Clean & Unclean -- it just won't go away!

By Dan Baxley

   The Weaker Brother

This subject just will not go away, why is that?  I certainly hit a hot topic when I mention "pigs flesh" as unclean and not fit for human food.  I have the following links in more detail about this subject but here, on this page, I want to cover something used as a hammer to drive home another nail supporting the logic of Scriptural truth about foods not meant for God's saints and those wanting to be sons and daughters of His coming Kingdom. 

LINKS:

Pig's Flesh Made Clean?

Clean and Unclean

I will quote a popular set of scriptures thrown up by those claiming everything is good for food and nothing to be refused -- all the while ignoring our Savior's words that nothing in the Word of God is abolished -- He said He did not come to destroy the word but to "fulfill" (Strong's #4137 -- Cram up, excercise, level up, satisfy).  But first I want to go over our Savior's attitude and teaching concerning the Law and Laws the Protestant and Evangelical Christians say are abolished.  The charge is that my view is Jewish, or Old Testament, well, my friends, I am in good company then, as the Apostles of YaHshua taught using the SCRIPTURE which the Christians call the Old Testament.. 

 If you have ever gone into a Christian book store to buy a Bible you will notice that 80% of the Bible you will be buying is composed mostly of the Old Testament (So called -- in actuality the Scriptures contain the Old Covenant, it is not the Old Covenant).  This Book, these writings called the Scriptures, stand as a witness against those claiming these writing are abolished or "nullified".  Is it any wonder many Christians do not bother reading the Scriptures other than the letters of the Apostles and the four Gospels?  The Christian Community has been sold on the idea the Old Testament books have been abolished.  Is this what our Savior said, is this what your savior said?

(Mat 5:17-18)Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets (Old Testament): I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

YaHshua tells us He did not come to destroy the Law but to "do it", to exercise it.  Many teach He came to "do away" with the Law, just the opposite of what He actually said.  He came to do, in part, what few men and women have been able to do, to find and live by the righteousness of the law.  Because we fail at it does not mean it is abolished.  We have been set free from the PENALTY of the LAW.  Please notice, in this same verse, He says, and I paraphrase, that heaven and earth will pass away before even one dot, or period, or title ever passes away -- Until all is fulfilled.   Is everything "fulfilled", is it finished, is the jots and titles finished?  Of course not, not only did the Scriptures tell of YaHshua's coming the first time it speaks of His coming the next time and His coming rule as King of Kings.  Read from the books of the Prophets and you will see many passages in agreement with and a compliment to the prophetic writings of the Apostles.  Many prophetic passages parallel the Book of Revelation.  It is not finished, period.  We are not escaping from the law, but from its penalty by the blood of our Savior, YaHshua.  The Law was created by our Creator for our good but the penalty was against us and we could not and cannot fulfill its requirements to make ourselves pure, but YaHshua did and it is His righteousness in us, but in following in His steps we in no wise discount the Law as "abolished".  There is hardly a Christian Church on the face of this earth that does not hold the Ten Commandments in high esteem -- the Ten Commandments is the Law, all of the other Laws and instructions are based on this Ten. 

Listen, friends, you have been given a freedom, for a time, but the time is coming when the "restoration" will take place at the return of YaHshua, and the Law will go out from Jerusalem, from the mount Moriah, the Holy Place where the Temple once stood. 

Anyone claiming the Law is abolished and we can do as we please are wrong, totally wrong. This thinking would mean the Ten Commandments are abolished, contrary to what our Savior says.  His coming to "fulfill" is "to do" and this same expression is found in Matthew 3:15, where YaHshua is seeking baptism by John.  Our Savior tells John He must do this to "fulfill" what the Old Testament (Scriptures) says about him.  So, how many Christians deny "baptism" because of this?  Not one, that I know of -- let me repeat -- the Christ requested "baptism" even though He did not need it, as an example for us, and to do what the Scriptures said He would do.  He was "fulfilling" His mission concerning the prophetic words concerning Himself, proving He is the Messiah, and that is not all, the prophetic word also speaks of His return, and the establishment of the Kingdom on earth.  It is not finished and while no sane Christian would deny "baptism" they do when it comes to food, when it comes to the clean and unclean.  Can you see the hypocrisy, and double standard of accepting one law but rejecting the other.  The only thing that changed is the ceremonial laws governing animal sacrifice as we are tole, plainly, that YaHshua is the ultimate sacrifice accomplishing what animal sacrifice really could not do. 

