Why do Orthodox Christians eat pork. What is forbidden for true Christians according to the Bible (10 photos)

The ban on eating is entirely based on their faith -. The fact is that the main holy scripture of Muslims - the Koran - contains prescriptions that strictly limit the followers of the Islamic faith in certain actions. It is believed that a Muslim will be able to get as close to Allah as possible only by strictly observing all his precepts. In particular, this applies to the consumption of pork meat.

The studies conducted by nutritionists today explain in their own way that it is not recommended to eat. The fact is that these animals have a difficult urinary system, which leads to an excess amount of uric acid in their meat. People who eat pork consume about 90% of this acid. Of course, this negatively affects the human body.

The oldest teaching - Kabbalah - claims that the prohibition on pork in the Bible concerns the physical, but not the spiritual world of man.

Moreover, it has been proven that tapeworm eggs are often found in pork. Do not forget that pigs are omnivores. In addition, they have a striking anatomical resemblance to humans: they have the same body temperature as humans, and some internal organs can generally be used for transplantation to humans.

In medicine, there are cases when children were born with pork atavisms (pork tails, stigmas). Perhaps it was this fact that formed the basis of the scriptures as a prohibition on the use by a person of similar organisms. In other words, it is possible that pork should not be eaten simply for ethical reasons.

Pork consumption in Islam

Muslims must adhere to this prohibition unconditionally, since the worship of Islam is the foundation of their entire life. One can only guess that such restrictions are designed to ensure safety not only for the soul of any Muslim believer, but also for his body. Literally, the Qur'an says the following about this: “A true Muslim should eat only quality food. He should definitely give up blood and pork. Only then will he be able to count on the forgiveness and indulgence of Allah. Only then will he save his own life. "

There is another explanation why Muslims cannot eat pig meat, according to him, in hot countries, where Islam is mainly preached, pork spoils very quickly. But this statement does not hold water.

Christian ban on pork

It is connected with the fact that Jesus Christ in the New Testament compared pigs and dogs with people who in their lives do not want to be imbued with Divine Revelation, do not honor the Most High. Eating dogs is generally considered a sin among Orthodox Christians. There is only one exception - the forced eating of these animals in the name of their salvation. Basically, the same goes for pork. It is curious that no one says anything about the canine "comrades-in-arms" - cats.

The article is taken from this source:

A big obstacle for Christians is the belief that Jesus ate meat, as well as the many places in the New Testament that mention meat. But a detailed study of the original Greek manuscripts, it becomes clear that the vast majority of words translated as "meat" (trophy, bromine and other words) simply mean "food" or "food" in the broadest sense of the word. If Christ was a vegetarian, then the true meaning of the commandment “Thou shalt not kill” is clear. But then it is not clear the hidden cunning of those Orthodox who say in words - Christ is our God! But in fact, they choose which commandments they want, or "can" follow, and which not ...

Let's consider both options for answering this question:

1. Christ did not eat meat and the fact that he ate meat is not mentioned in the Bible.

God through Moses gave the commandment "Thou shalt not kill." Probably, if Christ himself was a vegetarian, then the true meaning of the commandment “Thou shalt not kill” is clear.

But then it is not clear the hidden cunning of those Orthodox who say in words - Christ is our God! But in reality they choose which commandments they want, or they can “follow” and which ones they don't ... it is even scary to think that this theory is supported by the higher Orthodox clergy.

In this case, it turns out that Christ is not in everything an example for the Orthodox Church. In some things He was deluded. And the Church corrected and corrects him, declaring that sometimes it is possible to eat the meat of slaughtered animals, citing as an example the statements of other Respected Saints, but NEVER, without citing the words of Christ himself that he allowed to kill animals for consumption ...

So what is more important for the Church - the words of God, the words of the son of God, or the words of other Saints? Are they saints, if they did not completely fulfill the commandment of Christ “Thou shalt not kill”?

But other questions can also be posed. For example, if the Orthodox, not following the path of Christ, i.e. killing other animals, can they sincerely fulfill the commandment "Love your neighbor"?

So, today we killed a cow in the morning, wiped off the blood and went to love our neighbor? Note, I am not talking about the falseness of the path of Christianity ... I am about the DEPTH of understanding this path.

By the way, you can just go to any Orthodox monastery and find vegetarian monks there. Or watch the film "The Island". This is if you go broke. And if we are to choose the Spiritual Father, and sooner or later any Christian comes to this, then probably he should be chosen by asking this question as well. "Did Christ eat meat?" And listen to the answer. Heart.

And most importantly, you need to decide for yourself - I am a Christian, like everyone around, or I am just a Christian trying to collect dust from the road along which Christ walked, accepting him ALL, without reservations. And how, in this case, should one treat the scientific developments of the Orthodox who recommend something to other people, including the choice of the spiritual path, if in their ministry they go to put it mildly as something wrong ... Probably for us, sinners, just a good filter At first, it will be clarified whether this high rank accepts any rank of Christ completely, or that something interferes with him ... The choice of the Spiritual Father is extremely important for the soul. A very terrible price to pay for a mistake ...

In this case, everything is in order ... You just need to quote the words of Christ on this issue. And basically everything.

There is something else. In principle, all 10 commandments in one form or another are present in all religions. So, in principle, the main thing in all religions is the recognition of the Supreme Lord and the realization that we are his eternal servants. In assessing a society's ability to follow spiritual principles, prophets and messiahs passed on spiritual science in a specific way.

We can understand that the Prophet Muhammad had to transmit the message of the Quran to completely degraded people. In the 16th Surah of the Quran, for example, it says: "Do not have sex with your mother and sister."

