A week ago I was at a breakfast, I was careful to inquire about the meat kinds served as I requested that no swine be served at my table. Unfortunately, the consumers of swine out-numbered me 6 to 1 and though I was the only man at the table, the head, the ‘gender in charge’, the chosen leader, authority was usurped and as a result swine was the primary meat served. They encouraged me to try it as they claimed: “A half of your life is gone” or “A di best meat dis eva!”. I had my ackee with salted cod fish and escoveitched fish as they slowly savored every bite, looking at me as they moaned with pleasure, but I was not tempted, I was not swayed by the swine. Rasta nuh deal wid unclean meat!
“You are what you eat”
There are several reasons pork should not be eaten I will state a few below:
Biblical Reason
If you are a Christian, a follower of the bible, then this reason should be substantial.
Leviticus11: 1-3
And the Lord spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.
Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.
Leviticus11: 7-8
And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.
Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.
Deuteronomy 14: 8
And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase.
So imagine, God made us, and made all creatures and he clearly says “Do not eat so and so”, why eat it? This kinda reminds me of Adam and Eve, we really are their children.
So here is where is gets interesting.
Acts 10: 11-15
And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon 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.
So this happened in a vision but provided that God never changes.
Malachi 3: 6
For I am the Lord, I change not.
Can this justify God’s approval for the consumption of… anything? No. I don’t serve a confused God. Analyze the context of the scripture carefully!
Also look at it this way. One part of the bible says DO NOT EAT the other says eat what God made clean. Would it hurt not to eat it? Wouldn’t you be in the safe zone if you didn’t? Are you starving and pork is the only option? (pork is NOT cheap!)
It is also significant to note that Jesus was a Jew and as such would not eat pork. So before you take another bite just ask: What would Jesus eat? I’m just following Jesus that’s all.
Health
Taenia Solium is the adult tapeworm found in contaminated pork. Please note that almost 70% of pork meat is contaminated. The larvae of the tapeworm causes “cysticercosis”. This is usually caused by ingestion of the eggs (ova) which was passed in the stool. The larvae can cause neurocysticercosis if it gets to the central nervous system.
The very dangerous bacteria Yersinia enterocolitica, according to research published in 2012, was found to infect most samples of pork! If pigs are properly raised, killed and prepared, the likelihood of infection decreases but the risk is significantly higher when compared to other meat kinds.
I am not saying eating pork is sinful. I am not saying you are going to hell for eating it! I just want my fellow brothers and sisters to live a happy healthy life, pleasing to God.
Feel free to share your views below.
– Aldeam Facey 2015
It was a vision… And peter’s response says it all….he refused to eat , for he did not partake of anything unclean, the scripture then goes n to speak of the seperation between the Jews and Gentiles , which is what it was alluding to.
First let me congratulate you on not succumbing to the pressure of others into having the “Forbidden Fruit”, which it seems the meat of the swine is to you. I can’t believe that was a very confortable situation to be in. What is interesting to me is that the argument you are trying to make against the consumption of pork is also meant to pressure your readers in a similar, if not worse, manner when discussing their health and spritual well-being.
Also of interest is your choice to take lightly Peter’s vision in Acts 10, when we accept that Joseph’s interpretation of a dream saved an entire nation.
All meat (some plants too) can potentially host very dangerous contaminants, the same care should be taken to acquire, store and prepare all foods. Persons who eat pork are not nore likely to buy from filthy, unsafe or disreputable merchant than non-pok eaters. It should also be noted that the consuption of “clean” red meat (beef, mutton, venison etc.) has been linked to a greater number of health issues, even death, than pork.
I also share your wish for all brothers and sisters to live a happy healthy life pleasing God. I just dont believe villifying particular meats fulfills this wish.
Thank you. I appreciate your comments Don, very solid points. I actually don’t take the vision lightly but I think the context is often misrepresented. It is true regarding the dangers of other meats but the sources I found did not indicate a higher incidence of death linked to other meats. But with research, one usually finds what one “looks” for which is probably why I never found the same. I try to stay in the “safe zone”.
Our bodies are temples so I fully endorse its optimal care.
On the matter of Peter’s vision, indeed the vision was given by God to Peter and had a significant meaning…the meaning is confirmed in Peter’s interpretation of the vision.
What was his interpretation?
Acts 10:24 “And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. 28 Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.”
yup! … thanks for your feedback
You can find the answers at Chapter 10:28. Jewish people are molded to be the keeper of the word of god. God wanted them to be the teacher to spread the word across nation. And back in their time.. non jews people i.e. gentiles who do not know a true god are called pagans and considered unclean until the death of stephen that the word of god which is the bible was given to gentiles. Hope this helps
Unfortunately you like many other over the years have taken the bible and used it to convey your way of life as correct. The scriptures you gave relate to levites. They were under the law they have to keep ALL of them breaking one was as bad as breaking them all. You don’t keep all the law and your don’t need to either jesus came and fulfilled the law (Jesus aka God in flesh) when you bless a food and eat its fine if you want to live under the levitical ways then that’s fine it i won’t because I don’t have to. Rightly divide the word. (Any insults or sly remarks will ignored)
I welcome your comments Travis, please substantiate with scriptures and I will defend in the same. Jesus ended the law… True… But which? Ceremonial law. I want to see your defense first