He set the example for us. He did not have to, but He did -- He was baptized by water, we are baptized by water, he ate only clean meats, Christians eat whatever they want right down to the nastiest of creatures and call it good.  This will not be so in the Kingdom, all the unclean things will be kept out of the Kingdom (Matthew 7:6, Revelation 22:15).   

From His words we can determine that He did not eat any unclean flesh. He and His disciples knew what to eat and what not to eat by the list of clean and unclean given, in detail, in the Old Testament (Lev 11).  Why would our Creator go to so much trouble to make such a detailed list if it would ultimately mean nothing?  Spiritually, once we pass from this flesh and blood body to our new spirit bodies, then it will mean nothing but so long as we are in the flesh it will matter. He has told us what we need to know for our fleshly bodies to run properly.  People take better care of their pets and their cars than they do themselves.  To which of you would give your dog poison?  How many would pour maple syrup into the engine of your cherished car rather than oil, after all, syrup is sweeter, and possibly cheaper, right? 

(2Co 7:1) Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.  (Use this verse when someone tries to tell you it is all spiritual, and the flesh does not matter)

(Keeping in context please read the previous verses 2 Cor 6:17-18 -- More on these later)  

So, why do Christians argue against this?  What is it about the flesh of the pig that people want to argue is clean?  What about mice, and rats, oysters and clams, snakes, worms and people, you know, humans -- all edible?  I have had the argument thrown at me that I am the offending brother, trying to make others question their belief.  What, their BELIEF that pig, rats, and frogs are clean?  On the other hand, I can use this same argument and with a better conscience, by saying, "Why don't the pig eaters realize they are offending me and stop eating pigs flesh for my sake?"  This would make more sense as then I would be seen as the weaker brother and they the older, wiser and more forgiving brother or sister (in Faith, that is).  I willingly accept the roll as the weaker brother, therefore you should not eat pork, pig, mice, rats, oysters, lobster, and so on, for my sake -- thank you very much, I appreciate your sensitivity toward my feelings as the weaker brother.

Here are the verses used to set me straight, and as the weaker brother I will attempt to give you my view and hope for your understanding and patients -- again -- thank you very much for being patient with me.  I will follow the Words or our Bible, the Scriptures with my comments.

(Mar 7:10-13) For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.'  But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban' (that is, a gift devoted to God), then you (religious teachers) no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that."

My Comment: This is the beginning of YaHshua's teaching and we see Him quoting Old Testament Law, not rejecting it, but quoting it -- some believe this is the beginning of YaHshua saying all things are clean. We should, however, consider the context before we jump to the verses used by the older brothers to correct me, the weaker brother, and others -- yes, there are some that agree with my position as the position of YaHshua, actually, it is His position I am trying to follow. ( the written words of our Savior from the writings of what He said and did). 

 With a basic understanding let's see what is really being said.  Please note the verses above demonstrate our Savior is reasoning with the teachers of the Law of Moses, so, no mistaking what He is talking about, He is speaking of the Law, the Commandments and how they, these teachers, have misused and even changed them.  So, what does He say to them, these teachers, He tells them they are making the WORD of GOD to mean nothing, to nullify His words by their teachings, their traditions, their words.  No where does He say the WORD is finished or done away (nullified) -- He says just the opposite.  People and teachers today are doing the same thing, they say the WORD is nullified, done away -- all things are clean, they say, eat, drink and be merry, for the Word of God is nullified.  "Our Savior did it all for us so we can now do what ever we want, even if it isn't good for us", they say.  This is absurd, our freedom in the Messiah may cover a lot of things but one of them is not self-destruction by making pigs of ourselves (pardon the pun).