If Muhammad spoke about the same civilized people, this instruction would be superfluous. Muhammad, a God-conscious soul, chosen to be a prophet, preached to perverted nomadic tribes for whom such relationships were commonplace.

The Bible says, "Thou shalt not kill." But who needs to be taught so that he does not kill? Only the killer. Jesus preached for only three years, after which He was crucified. What can we say about the common people, if one of his best students sold him for 30 silver coins, and the other denied that he knew Him at all!

Perhaps a little more food now to answer the question "Was Christ a meat-eater?" In any case, every soul is endowed with the right to choose. And the soul will also be responsible for its choice.

It's just that the commandments were not given based on the literary casuists, otherwise the commandment would have sounded "do not kill a man."

In this case, it must be admitted that Christ could not have foreseen then that such literal casuists would appear and misunderstand the commandment “Thou shalt not kill”?

If this is so, then Christ did not have the gift of foresight, otherwise he would have given the commandment exactly as you voiced it - “do not kill a man”.

I foresaw, just literal casuists would then still begin to deny the possibility of defending the fatherland, self-defense, the admissibility of treatment, which sometimes leads to disastrous results, etc.

We are probably confusing the concepts of necessary killing and forbidden killing. If we consider the killing of animals necessary for, for example, the defense of the fatherland, self-defense, the admissibility of treatment, then this is our choice and we are responsible for it. In other words, if we believe that we cannot live without sometimes killing animals for our own enjoyment of the tongue - well then. We have the right to think so.

But did Christ think so? If according to the conditions of life there is no other food (for example, in the far north) then a person can eat meat, because human life is more dear to the Lord because only in the body of a person is it possible to realize God. Of course, if an animal attacks a person, it is possible to defend and even kill him, but this in no way implies raising poor animals in cattle conditions and then killing them in slaughterhouses for their own satisfaction. What do you think Christ would say when he visited the slaughterhouse?

So you didn’t foresee it to the end? If this is not so, then what prevented him from deciphering this commandment and not giving us even a chance to misunderstand it? If, nevertheless, we recognize the fact that Jesus is the Son of God, and is endowed with a divine mind and the gift of foresight, which is indisputable for me, then maybe his commandment should be understood to the extent of his personal purity?

For example, a person who has not gone very far from the concept of an animal can understand this commandment as follows - not to kill a person, but you can always kill animals.

A person who has advanced a little on the spiritual path can understand this commandment as follows: you cannot kill a person, but you can kill animals at a certain time, when the church permits. Further, in the course of his spiritual development, a person begins to understand the VALUE OF ANY LIFE and the true understanding of the commandment “Do not kill”.

Thou shalt not kill - it means not only do not kill, but also do so as to help a living being live and live with dignity, and for a person - to live a human life. Indeed, for a truly believing person - people who have not yet come to God - are certainly on the verge of death, they are close to death, like no one else and a spiritual person understands what it means "Thou shalt not kill."

This means - TO SAVE EVERYONE AND EVERYONE WHO IS NOT WITH GOD, because otherwise I will be guilty of his (human) murder.

Again, I want to say that this is the level of understanding of this commandment, at which I personally am now. I am sure the depth of this commandment is much steeper.

In other words, by such a formulation of the commandment, CHRIST gave everyone a chance to come to him. But everyone chooses the degree of approach to God himself.

With such a love for legalism, there is a direct road to Judaism, that is where the virtuosos of letters are capable of bringing any commandment to the point of absurdity.

It remains only to find out - who brings the commandment to the point of absurdity?

Somehow I do not want to transfer the conversation to us sinners and to the choice of the path to God. Let's leave this. The question was very specific - Did Christ eat meat?

Continuing the theme ... God is love! It's hard to argue with that. He has a kind of love, if he allows some loved ones to kill other loved ones, in order for the first to quench the thirst of their tongue. Or it doesn't allow, but we do it ourselves ... Or maybe fear, from this ...

After all, when an animal is killed, it is afraid. DEADLY HORROR! He doesn't go anywhere. We absorb it with food. Fear, fear, fear. We are all increasing it. We are beginning to be afraid of our neighbor, our neighboring country. Wars, tears, fear ... It's not hard to see this chain. It's hard to accept.

Perhaps then we also understand this postulate in different ways (I mean that God is love). Or God's love is selective, special. In short, there are questions ...

On the other hand, I did not in any way talk about the arithmetic unambiguity of understanding the commandment “Thou shalt not kill”. Probably I was not precise enough in my definitions. Sorry. On the contrary, I said that every person is free to understand it to the extent of his readiness to understand it. Thank you for trying to show me a more acceptable spiritual path for me, but I have already decided on this, with God's help.

What do these, for example, the words of the Lord mean:

Where is the room in which I would eat the Passover with My disciples? (Mark 14:14)

Perhaps you want to emphasize what was meant by Easter? Yes, Passover at that time is a slain sacrificial lamb. But the question - "where is the Passover for me" as if speaks only about the choice of the place where the Passover is, and not about the fact that Christ ate the Passover. Just feel the difference ...

Perhaps it means that you cannot eat Easter in any place. It is spiritual food and the place where it needs to be eaten - the same has to be purified. Another thing is also possible. It is not possible in every home to have Easter at all. It is possible that believers are not recommended to eat in the houses of atheists. it will adversely affect their spiritual path.

In any case, I understand the Scriptures precisely to the extent that I myself am ready to receive it and as far as my dirty mind allows.

The fact that there are no direct references does not mean anything. Let's start with the fact that the Jews (and He is a Jew after the flesh), were not vegetarians, since they sacrificed animals and birds.

