Da Rules

Okay—so Stu has posted his thoughts about the “pork issue,” having finished Shocked By the Bible this week, and being somewhat intrigued by my original posting after I finished reading the book.

My original post said the chapter on unclean animals was interesting, and I had some thinking to do. Well, I’ve thought, and talked, and researched and now it’s time to share.

I remember growing up, actually addressing the issue of clean vs. unclean animals. But, the leaders in my congregation, in only the best interest of everyone involved, and with good hearts, I am most certain, taught us that the laws addressing the consumption of “unclean” animals went away with the coming of Jesus. There were various verses shared—basically saying that the old law is old law, and the new law says “Love one another.” Nothing about bacon in there, right?

Well, following this logic—there were some big laws set out in Leviticus. In chapter 20, the main idea is HOLINESS. In order to work towards holiness, one must stay away from mediums (magic), honor Mom and Dad, keep self adultery-free, no sexual perversion (incest, animals—that sort of thing), and make a distinction between clean and unclean animals while making the family menu. In following these rules, “You shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine” (v.26).

“But Tab...” you’re saying, “That’s Old Testament. I’m a New Testament Christian.” (that term never made sense to me—of COURSE you’re a New Testament Christian—Jesus as Christ the Messiah didn’t get here until the New Testament – as far as book chapters go, at least)

Okay, then—so read I Peter 1:13-16:
“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’”

Now, has the definition of holy changed that much from the Old Testament to the New? With all understanding that “holy” is not the same as “holier than thou,” and that we all sin, it doesn’t change the fact that we’ve been told to strive towards holiness—to strive to be more Christ-like. In the New Testament, nevertheless.

Things have changed since the Old Testament times, but in a different way. During O.T. times, Jerusalem was God’s chosen people. The End. No more allowed—just Jerusalem. Kind of exclusive, eh? In fact, VERY exclusive. No chance for anyone outside of the “family”.

But, with the coming of Christ, we all have the choice to include ourselves as a part of that group of God’s “chosen people.” Pretty nifty, if you ask me. However, as many “naturalized citizens” of any given country can attest, when you leave your first country behind, you’ve got to take on the rules of your new nation. You pay taxes, you follow laws, you do things—well—your new affiliation’s way of doing things. If it’s okay to avenge murder with death in your old country, and you come into the United States expecting the same, believe me—it won’t be the same for you here.

Kind of same with the Big Guy Upstairs (Yes, Connor—I believe that God is everywhere—I was just using a nickname). IF you’re going to be a part of His kingdom, you’ve got to play by His rules. He just happens to regard His rules as “being holy.”

Now, being holy is NOT being perfect. We’re sinners. God knows it. He made us. But we’ve got to put forth some effort to follow The Word. Just because we can’t achieve perfection doesn’t mean that we give up. And it certainly doesn’t mean pick and choose which rules to obey. God’s grace will get us to Heaven, but we’ve got to let Him know that we’re interested in that arrangement. How do we let Him know? Follow His rules.

So I follow the rules—for the most part. Some are easy to follow—some are not. I don’t have sex with anyone but Hubby—that’s easy. Certainly no perversions, either. No murdering, no idolatry, I don’t dabble in magic—no problems there. My mom and dad drove me crazy on occasions, and I haven’t always agreed with them, and yes, I’ve voiced my opinions with our differences—so maybe I have a little bit of a tough time with that one—but I get it, and I do my best. Check.

What’s next on the list?

Unclean vs. clean animals as meal choices. Whoa. Did I read I Peter right up there? SURELY he said, “Be holy for I am holy. Oh, and you can forget about the unclean animals bit. They’re fine now.” Certainly Christ washed all those impurities out too, right? No?

“But…” to quote Vincent Vega, “Bacon tastes good. Pork chops taste good.”

Alas, I think I’m going to have to reconstruct my thinking and go with Jules on this one.

“I just don’t dig on swine. Pigs are filthy animals. I don’t eat filthy animals.”

(Yes, I know the quote is mixed up and missing stuff, but you get the point.)

Here’s another New Testament quote for you:

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Paul tells the Church in Corinth not to be “yoked together” with unbelievers[DIFFERENT THAN BEING A HELP TO UNBELIEVERS (-me)]. “What fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness?” He then quotes Isaiah and Ezekiel: “As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk behind them. I will be their God, and they shall be my people.’ Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.’ ‘I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

Again—there are many things listed as “unclean,” certain meat is part of this list, as is incest and dishonoring parents and idolatry (and I haven’t even touched on all the Big 10 yet).

We’re expected to make that distinction—the distinction between following and not following the rules—for all of it. Are there a lot of things to consider? Sure. Is it hard? Of course. But God sent Jesus-- His only Son-- to die for us. I imagine that was unequivocally hard, especially since we don't deserve that sacrifice. Certainly we can make a sacrifice (albeit small) for Him.

Now, I don’t want anyone to finish reading this and say, “Well, don’t you think you’re special?”
My reply—“not any more special than you.”

This is where I am—where Stu and I are—in our journey. We’ve come to this realization, thanks to Joe Kovacs and http://www.breitbart.com/ (where Stu first saw Kovacs’ book).

Stu’s take on this is on his blog (if you haven’t read it yet, go here: http://waltsweb68.tripod.com/stu_blog/ The entry is titled “Being a Good Christian.”). We’re not sharing for any other reason than to share our realizations, and help people question themselves and think about why we make the choices we all make—all the choices we make. Are there meaningful reasons, or do we do things just because we’ve always done them this way? This is not just about pork products—or unclean animals. There’s more out there to consider.

It’s all worth thinking about.