10. Health Discussion Part 3 - What We "Should" Do vs. What Is "Acceptable" to Do Jesus Watchmen

How do we justify the way we eat today based on biblical references? I’d like to take a moment and address a few of those verses and dive deeper into the original text and determine what the original texts were referring to and how the new translations of the bible have caused some confusion; as well as, has become the basis as to why most people say we should allow people to eat what they want as long as they are following God’s word.

First of all, I think it is important to know when the bible is saying we “should do” something, as opposed to when it says it is “acceptable” to do something. Christians take this as a scapegoat to say God says to do something when in fact it had to do with the old testament laws for cleanliness.

20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offense. - Romans 14:20 (KJV)

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

The original Hebrew text of Romans 14:20, arguably all of Chapter 14, refers to the Jewish tradition of not being able to eat animals declared unclean by God through the Laws of Moses. Now God is saying through the Apostle Paul, not to divide his church on this teaching; to unify the church because God has made everything “clean,” (New International Version) from the Greek, “Kathara [καθαρά],” translated to “acceptable” (New Living Translation). Romans 14 is not referring to it as being healthy or good for our body to consume these things. Therefore, with modern science and technology, we can deduce what healthy is for our bodies, even though, it is permissive or clean to eat all things under the law during the time of Paul and the Romans, written in late 55 - early 56 A.D. or late 56 - early 57 A.D.

Furthermore, we see another reference to this same scenario in Acts when Peter has a vision and it is initially unclear what it means but as the story unfolds it is made clear; which is counter to the initial assumption the reader has at the onset of the vision:

11 He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. 12 In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. 13 Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.” 14 “No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.[a]” 15 But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” 16 The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven. (Acts 10:11-16 NLT)

The meaning of the vision explained by the Holy Spirit:

17 Peter was very perplexed. What could the vision mean? Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. Standing outside the gate, 18 they asked if a man named Simon Peter was staying there. 19 Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. 20 Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.” 21 So Peter went down and said, “I’m the man you are looking for. Why have you come?” 22 They said, “We were sent by Cornelius, a Roman officer. He is a devout and God-fearing man, well respected by all the Jews. A holy angel instructed him to summon you to his house so that he can hear your message.” (Acts 10:17-22 NLT)

There is a high likelihood Peter knew and remembered the story of the Rechabites who refused to drink the wine Jeremiah offered them according to the instructions of the Lord and how the Lord used this as a testimony against the men of Judah in Jeremiah 35:1-19. The Rechabites didn’t give in to temptation and neither does Peter. In the same way, Peter’s vision isn’t meant to be taken literally. God wasn’t cleansing unclean animals an