They also offered sacrifice for His Christmas: "And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present before the Lord, as prescribed in the law of as a sacrifice, according to the law of the Lord, two turtle doves or two chicks of pigeons. " (Luke 2: 22-24)

Christ Himself did not reject the sacrifices offered according to the Law of Moses: "Leave your gift there before the altar, and go first, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." (Matthew 5:24) or "And Jesus said to him: see, do not tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." (Matthew 8: 4).

The disciple of Christ is the Apostle Paul, just as the Lord not only does not deny meat-eating, but also talks about how correctly he relates to meat sacrificed to idols (1 Corinthians chapter 8)

And if sacrifices were made, then what is the point of not eating meat? What's the difference?

After all, it is said: Rom.14: 17 For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. "

And again: 1Cor.10: 31 "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

And also: “Food does not bring us closer to God: for if we eat, we gain nothing; if we don't eat, we don't lose anything ”. (1 Cor. 8: 8.9)

The fact that there is no direct mention of Christ's meat-eating personally means a lot to me. In order to understand why not, you just need to imagine the time at which Christ preached. Complete collapse of morals. Sacrifice and eating of meat naturally encouraged by priests. What do you think, if Christ said that you shouldn't eat meat, because it brings suffering - could he preach even for 3 years? Probably at that moment no one would have understood him at all, with the universal killing of animals.

Probably HIS PRESENCE would not have existed either. Christ simply was and is GOOD! This means that he understood that at a given historical moment in time it is possible to speak, and what needs to be kept silent, so as not to harm. Who needs it - it will come by itself.

And believe me, if Christ ate meat, we would know about it. There would be a direct indication of this in the Bible.

The question is very important. An honest answer is even more important. In reality, fasts and the legalized use of meat were invented by people. And they hide behind Christ. This is unfair.

At least, if it is impossible to find direct evidence that Christ was a meat-eater, which means it becomes impossible to PROVE PERSONALLY FOR MYSELF that I am doing the right thing, that I kill to feed the animals.

But I want to eat that meat. Therefore, we seek support from other Church Fathers, since we did not find it from Christ. We also say that the Old Testament has already been fulfilled, namely: 29 And God said: Behold, I have given you every herb that sows seed that is on all the earth, and every tree that has tree fruit that sows seed; - this will be food for you;

It means that it is also irrelevant. But this is the commandment of GOD! And he did not cancel it. Canceled by people. Think about it.

Maybe the most painless way out is just not to kill? The logic is simple! This certainly will not harm our spiritual path. In any case, if we recognize meat-eating, then we recognize the fact that it has a beneficial effect on our spiritual progress. After all, true Christians do only what helps spiritual progress and sincerely avoid what is harmful.

As for the quotes about the unimportance of what you eat ... This is, in principle, everyone's business. You can, for example, go to excrement. Well, about the birth in a Jewish family ... At a time when everyone around was meat-eaters ... Or maybe he was born exactly for that at such a time and in such a place, to show that it is POSSIBLE TO LIVE IN ANOTHER. Without killing anyone and live for others and, most importantly, for God? By personal example, so to speak ...

In general, it is very strange that the Bible simply misses the disclosure of this issue. A very important survey. After all, the answer to it depends on the answers to the questions of how to love your neighbor, God is love, do no harm, etc.

Is it serious to think that no one asked this question to Jesus during his 3 years of preaching? Is it serious to think that the Jews are more stupid than we are? I'm sure they asked. I am sure there was an answer. I don't know why it is not in the Bible. Although there is. In the commandment "Thou shalt not kill." Everyone will be able to understand and apply it.

And to people who feel sorry for animals, I advise you to remember how many poor, defenseless tomatoes they took their lives by crushing them into salads.

About killing tomatoes

Genesis Gl1.29: And God said: Behold, I have given you every herb that sows seed that is on all the earth, and every tree that has tree fruit that sows seed: this will be your food;

And we don't kill tomatoes either. We rip them off.

By the way, if Jesus, the son of God, ate meat, it means he violated the will of the Father, which directly indicates what can be eaten at the beginning of the Bible.

Famous vegetarians

Buddha
Jesus Christ
Confucius
Zarathustra
Prophet Mohammed
Pythagoras
Origen
St. Francis
Plato
Socrates
Aristotle
Plutarch
Clement of Alexandria
Empedocles
Epicurus
Hippocrates
John Chrysostom
Sergius of Radonezh
Horace
Ovid
Seneca
Leonardo da Vinci
Isaac Newton
Bacon
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Voltaire
Montaigne
Byron
Schiller
Schopenhauer
Richard Wagner
Mahatma Gandhi
Rabindranath Tagore
Thomas Alva Edison
Franz Kafka
George Bernard Shaw
Saint Germain
Dalai lama
Helena Blavatsky
Nicholas Roerich
Helena Roerich
Yuri Roerich
Svyatoslav Roerich
Lev Tolstoy
Ilya Repin
Benjamin Franklin
Albert Einstein
G. Wales
Charles Darwin
Adam Smith
Albert Schweitzer
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Lamartine
Norbert Wiener
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Alexander Pope
Candice Byrne
Horace Grills
Dick Gregory
John Wesley
John Milton
General William Bush
Paul Newman
Dr. J. H. Calllog
Clint Walker
Upton Sinclair
James Coburn
Ivan Poddubny
Vegetarians - actors, athletes:

Carre Otis
Kim Basinger
Richard Gere
Arnold Schwarzenegger
David Duchovny
Alex Baldwin
Dustin Hoffman
Brad Peet
Alicia Silverstone
Tom Cruise
Nicole Kidman
Brigitte Bardot
Katie Lloyd
Drew Barrymore
bodybuilder Bill Pearl
Roy Halligen and Andreas Kulling
Martina Navratilova (tennis player)
Pamela Anderson
Cindy Crawford
Claudia Schiffer
Uma Thurman
Liv Tyler Christie Brinkley
Gwyneth Paltrow
Natalie Portman
Vegetarian musicians:

