From: Malachi.Robertson@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Malachi Robertson)
Subject: clean and unclean under the new covenant
Organization: Extended Bulletin Board Service
Distribution: alt.messianic
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 18:40:40 GMT

My religious organization has supported the continuing validity for all
believers of the Old Testament dietary laws. These along with verses
concerning the primitive diet of humanity before and after the fall are
some general guidelines used to obey what is brought out in I Corinthians
6:19, 20:  "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy
Spirit within you, which you have from G_d, and that you are not your own?
For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify G_d in your body."

Unfortunately, I have been unable most of the time to see why those
dietary laws were still applicable to me.  Recently upon reading some
scholarly work concerning a different issue in our church, I was given a
glimpse of some reasons for the continued validity of those laws.

1)  The scriptures make plain that animals were separated as clean and
unclean at the time of the deluge.  Although not directly tied into diet,
the literary structure (somehow) suggests a connection.  Also, in Gen. 9
not all animal are allowed to be eaten, but every remes (a subset of the
animals).  This may suggest a reference to keeeping things clean.
2)  The distinction is clearly not based upon ritual.
3)  Unlike other types of uncleanness mentioned in Leviticus, the food
laws lack a way for making them clean.  This may suggest perpetual
uncleanness.
4)  Indications exist that the dietary laws applied to non-Israelites as
well as Israelites.  Leviticus 20:25 mentions the animal distinctions in
the context of practices that defile the land in general.  Leviticus 18
mentions some of the same practices in Leviticus 20 and mentions that they
led to the defilement of the land and the expulsion of its people.  It
should also be noted that the word for abomination in Lev. 18 appears
directly in connection with the food distinctions in Deuteronomy 14:3. 
Another text under this consideration is Lev. 17:13 concerning the statute
against eating blood:  "And anyone of the people of Israel, or of the
aliens who reside among them, who hunts down an animal or bird THAT MAY BE
EATEN shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth."  Here in
reference to the Isrealite and foreigner is a suggestion of distinction
between animals that may be eaten and those that may not be.
5)  The distinction continues in the New Testament as it is not abolished.
This consideration is based on the notion that the texts that many bring
up as somehow making all animals clean are in reality dealing with a
condemnation of a pracitce of defilement by association; that is, if a
clean object touched an unclean object it would then be defiled or common.
In Mark 7 all different foods are not defiled by the unwashed hands.  If a
person touches a piece of kosher and clean meat with unwashed hands, then
they do not make it defiled.  In Acts 10 Peter can not eat anything that
is presented to him as by association anything clean would by association
be common to him.  G_d's answer is not to tell Peter don't call any animal
unclean (in the typical distinction sense), but rather "What G_d has
declared clean, you must not call common" (v. 14).  There has been some
confusion over the Greek word kionos.  It does not mean unclean
(akathartos), but it has been translated as that sometimes.  In Romans
14:14 Paul is discussing kionos not akathartos.  He also appears to be
deriding the defilement by association practice.
6)  Also, the reasoning for the dietary laws is tied to holiness.  This is
seen in Lev. 11 and Lev. 20.  And as I have posted in the end of my
introduction the people of the new covenant are also called to holiness. 
What better way to look for what holiness means than to the Old Testament.

These are in general the consideration presented to me.  I would
appreciate comments or criticisms for I view myself as a seeker of the
truth who is ready to reevaluate my current position if the Scriptures
warrant it.  Thanks for your time.

******************************************************************************

"You shall therefore make a distinction between the clean animal and the
unclean, and between the unclean bird and the clean; you shall not bring
abomination on yourselves by animal or by bird or by anything with which
the ground teems, which I have set apart for you to hold unclean.  You
shall be holy to me; for I the LORD am holy, and I have separated you from
the other peoples to be mine."  Lev. 20:25,26

"Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all
your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is
revealed.  Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that
you formerly had in ignorance.  Instead, as he who called you holy, be
holy yourselves in all your conduct; for it is written, "You shall be
holy, for I am holy." I Peter 1:13-16

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