Unclean Meats
The SDA Dictionary says: “The expression ‘unclean’ is a rendering generally of the Hebrew tame, “ceremonially polluted,” “defiled,” “unclean, and the Greek akathartos, “impure,” “defiled,” “unclean.” Animals declared by the Law of Moses [as given by God himself] to be unfit for either food or sacrifice. The purpose in distinguishing certain animals as clean and others as unclean was apparently two-fold—dietary and religious.
There are Christians who claim that the prohibition to eat the flesh of animals God classified as “unclean” in the Old Testament was only for the Hebrews and Jews, or that such was “done away with at the cross,” implying that it was part of the ceremonial law. This is preposterous if not absurd. First of all Christ did not die on Calvary in order that “non-Jews” and the so-called “New Testament Christians” may eat the flesh of dead animals that He himself declared as unclean and an abomination! Second, the animals declared as unclean in the days of Moses and Noah, are still the same animals today! That is the reason why the Bible goes as far as to name them specifically. See Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14: 1-20; cf. Genesis 7: 1-3.
Some say Noah and his family subsisted on the flesh of clean animals while inside the ark. But the Bible says what food Noah and his family were to eat while inside the ark. See Genesis 6: 21. “The food that is eaten” was not flesh meat for Noah was ordered “to preserve them alive” (vs. 19, 20, K.J.V.). It the “meat” or food given to Adam and Eve as specified in Genesis 1: 29, 30.
Beasts classified as clean are cloven-hoofed and chew the cud. For instance, the hyrax, or rock hare and the rabbit chew their cud but are not cloven-hoofed. The swine or pig is cloven-hoofed but does not chew cud; its flesh is particularly mentioned as abominable to God yet is the centerpiece of most cultures in their feasts and celebrations whether Christian or non Christians, particularly those classed as pagan or heathen with the exception of Moslems, Seventh-day Adventists. Buddhists, Jains and Hindus usually avoid eating any kind of flesh meats. The Batak tribe of Indonesia have a dish which is made up of either a combination of pork and dog meat, or only of dog meat which the majority of Indonesian Muslims disdain.
The sea animals classified as clean are only the fish with scales; all the rest are unclean, including all crustaceans and mollusks. It is surprising that some Christians who uphold this Biblical classification of clean and unclean classification eat shrimp claiming it “has scales.” First of all shrimp, sea crayfish, crawfish (freshwater shrimps), lobsters are not fish but are macruran crustaceans. Crustaceans, according to Webster are “a large class of arthropods, principally aquatic, including lobsters, shrimp, crabs (including the land crab, coconut crab, etc), wood lice, water fleas, barnacles, etc., commonly covered with a chitinous integument.” Sting ray, skate, octopus, squid, and sharks do not have scales. ; they are definitely not fish. The whale and shark families do not have scales, do not chew any cud, and certainly do not have cloven hoof. All winged fowl that are birds of prey are unclean. The swan is specifically mentioned as unclean which belong to the class of birds whose feet are webbed such as the duck.
See “Great Facts on Pork” at: www.themodernreligion.com/misc/hh/pork.html. Here it says:
“Many Far Eastern traditions also discourage the eating of pork. The 3,00o year old Confucian Book of Rites, says ‘A gentleman does not eat the flesh of pigs and dogs.’ Although many Chinese are avid eaters of pork today, physicians of ancient China recognized pork-eating as the root of many human ailments. Buddhists, Jains and Hindus usually avoid eating any kind of meat.
“Bad Effects of Pork Consumption.—Pig’s bodies contain many toxins, worms and latent diseases. Although some of these infestations are harbored in other animals, modern veterinarians say that pigs are far more predisposed to these illnesses than are other animals. This could be because pigs like to scavenge and will eat any kind of food, including dead insects, worms, rotting carcasses [animal or human], excreta (including their own), garbage, and other pigs (cannibalism).
“Influenza (flu) is one of the most famous diseases which pigs share with humans. This illness is harbored in the lungs of pigs during the summer months and tends to affect pigs and humans in the cooler months. Sausage containing bits of pigs’ lungs, so those who eat pork sausage tend to suffer more during epidemics of influenza. Pig meat contains excessive amounts of histamine and imidazole compounds, which can lead to itching and inflammation; growth hormone, which leads to swelling and deposits of mucus in tendons and cartilage, resulting in arthritis, rheumatism, etc.
Sulfur helps cause firm human tendons and ligaments to be replaced by the pigs’ soft mesenchymal tissues, and degeneration of the human cartilage. Eating pork can also lead to gallstones and obesity, probably due to its high cholesterol and saturated fat content. The pig is the main carrier of the taenia solium worm, which is found in its flesh. These tapeworms are found in human intestines with greater frequency in nations where pigs are eaten. This type of tapeworm can pass through the intestines and affect many other organs, and is incurable once it reaches beyond a certain stage.
One in six people in the U.S. and Canada has trichinosis from eating trichina worms which are found in pork. [This should be much higher in the Philippines and in Latin American countries European countries such as Italy who love]. Many people don’t have symptoms to warn them of this, and when they do, they resemble symptoms of many other illnesses. These worms are not noticed during meat inspections, nor are they killed by salting or smoking. Few people cook the meat long enough to kill the trichinae. The rat (another scavenger) also harbors this disease. There are dozens of other worms, germs, diseases and bacteria which are commonly found in pigs, many of which are specific to the pig, or found in greater frequency in pigs.