Jared Leto
Sting
Madonna
Brian Adams
The Beatles - John and Yoko Lennon
Paul McCartney
George Harrison
Ringo Star
"Seal"
Leni Kravitz
Sined-o-Conor
Ozzy Osbourne
Prince
Tina Turner
"Blur"
Montserrat Caballe
Billy Idol
comedian Yankovic "Weird" Al
Brian Molko (leader of "Placebo")
Darren Hayes (ex- "Savage Garden")
Shania Twain Alanis Morisett
Justin Timberlake
Chrissy Hind ("Pretenders")
Charlie Watts (Rolling Stones)
Robert Smith ("The Cure")
Melanie C ("Spice Girls")
Depeche Mode - Martin Gore and Alan Wilder
Duran Duran - all vegetarians
"Moby"
Bob Dylan
B. B. King
Russian vegetarians:

Faina Ranevskaya
Boris Grebenshchikov
Nikolay Drozdov
Mikhail Zadornov
Georgy Vitsin
Lyudmila Gurchenko
Julia Bordovskikh
Oksana Pushkina
Evgeny Osin
Alexey Martynov
Shura ("Bi-2")
A big obstacle for Christians is the belief that Jesus ate meat, as well as the many places in the New Testament that mention meat.

But a detailed study of the original Greek manuscripts, it becomes clear that the vast majority of words translated as "meat" (trophy, bromine and other words) simply mean "food" or "food" in the broadest sense of the word.

For example, in the Gospel (Luke 8:55) we read that “Jesus raised a woman from the dead and“ commanded to give her meat. ” The Greek word translated "meat" here is "phago", which just means "to eat."

So Jesus really said, "Feed her." The Greek word for "meat", kreas (flesh), has never been used in connection with Christ.

In Luke (21: 41-43) we read that the disciples offered him fish and honeycomb, and he took it (“this” in the singular, we can only guess what).

Nowhere in the New Testament is there any direct mention of Jesus eating meat.

“So the Lord Himself gives you a sign: the virgin accepts and gives birth to a Son, and they will call his name Immanuel. He will eat milk and honey, until he knows to distinguish between good and bad. "

This is consistent with the famous prophecy of Isaiah (Isaiah 7.14.15), which in itself suggests that meat-eating destroys a person's ability to distinguish between good and bad.

It is very characteristic that in the Gospel of Matthew (1.23) the second part of the prophecy is omitted. He, Jesus, reprimanded the Pharisees with the words: "If you knew what it means," I want mercy, and not sacrifice, "you would not have condemned the innocent." (Matthew 12: 6).

The killing of animals is clearly condemned here, as in the verse from Hosea 6: 6: "For I want mercy, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." (Note: the words of the second part of the sentence are omitted from Matthew 12: 6.)

He rebelled against the Temple animal sacrifice, forcibly expelling those who sold calves, sheep and pigeons, as well as money changers from the temple. (John 2: 13-15)

His words: “Do not make my Father's house a house of commerce” (which in earlier editions was always translated as “the den of the murderers”).

We also learn from Matthew 3: 4 that John the Baptist did not eat meat. ("... and his food was akrid (wild beans) and wild honey").

There is also striking evidence that Jesus was a vegetarian: at least 7 of Jesus' 12 disciples did not eat meat (we do not know about the rest).

This naturally reflects the teaching of Jesus: "... the servant is not greater than his master." (John 13:16).

The seven were:

1. Peter: “... whose food was bread, olives and herbs”;
2. James: Father of the Church Eusebius, quoting Hegesippus (c. 160): “James, the brother of the Lord, was holy from birth. He did not drink wine or eat animal flesh.
3. Thomas: According to early Christian documents, he “... wore only one dress in any weather that he had, then he gave to others and also refrained from eating flesh and drinking wine ..”. (James Vernon Bartlett. Master of Arts “Apocryphal Gospels from the History of Christianity in the Light of Modern Knowledge.
4. Matthew: “He lived on seeds and nuts, fruits and vegetables, not taking meat (Clement of Alexandria -“ Clement the mentor ”)
5. Matthew, who took the place of Judas “Acts 1.21.26”. According to Church Father Clement of Alexandria, he ate the same as Matthew
6.Andrew
7. Judas (Andrew is Peter's brother in flesh and faith) and Judas of Betsaida, the original follower of John the Baptist, who followed him in his ascetic diet.
Paul also wrote: “For the sake of food, do not destroy the works of God ... It is better not to eat meat, not drink wine, and not [do] anything [such] that makes your brother stumble, or is tempted, or fatigued.” (Romans 14: 20,21), although his teachings are less categorical.

In the apocryphal acts of Thomas, which were in use among early Christians, this disciple of Jesus is described as an ascetic: “... He constantly fasted and prayed, wore the same dress in any weather, did not receive anything from anyone, but everything, what he had, he gave to others and abstained from meat and wine. "

The unnatural eating of flesh is as defiling as it is defiling the pagan worship of demons with its sacrifices and unclean feasts, in which a person feasts with the devil himself. " - (II century BC Clement Gomilias).

“... It is much better to be happy than to allow the devil to dwell in us, and happiness can be found only by adhering to virtue. Therefore, the Apostle Matthew ate grains, nuts and vegetables and did not eat flesh. Isn't this all-encompassing variety of edibles not enough with moderate simplicity: vegetables, roots, olives, herbs, milk, cheese, fruits? " Father of the Church Clement of Alexandria (Titus Flavius Clemens 150-200 R.H.)

