Food For Thought?
Leviticus 11:13 “‘These are the birds you are to regard as unclean and not eat because they are unclean: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, 14 the red kite, any kind of black kite, 15 any kind of raven, 16 the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, 17 the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, 18 the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey, 19 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.
Acts 10: 9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” 14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” 16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.
There were no specific animals stated in Acts. So my question is if God made bats clean, why is the consumption of the bats causing global health issues? Did we unleash something that caused bats to become unclean? Of course, we know that until recently, trichinosis was a problem in under cooked pork and pork products and can be still with wild game. I still prefer my pork well done. Pigs are not mentioned specifically either.
Since we do not have anything listed specifically in Acts we need to obviously pray for direction as we study this. In Leviticus, God states the general class and then gives specifics. ie birds is general, bats are specific. In Acts, God uses the general terms, even though the vision states "all kinds" were seen. The Greek word panta is the term translated to all kinds or all manner. It can also mean always as well as everything. The use is obviously a total encompassing application. It seems reasonable to conclude that pigs, bats, horses, yes even dogs and cats can be eaten.
We must also look elsewhere in the Bible for some more clarity.
1 Corinthians 10: 23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
So bats, while repulsive to many of us, can be eaten. They may not be nutritious but they can be eaten. So if we know that certain animals are disease ridden, ie bats, rats, some wild animals, shouldn't we be cautious? I would say yes. If we are starving and that is all there is can we eat them? We are told not to fear. God will provide for us. If that is all that He has provided then we do not need to fear; however, if there is a choice between a steak and a dog, chicken and a bat, lobster and a blowfish, I am going for the "safe" food.
Just a little thing to ponder upon. Have a great day!
Acts 10: 9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” 14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” 16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.
There were no specific animals stated in Acts. So my question is if God made bats clean, why is the consumption of the bats causing global health issues? Did we unleash something that caused bats to become unclean? Of course, we know that until recently, trichinosis was a problem in under cooked pork and pork products and can be still with wild game. I still prefer my pork well done. Pigs are not mentioned specifically either.
Since we do not have anything listed specifically in Acts we need to obviously pray for direction as we study this. In Leviticus, God states the general class and then gives specifics. ie birds is general, bats are specific. In Acts, God uses the general terms, even though the vision states "all kinds" were seen. The Greek word panta is the term translated to all kinds or all manner. It can also mean always as well as everything. The use is obviously a total encompassing application. It seems reasonable to conclude that pigs, bats, horses, yes even dogs and cats can be eaten.
We must also look elsewhere in the Bible for some more clarity.
1 Corinthians 10: 23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
So bats, while repulsive to many of us, can be eaten. They may not be nutritious but they can be eaten. So if we know that certain animals are disease ridden, ie bats, rats, some wild animals, shouldn't we be cautious? I would say yes. If we are starving and that is all there is can we eat them? We are told not to fear. God will provide for us. If that is all that He has provided then we do not need to fear; however, if there is a choice between a steak and a dog, chicken and a bat, lobster and a blowfish, I am going for the "safe" food.
Just a little thing to ponder upon. Have a great day!
Comments
Post a Comment