Listen, I am not being judgmental, I am backing up the words of our Savior.  It is His words that are judging, not me.  I'm saying, as the weaker brother, that this is how I see it and I fear for my borther's and sister's physical lives as well as their spiritual lives.  I want you to be healthy and live as long in these bodies o flesh can live for the service or our Savior -- so you and I can be a good and accurate witness for our Lord YaHshua.  Imagine, you die from some fleshly ailment due to you bad choices in diet the day before you neighbor was going to come over and ask aour your belief in YaHshua.  It is my love for you that drives me to say things you may not want to hear.  If you die prematurly because you become infected with poor food choices how then are you the "good servant"?  How can you tend the feilds and prune the vines and tweak the brothers and sisters to stay on the narrow path?  Broad is the way to destruction, remember?

(Mar 7:14-16) Again YaHshua called the crowd to him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.' "  (Want to take this literally as opposed to a lesson, then  "outside a man" excludes women)

My Comment: Is He really teaching that you can now eat anything?  Is He really telling you that you can consume rotten, poison flesh with not problems?  Of course not, He is giving a "spiritual lesson" and it has nothing to do with the abolishment of the healthy-foods for the people of God.  Let's remember, He just finished scolding the teachers of the Law  for nullifying the Law by their traditions (just the opposite of what many are saying), not that the Dietary Law is abolished (nullified).  Isn't it interesting the tradtion of the Christian leadership is that you can eat anything you want, the Law is nullified, done away -- "Well, they say, this one and that one but the one that says I have "authority" over you, well that one is still in force, and the one that says you should pay me your tithes, yeah that one too is still good, and the one about homosexual conduct and a few others but the ones concerning you physical well being, the one that makes sure you have a clear mind and bright eyes, well you know the rules about food you can ignore -- God was wasting His time when He had those written down.   

 You and I know for a fact there are plenty of things outside of your body that can make you sick or even kill you, so He has to be talking about something else, something deeper.   Notice what He is really saying -- you cannot be made unclean by things outside going in, it is what comes out that makes you unclean.  Can you see it?  What comes out, this would include things considered clean too, not just unclean things as they are unclean going and coming out.  Look at it like this, forget about food for a minute, you are watching television and you see some, taking it into your mind but you do not let this influence the way you act or even think.  Do you see a murder and think I will murder, of course not, but if you did this would then lead to an unclean act and make what comes out of you, the product of your actions, as unclean. 

 He is telling us that we can see and hear a lot of things but unless we act on them we remain clean.  What a novel idea, you can live in a completely corrupted world and remain clean in the eyes of your Father in Heaven, so long as you do not act out the evil you have witnessed or heard.  Now that is real mercy, praise the God of Heaven.

(Mar 7:17) After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable.

(Mar 7:18-19) Are you so dull? he asked. "Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him 'unclean'? For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.") NIV

My Comment:  Now He scolds His disciples, "Are you dull? He asked".  What is it they did not understand?  YaHshua repeats Himself, things outside can enter the body and not the mind (heart, intellect) and have no effect on your spiritual cleanliness, but, and this is big -- it goes back out of the body in the natural course of things -- what you take in eventually comes out one way or another, so we have control, for a time, of what we take in and need to take care of what we put out.  Now wait there is more to come.  A note on the bold letters at the end of the verse -- those words were added by the translators of the NIV and are not found in any scripture -- this is a prime example of believers (?) trying to change the written Words of our Creator.  Read it again, your Savior, YaHshua, never once said He changed the Law but accused those He was speaking to as having don just that, accusing them, the teachers, of nullifying the Law.  Christian believers want Yahshua to be the one NULLIFYING the Law, just the opposite of what our Savior is really doing.  This is that other Jesus they preach, it is not the YaHshua of my Bible.