“... We Christian leaders abstain from animal meat in the name of self-control. Anti-natural meat-eating has demonic origins. ” Also about the early Christians: “They did not shed streams of blood, there is no gourmet cuisine, there is no heaviness in the head. They do not come across the terrible smell of meat and unbearable smoke does not swirl in their kitchens ... ”. (St. Christosomos (347-404 AD).)

"... Since Christ is the Alpha and Omega, the Messiah, who restored everything to its place, it is no longer allowed to get divorced or eat meat ... So I will tell you: if you want to be perfect, then you should not drink wine or eat meat .. ”. (St. Jerome (340-420 A.D.), who gave the world the Vulgate, is an authorized Latin Bible that is used to this day.

"The steam emanating from the meat darkens the light of the spirit ... It is hardly possible to gain virtue by enjoying meat dishes and feasts .." (St. Basil (320-379 AD))

In addition, many pagan observers reported that early Christians abstained from meat. Pilinius, governor of Bithnia (where Peter preached), described contemporary Christians in a letter to Emperor Troyan as "infected with superstition of abstinence from meat ..."

Seneca (BC 65 BC), a Stoic philosopher and adviser to Nero, described Christians as: "... A foreign sect that abstains from meat food ...".

Josephus Flavius said about the early Christians: "... They gather before sunrise and do not utter a single worldly word - only special prayers ... They sit down together to a common dish, on which there is only one kind of innocent food ..."

In the ancient Aramaic scripture, discovered and translated by IM Sikelli, Jesus says: “He who kills, kills his brother ... And the flesh of the slain beasts in his body will become his own grave. Therefore, truly I say to you: the one who kills, kills himself, and the one who eats the flesh of killed animals, eats the body of death ... Do not kill either people, or animals, or the food that enters your mouth. Life comes from life, death always comes from death. He who kills to feed also kills his own body. Your bodies will become what you eat, and your spirit will become the same as your thoughts. ”

(EM Sekeli “The Gospel of Peace”) Albert Schweitzer said: “Ethics refers not only to humanity, but also to the animal kingdom. This is evidenced in the writings of St. Francis. Thus we come to the conclusion that ethics applies to all aspects of life. This is the ethics of universal love, this ethics of Jesus is now recognized as the necessity of thought. Only the universal ethics, embracing every living being, will lead us to power in the universe ... "

Cardinal John Henry Newman (1801-1890) said: “Cruelty to animals means lack of love for God ... harm to us, who cannot defend himself, who is completely in our power .. ”.

Tolstoy believed that eating meat does not contradict the principles of Christianity.

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder-acarya of ISKCON (Krishna Consciousness Movement) concludes: “... there are many rascals who trample on their own religious principles. Although the Judeo-Christian scriptures clearly say “Thou shalt not kill,” they offer various justifications for this. Even religious leaders condone the killing of animals while trying to appear as holy persons. This mockery and hypocrisy prevailing in human society has brought innumerable calamities. "

Based on materials: babyblog.ru, krishna-kavkaz.ru

Can Christians have a pig?

Peace be with you friends, God bless you. I hope you were not led by an idle interest in this site and you are really worried so as not to grieve God by not observing any commandment. But think first about the fact that the whole law was given in order to be good first of all for man, and not for God. Everything in the world flows and changes, and from the fact that one pig becomes less or one cow becomes more globally, nothing will change. God is more concerned not with what a person will eat, but with what a person has in his soul and whether he believes. Whether he offends his neighbor or does him good. And it seems to me that if you save a hungry man from hungry death, then it makes no difference to God you will feed him kebabs or chicken legs. But they are people, prone to all kinds of taboos and prohibitions. And it is very important for them people not to delve into the deep meaning of actions and consequences, but simply to know that they are doing the right thing. People are prone to rules, traditions, prohibitions and do not understand that what is not sometimes necessary, and what is sometimes not allowed.

The pork issue did not just come up. From the very beginning of scripture, we see that animals were divided into clean and unclean. And take every clean cattle by seven, male and female, and from unclean cattle by two, male and female;
Genesis 7: 2

From the very beginning of the world, animals were known to mankind suitable for food and for sacrifice and not suitable. And Noah knew this system of distinctions, which Moses later wrote down in the Law. But did the descendants of Nov retain knowledge of this? Far away, far from all. Blessed be the God of Shem and may he dwell in the wide tents of Japheth and may Canaan be cursed. This is how Noah's blessing sounds briefly, in which we see the future of the whole world and our present. Simites (I write this specifically) Jews - followed God, Japheth (European peoples) also joined the faith through Christ, and Canaan is all bad there (Africa).

We have already understood that the Jews (Jews who do not believe in Christ) cannot eat pork, can those who believe in Christ eat? Can Jewish believers in Christ eat pork? What does the Bible say about this?

And although Jesus did not eat pork, and even destroyed a herd of pigs, as if hinting through the ages, Jesus said that a lot of people will not come to the Kingdom of God from the Jews, because the Jews will reject Him.

Gospel of Matthew 8:11. I say the same to you, what many will come with east and

westandlie downwithAbraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven;

And what happens when it happens? When do the apostles preach to the Gentiles and they turn to God?

There is a story among pagans who have believed that falls into the pages of the Holy Scriptures. And let's read everything.

1 Some, those who came from Judea taught the brothers: unless you are circumcised according to the rite of Moses, you cannot be saved.

2 When there was a disagreement and considerable competition between Paul and Barnabas with them, they ordered Paul and Barnabas and some others of them to go on this matter to the Apostles and elders in Jerusalem.

3 So, having been escorted by the church, they went through Phenicia and Samaria, telling about conversion of the Gentiles, and produced great joy in all brethren.