Pigs are biologically similar to humans, and their meat is said to taste similar to human flesh. Pigs have been used for dissection in biology labs due to the similarity between their organs and human organs. People with insulin-dependent diabetes usually inject themselves with pig insulin.
Every creature was created by Allah [God] for a purpose. The Prophet always encouraged being kind to animals. Although we do not eat the meat of the pig, it doesn’t mean that we should hate pigs. We should show the same kindness as any other animal, and not abuse or torture them. Pigs score high on tests devised to determine animal intelligence [?]; in other words, they are very smart. It used to be that European people believed that pork would taste better if the pigs were kept in a state of filth, but this is not the natural inclination of the pig. When left to their own devices, it is said that pigs do not like to soil their sleeping quarters. As for their tendency to wallow in the mud, that is done mainly to keep cool.”
Eating pork (hog, or swine flesh) is particularly abominable, and an act of rebellion towards God, much more so by those who call themselves followers of Christ—and have been made aware and convicted of this course. See Isa. 65: 1-7! Even caring for it was considered a severe degradation. Luke 15:16. When Jesus cast out demons from the demoniacs at Gadarene, guess where the devils entered into? Yes, into the swine, not the cattle or sheep or dogs. There were the mad pigs–not the mad cows or mad dogs! See Matt. 8:30-32. Swine are used to symbolize false teachers 2 Pet. 2: 22; indiscreet women, Prov. 11: 22, and the reprobate, Matt. 7:6.
Is it Still Safe to Eat the Flesh of Clean Animals Today?
The bar has been raised but the law of God and the divine plan to restore man to his original state remains the same. Nothing can be added or taken away from it without incurring additional guilt upon those who presumptuously dare to do so. But a people are being prepared–body, mind, soul, and spirit in the last days of earth’s history to be the incontrovertible evidence that God’s plan of salvation is perfection that includes all who will accept it and follow it by faith. They will overcome even as Christ overcame in all points where Adam and Eve were tempted and fell. Such people would have returned to the original diet given to Adam and Eve before the transgression. It is also referred to the translation diet.
All born after 1844 are living under the proclamation of the three angels’ messages which begun with the announcement of the judgment-hour in which time the cleansing of the sanctuary and the pre-advent judgment of Daniel 8:14 have been in progress since then. It closes when all who will inherit eternal life have been determined. Only the cases of those who profess faith in Christ’s sacrifice beginning with Adam are here included. The rest of the cases of the wicked are taken up during the millennium.
It is still true. The distinction between the clean and unclean animals remains unchanged. But the condition of all living things and the world’s environment has steadily deteriorated since God classified them as such by the unbending laws of genetics and heredity and the evil that man has brought upon himself in rebellion against God’s moral and physical laws. The quality of the flesh even of clean animals are today have become “unclean, i.e., filled with all kinds of diseases of de generation and pollution. As Paul wrote in his time, and thus particularly now: “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain until now.” Rom. 8: 22, K.J.V.
See Child Guidance, “Eating to Live” chapter 62, pp. 378-392.
Reasons for Discarding Flesh Foods.—“Those who eat flesh are but eating grains and vegetables at second hand, for the animal receives from these things that produces growth. The life that was in the grains and vegetables passes into the eater. We receive it by eating the flesh of the animal. How much better to get it direct, by eating the food that God provided for our use!
Flesh [even of the clean animals] was never the best food; but its use is now doubly objectionable, since disease in animals is so rapidly increasing. Those who use flesh foods little know what they are eating! [Try checking out what hotdogs and all kinds of sausages are made of!]. Often if they could see the animals when living and know the quality of the meat they eat, they would turn from it with loathing. People are continually eating flesh that is filled with tuberculosis and cancerous germs. Tuberculosis, cancer, and other fatal diseases are thus communicated.”
Effects Not Immediately Realized. — The effects of a flesh diet may not be immediately realized, but this is no evidence that it is not harmful. Few can be made to believe that it is the meat they have eaten which have poisoned their blood and caused their suffering. Many die of diseases wholly due to meat-eating, while the real cause is not suspected.”
Return to the Original Wholesome Diet. — Is it not time that all should aim to dispense with flesh foods? How can those who are seeking to become pure, refined, and holy, that they may have the companionship of heavenly angels, continue to use as food anything that has so harmful and effect on soul and body? How can they take the life of God’s creatures that they may consume the flesh as a luxury? Let them, rather, return to the wholesome and delicious food given to man in the beginning.”
The Course of Those Awaiting Christ’s Coming. —“Among those who are waiting for the coming of the Lord, meat-eating will eventually be done away; flesh will cease to form a part of their diet. We should ever keep this end in view and endeavor to work steadily toward it. . . . . in the practice of flesh eating we are (not) in harmony with the light which God has been pleased to give us.”
Back to God’s Design. – “Again and again I have been shown that God is bringing His people back to His original design, that is, not to subsist on the flesh of dead animals. He would have us teach people a better way. . . . If meat is discarded, of the taste is not educated in that direction, if a liking for fruits and grains is encouraged, it will soon be as God in the beginning designed it should be. No meat will be used by His people.”(to be continued)