(Mar 7:20-23) He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.' "

My Comment: Hey, I thought he was talking about food?  Here our Savior clarifies, for His disciples, that it is what comes out of a man that makes him unclean -- "out of his heart", his mind, not his rear end.  If He really meant unclean foods why wouldn't He say that, why wouldn't He just say the Law is abolished and all unclean things are now clean?  These two verses round out His thinking and His teaching on this, no mention of food, it is all about conduct and life style choices.

 Think, unclean in, and clean out?  No, that is not what He said or is saying.  He obviously is not speaking of food, He is using the process of eating as a tool to help explain a principle by which men, teachers and such, make the Law nothing, by following their own thoughts and desires over the words of YaHshua, they "nullify" what is good by their teachings, not by the Word.

It is a matter of what we take in and improperly use that can have an influence on our minds but we only know this when we see what comes out -- when we open our mouths.  He then goes on to make plain He is not speaking of food, "For from within, out of men's hearts (mind), come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly".  There you have it, no mention of unclean meats at all, it is all about things men do and excuse, especially as we move ever closer to the coming of our Lord, YaHshua -- as we press on toward the days similar to the days of Noah, men excused the evilness of their hearts -- making  up down and down up when it comes to the Word and words of our Savior, YaHshua.  I will remind you, i YaHshua was YHWH of the Old Testament before He came to earth.  It was He that gave Moses the Law.  See this Link for more on that.

  It seems to me we have a a view not taught by many, or any that I have seen or read, and that is this -- what is outside of our minds, even though it enters in, does not, of itself, make us unclean.  But, if we entertain EVIL THOUGHTS and act on them then it becomes our uncleanness, our sin, and He gives us a pretty good list of just what kind of thoughts and actions He means.  These verses have nothing to do with making "unclean meats" clean, but is all about unclean actions.  Do you see it?  We are unindated with ideas and impulses and, according to YaHshua, we are not unclean, not until we act on it, or speak according to this evil. We are still clean so long as we do not act on these "outside" evil, unclean, influences.  Again, it is not about food, and this is why His disciples were confused, "dull in understanding", because they understood the clean and unlcean laws and like people of today they thought he was speaking about foods and they knew this could not be right because this would contradict spripture adn it troubled them.  His disappointment with them is seen and he makes it plain that He was, and is, speaking of the inner man, and what comes out of the mouth or action taken according to the immoral things He lists.  

For the new student in Gods' word it does not help when a translation team, such as those who worked on the NIV bible, addes a comment as though it is part of the verse as you can read in a copy of the NIV as meantioned above.   

  Can you believe the translators of the NIV added the words, in brackets, verse 19, that this is when the Messiah declared "all food clean"?  Incredible, the word has nothing to do with food but with your spiritual foods of the mind.  Remember, His original statement, things outside coming into you cannot harm or make you unclean, but what comes out is or can.  We must take care not entertain our mind to the point of acting on the evil that is ever present in this world we live in.  When it comes in, and in the world today it is nearly impossible to keep the unclean out, this of itself does not make you unclean -- no, it is what comes out of you.  You see evil and repeat or perform it, then it is a thing of uncleanliness. 

This is really a blessing, that we can be in this world, surrounded by things outside of our control, evil things, things we cannot avoid, but unless we take action (being influenced by the evil) we are not unclean.  Not unclean until we join in, being swayed and influenced by the evil we see, or hear.  We need not worry too much about our spiritual health as long as we eat healthy, mentally and otherwise.

So, what is the message?  Be careful how you speak, but most of all, how you act. 

The following verse is for those that can accept it, not all can as they are so trapped by this world's reasoning they end up nullifying the Word and begin to write, makeup, imagine their own path of righteousness as opposed to following the Word. 

(2Co 6:16-18)  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2Co 7:1) Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

What do you think is being said here?  Like I said, this is not for everyone, not everyone will be convinced by this scripture of what "our Lord" has said nor by your weaker brother, myself.  He wants to be a Father to us all, but we cannot come to Him if we ignore His Word.  Our spiritual well being is first and foremost and then our physical well being, and He tells us how to accomplish both and as an incentive, He tells us something about being and becoming a son or daughter of His.  Read the verses above in your own Bible, the message does not change, see for yourself.