4 On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were received by the church, by the Apostles and elders, and announced everything that God had done to them and how he opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

5 Then some of the Pharisees rebelled heresies who believed and said that should cut pagans and command to keep the law of Moses.

6 Apostles and elders gathered to consider this matter.

7 After a long discussion, Peter stood up and said to them: Men, brethren! you know that God chose from the first days of us me, that from my mouth the Gentiles may hear the word of the Gospel and believe;

8 and the seer of the heart, God gave them a testimony, by giving them the Holy Spirit as we are;

9 and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

10 What are you now tempting God desiring to put on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither our fathers nor we could bear?

11 But we believe that by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we will be saved, just as they are.

12 Then the whole assembly fell silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul, telling what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

13 And after they had ceased to speak, Jacob began to speak and said, Men, brethren! listen to me.

14 Simon explained how God originally looked upon the Gentiles in order to make of them people in His name.

15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, as it is written:

16 “Then I will turn back and rebuild the fallen tabernacle of David, and what is destroyed in it, I will rebuild, and I will correct it,

17 that other men may seek the Lord, and all nations among whom my name will be announced, says the Lord, who does all these things. "

18 All His works are known to God from eternity.

19 Therefore, I suppose not to obstruct those of the Gentiles who turn to God,

20 but write to them so that they abstained from those defiled by idols, from fornication, strangulation and blood, and so that they do not do to others what they do not want for themselves.

21 For law Moses from ancient generations in all cities has preaching him and is read in synagogues every Saturday.

22 Then the apostles and elders with the whole church decided, choosing men from among themselves, to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, exactly: Judas, called Barsava, and Silas, men who rule among the brethren,

23 writing and giving them the following: “The apostles and elders and brethren - to the Gentile brethren in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: rejoice.

24 Because we have heard that some who have gone out from us have confused you by their speeches and shook your souls, saying what should cut off and observe law what are we they were not instructed,

25 then we gathered together and discerned with one accord, having chosen men, to send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul.

26 men who gave their souls for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27 So, we have sent Judas and Silas, who will explain the same to you verbally.

28 For it is pleasing for the Holy Spirit and for us not to lay on you any more burden than this is necessary:

29 To abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and blood, and strangledness, and fornication, and not do to others what you do not want to do to yourself. By observing this, you will do well. Be healthy. "

30 So the sent ones came to Antioch and, having gathered the people, presented the letter.

31 And when they read it, they rejoiced over this instruction.

Acts of the apostles 15

Such is the story friends. See what the Apostles say! Soul salvation is not from food! Salvation by faith in God! God cleanses the hearts of the Gentiles through faith in Christ! And the Apostles, looking at the root, realizing that eating pork or not eating pork does not play any role in the salvation of their souls, they send a letter to them, which says that you cannot drink blood, eat something strangled, and sin fornication and not do to others what you do not want. yourself.

With these words, not to do to others what you do not wish for yourself, they replace the law, and moreover, they avoid blind, stupid adherence to the commandments without reflection. After all, with such an approach, you will need to delve into yourself, and think about whether I want to be stolen from me, whether I want to be beaten, whether I want to be saved from death by confiscating a dangerous thing from me?

The bottom line is that they were allowed to eat pork. What else does the Bible say about this?

Did God say there are unclean animals, which include the daily pig?

9 The next day, as they were walking and approaching the city, Peter went up to the top of the house at about six o'clock to pray.
10 And he felt hungry, and was hungry. Meanwhile, as they cooked, he went into a frenzy
11 and sees the opening of the sky and a certain vessel descending to it, like a large cloth, tied at four corners and lowered to the ground;
12 it contained all sorts of four-legged earthly, animals, reptiles and birds of the air.
13 And there came a voice to him, Arise, Peter, kill and eat.
14 But Peter said, No, Lord, I have never eaten anything unclean or unclean.
15 Then another timethere was a voice to him:

what God has cleansed, you do not consider unclean.

16 It happened three times; and the vessel ascended to heaven again.
What God has cleansed, that you do not consider unclean, it is written in the Bible.

And it is also written:

1 But the Spirit makes it clear that in the end times some will depart from the faith, listening to seducing spirits and the teachings of demons,

2 through the hypocrisy of false believers, burnt in their consciences,

3 prohibiting marriage and eat what God has created so that the faithful and those who know the truth may partake with thanksgiving.

4 For every creation of God is good, and nothing is reprehensible if it is received with thanksgiving,

5 because sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

1 Timothy 4

We see that the prohibition to eat what God created does not come from God, but from evil spirits and demons.

And at the very beginning of the Bible in the book of Genesis there is a permission for all nations

everything that moves that lives will be food for you; as green herbs I give you everything;
Genesis 9: 3

You can eat everything. The main thing is faith in the Savior And the Lord God Jesus Christ, who died and suffered for our sins and rose from the dead.

And finally, from the epistles of the apostles, which says that everything is possible, but that we, with our freedom in food, do not lead another person into sin.

“For the sake of food, do not destroy the works of God. Everything is pure, but it is bad for a man who eats with temptation. " Rom. 14:20

"For the pure, everything is pure." Titus 1:15

“Do not be carried away by different and alien teachings; for good to strengthen hearts by grace and not food, from which those who dealt with them have not benefited. " Heb. 13: 9

“Having destroyed by doctrine the handwriting that was about us, which was against us, and He took it from the midst and nailed it to the cross; having taken away the strength of the principalities and powers, he imperiously subjected them to shame, triumphing over them in Himself. so let no one condemn you for food or drink". Col. 2: 14-16

“For another is sure that one can eat everything, but the weak one eats vegetables. Whoever eats, do not despise him who does not; and whoever does not eat, do not condemn the one who eats, because God has received him ... He who eats, eats for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and whoever does not eat, for the Lord he does not eat, and he gives thanks to God. " Rom. 14: 2-3.6

Here, about freedom of conscience, and who is free - let him eat, but if someone thinks that this is a sin and is not free, then there is no need to condemn or force him, everyone must move away from blind obedience to laws to reasonable service on their own.

