice, there was a difference between the unclean and the clean animal (e.g. Genesis 7:2 and Genesis 8:20). But as for eating, they could eat any animal they desired.

When the nation of Israel was given the Law, they were instructed a great many of things. Some of these things seem rather peculiar, such as mixing linens (Leviticus 19:19), and the eating of unclean animals (Leviticus 11). Such things, along with the Tabernacle and Temple patterns, the sacrificial system, and other aspects were considered “a shadow of good things to come” (Hebrews 10:1).

Note that in Leviticus 11, that LORD specifically says that these unclean animals are an “abomination unto you.” They are not an abomination in and of themselves; they are to be seen as an abomination specifically to the historical nation of Israel (Leviticus 11:10, 11, 12, 20, 23) as an object lesson to teach Israel to stay away from the unclean people and their pagan practices. I will explain more when we discuss Peter’s vision in Acts 10 in a moment.

How can I prove that the dietary restrictions were temporary? It is explicitly discussed in a few parts of the New Testament, along with a reason why. Here are the Scriptures to consider:

1 Timothy 4:4-5: “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” The Apostle Paul wrote that all foods could be eaten. The most important thing is to be thankful to God for that food he provided.

Romans 14:14: “I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.” Though this passage is dealing with meat sacrificed to idols, the extension is clear here because “nothing is unclean of itself.”

Acts 10:9-16: “On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.”

This passage is the most significant of all. Peter, while hungry, saw a vision of unclean animals. He was then told to slay these animals and eat. Though Peter refused on the grounds of Levitical law, God had declared those animals clean. This vision immediately preceded the preaching of the Gospel to Gentiles (read starting at verse 17 to see the whole story). Peter said that he learned something in Acts 10:28: “God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” The whole purpose of the Levitical law of abstaining from things considered unclean was for the children of Israel to stay separate from the heathen nations around them. This was a picture to help them remember that they were a nation that was to be holy and not intermingled with the unclean. Now that the Gospel was becoming available to Gentiles, this notion of clean versus unclean animals no longer applied.

I write this to testify of this Bible truth so that people unfamiliar with the Scriptures can understand that the shellfish copout does not work to belittle the Bible and justify their wicked ways. I ask you to reconsider our God and Savior Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead. Trusting in him is the only way to be saved from God’s wrath which is to come.