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A lot of people are interested in whether Christians can eat pork. What does it say about this? In fact, the answer is very simple, let's figure it out. We will first look at the practice for the Israelite people, and then we will look at the teaching. Thus, we will consider all the teaching of the Bible about whether modern Christians can eat pork.

Pork in the Old Testament

The Old Testament provides guidance to the Israelite people about what foods can and cannot be eaten. The book of Deuteronomy tells about this, for example:

“You can eat any animal that has cloven hooves and chews gum, but do not eat camels, hares and jerboas, because although they chew gum, their hooves are not cloven, and therefore this food is unclean for you. And do not eat pigs either: although their hooves are cloven, they do not chew gum, pigs are unclean food for you; do not eat pork or even touch the carcass of a pig ”(Deuteronomy 14: 6-8).

In fact, there are not many passages in the Old Testament that talk about eating pork. Nevertheless, they all prohibit its use. In the book of the prophet Isaiah there is a speech of God, where God speaks in a negative way about those people who eat pork:

“They always throw me into anger, make sacrifices and burn incense in their gardens. They sit among the graves and await news from the dead, they live among the dead, they eat pork, their knives are dirty with rotten meat ”(Isaiah 65: 3-4).

Thus, according to the Old Testament, pork meat could not be eaten by the Jewish people. Pork could not be sacrificed to God. You couldn't even touch the pork. This food was considered unclean.

Why weren't the people of Israel allowed to eat all these types of food (see Leviticus 11, verses 1 through 47 for more details)? Israel had to obey God's absolute standards. The second reason for this diet is that it is difficult for the Israelite people to eat food nearby or in the presence of idol worshiping nations. Food laws served as a barrier to the mixing of the Israelite people with the idolatrous nations. Proper nutrition and health benefits were evident, but this was only a minor task of God after obedience and separation.

Pork in the New Testament

The word Covenant means "agreement" or "contract." When you have one contract, and then you are going to conclude a new one, then the new contract becomes the basis of the current relationship. This is how the New Testament (new agreement) replaced the Old Testament (old agreement). The author of Hebrews describes the need for a new covenant as follows:

“If that first agreement was flawless, then there would be no need for another agreement. But God found them guilty and said: “The days are coming,” says the Lord, “when I enter into a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. And this agreement will not be the same as I entered into with the ancestors on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, for they did not remain faithful to My agreement, and I turned away from them, says the Lord. This is the agreement I will make with the people of Israel after these days, says the Lord. I will put My laws in their minds, I will write them in their hearts and I will become their God, and they will become My people. And there will be no need for someone to lecture their fellow tribesmen or fellow citizens, saying "Know the Lord", for they will all know Me, from the most insignificant to the greatest. I will be merciful to their transgressions and forget about their sins. " By calling this agreement “new,” He made the former obsolete, and whatever becomes obsolete and useless soon disappears. ”- Hebrews 8: 7-13.

Thus, we now understand why that agreement became obsolete and "useless", and it was replaced by a new agreement - the New Testament.

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There is a ban on pork for Jews, but Christians can eat pork, answers the priest

A pig for the Jews is an unclean animal, and it is a sin to eat it for a devout Jew. The pork ban also applies to Muslims. Can Christians Eat Pork?

The priest's answer to this question will be unambiguous:

"You can eat any animal meat."

Christians can eat pork. This is not contrary to the gospel.

Before the advent of the Seventh-day Adventist sect, pork was not taken seriously in Christianity. The arguments in this article regarding the use of pork meat relate to the misinterpretation of the Holy Letter.

According to the Old Testament, you cannot eat some animals, including horse meat.

Read the Old Testament, and you will see that there are many forbidden animals. These are not only pigs, but also camels, horses, rhinos, tapirs, hares, rabbits, jerboas.

You can only eat

"Any cattle that have cloven hooves and a deep cut on their hooves, and chew gum."

(Leviticus 11.3)

You cannot eat seafood (crabs, crayfish, shrimp, shellfish, etc.). From birds and fish - without feathers and scales.

You cannot also eat birds: an eagle, a vulture, a kite and a falcon, any crow, ostrich, an owl, a seagull and a hawk, an owl, a fisherman and an ibis, a swan, a pelican and a vulture, a heron, a zuch, a hoopoe and a bat. All reptiles, winged, walking on four legs.

All the signs that meat cannot be eaten by the Old Testament people are defined in the texts of Leviticus 11.3-47, Deuteronomy 14.3-20. They indicate the signs of clean and unclean animals, under which all creatures living on the earth fall.

Why is the question focused on pork meat? The Bible says that you cannot eat horse meat from which Moscow sausage is made. The meat of ostriches, nutria and other prohibited animals is sold.

In the Gospel, the Lord lifted the prohibition of pork, and allowed the meat of any animals to be eaten.

The severity of the Old Testament in relation to food and other conventions is determined by the tendency to temptations of the Old Testament man, and the constant passion for paganism. The restrictions were of an educational nature so that the People of God would not deviate from the One God.

This isolation from paganism achieved results, and a Savior was born among this people. He declared not only the food to be clean, but also made all people equal to the Jews.

He constantly irritated the Jews with his neglect of the Sabbath day. Failure to understand these truths was one of the reasons for the execution of Christ and his followers.

Christ tried in vain to convey to the Jewish people that all impurity lies in the heart and thoughts, and not in non-observance of ceremonies and food. This idea was repeated many times by the apostles.

“For the pure, everything is pure; but for the defiled and unbelievers there is nothing pure, but both their mind and conscience are defiled. "

Jesus said that He did not come to break the law, but to fulfill

This thesis of Christ is the main argument of the supporters of the prohibitions established in the Old Testament.

However, the Savior's attitude to the Sabbath, which for the Jews is higher than circumcision, makes one think and reveals a different meaning of these words. He points out that

"Saturday for man, not man for Saturday."

To clarify this, Christ violated the most valuable thing in the eyes of the Jews - this is the Sabbath, which aroused the wrath and wrath of the legalists.

The controversy about the fulfillment of the law by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ can be explained

All the Law and the prophets spoke of the coming Messiah. When Jesus by the cross sacrifice put an end to the completion of this Law, then it was fully fulfilled. In other words, He fulfilled the Law by Himself.

The fullness of the Law is Christ Himself.

The apostles also pointed out the senselessness of fulfilling the Old Testament decrees.

“... we heard that some who came out of us,

confused you with their speeches and shook your souls,

saying that one should be circumcised and keep the law,

which we didn’t entrust them ”.

(Acts 15:24)

In the New Testament, the question "what kind of meat should not be eaten" has lost its meaning

The vision of the Apostle Peter was direct evidence of the abolition of the established gastronomic restrictions.

“At about six o'clock Peter went up to the top of the house to pray.

And he felt hungry and wanted to eat.

Meanwhile, as they were preparing, he went into a frenzy and sees the open sky and a certain vessel descending to him,

like a large canvas tied at four corners and lowered to the ground; in it were all sorts of four-legged earthly,

beasts, reptiles and birds of the air.

And there came a voice to him: Rise, Peter, kill and eat.

But Peter said, No, Lord, I have never eaten anything unclean or unclean.

Then another time there was a voice to him: what God has cleansed, you do not consider unclean.

It happened three times; and the vessel ascended to heaven again. "

(Acts 15:24)

Kill and eat - a direct instruction from God to the Apostle Peter regarding any animal.

The Apostle Peter pondered this vision for a time. Subsequently, Peter announced at the apostolic council that everything could be eaten.

The first council of the apostles decreed - Gentile Christians are not under the Law

Peter's vision of lifting the Old Testament restrictions on meat. Wood engraving. Written by Julius Schnorr. Germany, Dresden 1860

The Apostle Peter, speaking before the council of the apostles, urged them not to impose the burden of the Law on the pagans who had converted to Christianity.

“Why are you now tempting God, wanting to place a yoke on the necks of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we could bear?

Therefore, I suppose not to hinder those who turn to God from among the Gentiles. "

(Acts 15: 10,19)

As a result, the apostles decreed:

“For it is pleasing for the Holy Spirit and for us not to place any more burden on you,

besides this is necessary: to abstain from idols and blood,

and strangled, and fornication, and do not do to others what you do not want.

By observing this, you will do well.

And they, having read it, rejoiced over this instruction. "

(Acts 15: 25-31)

The argument of the supporters to fulfill the primitive Law, contrary to the decree of the apostles, is the words:

"For the law of Moses from ancient generations has those who preach it in all cities and is read in the synagogues every Saturday."

(Acts 15:21)

According to the erroneous explanation, if the Gentiles listen to the provisions of the Law, then they must obey it. But listening does not mean doing what the Apostles decreed.

A Christian should not care about food, but about a clear conscience and love

The apostles repeat more than once that love for one's neighbor is above any regulation of the Law. If food tempts your neighbor, then eat everything.

This follows from the texts of the New Testament:

“Accept the weak in faith without arguing over opinions.

For another is sure that it is possible to eat everything, but an infirm one eats vegetables.

Whoever eats, do not despise him who does not; and who does not eat,

do not condemn the one who eats, because God has accepted him. "

(Rom. 14,1-3)

“So, if you died with Christ to the elements of the world, then why are you,

as those living in the world, adhere to the regulations: "do not touch",

"Do not eat", "do not touch" [that everything decays from consumption],

according to the commandments and teaching of man? "

(Colos. 2.20-22)

“Eat everything that is on sale without any research,

for peace of mind; for the Lord's earth, and what fills it.

If any of the infidels calls you, and you want to go, then everything,

what is offered to you, eat without any research, for peace of conscience. "

Eat pork, but do not offend your neighbor and pray before eating.

The apostles clearly point out that Christians cannot "eat" each other, but any meat can be eaten. Old Testament dogmas ruin the love that Christ commanded.

“He who says,“ I love God, ”but hates his brother, is a liar:

for he who does not love his brother, whom he sees how he can love God,

Whom does he not see? "

(1 John 4.20)

Supporters of the Old Testament prohibitions, ignoring the direct divine decrees, rape their neighbors, forcing them to follow the rules according to the Bible. They pull quotes from the texts to justify their "truth."

Christ said that food does not defile a person

Christ declared all food pure

“He said to them: are you really so incomprehensible?

Do you not understand that nothing entering a person from without can defile him?

Because it enters not into his heart, but into the womb,

and it goes out, by which all food is purified. "

With these words, the Savior emphasizes that any food is permissible, and nothing will defile a person if he is holy.

Neither pork nor food sacrificed to idols. To preserve the purity of conscience, to love one's neighbor as oneself is the crown of the fulfillment of the Law.

“Love does no harm to one's neighbor; so love is the fulfillment of the law. "

(Rom. 1310)

Not to offend anyone, not to annoy, not to spoil another's mood - this is what the holy people recommend.

Many Christians, keeping the letter of the Law, do not follow these advice. They force their neighbors to obey the Law, forgetting about love.

"Above all, have zealous love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins."