Comments on: Should Christians only eat Kosher meat?

By: reuben

reuben — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 11:28:49 +0000

@Doug – i reckon you’re right with the non-jews thing. hence the reason to work out a position early on a la acts 15. The blood sausage issue actually came up for 2nd c christians! Tertullian says that they wouldn’t eat it!

@Sam – thanks, i was hoping you’d chip in. that’s a helpful clarification re: kosher food. Partly i was just trying for a noticeable title surprisingly i’ve had a number of searches land at this post looking for kosher christian food or similar!

I’ve posted again earlier today (which you’ve prob seen) and noted 1 cor 10 there. Paul talks about meat offered to idols (part of the acts 15 requirements) but not about strangled/blood does he? granted, they would have no idea how meat brought at the roman market was prepared though. also, I think it begs the question: was paul ignoring the terms agreed on in acts 15?

By: SamCohen

SamCohen — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:52:11 +0000

I haven’t read the book in question, but one thing which springs to mind is that, in practice, it is not the blood issue which dominates kosher cooking – it’s actually the not mixing of milk and meat, coupled with being selective about what you eat. I would argue these issues died out quite quickly – i.e. the cleanliness laws and rules on what you can eat are considered in the gospels and acts.

On the blood issue, coupled with the strangled meat and food sacrificed to idols, 1 Corinthians 10 anyone?

By: psychodougie

psychodougie — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 02:39:31 +0000

i reckon Christians stopped eating kosher as soon as non-Jews became Christians. but the blood question is interesting… what does this say about black sausage? and pork blood (mmm, szechuan hotpot!)?

By: reuben

reuben — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 03:11:39 +0000

He doesn’t say much more, but does point out that Christians are to ‘drink christ’s blood’ (Jn 6). It comes in ‘new testament links’ section of the chapter on exodus.

I think (for alexander) the problem is less with difference/anti-god practices (although that is part of it) than with respect for the life giver. i.e. all life (human + animal) belongs to God. the life is in the blood. not eating but giving back the blood shows respect for the life-giver.

I’ll post more in the next few days…possibly my first post series? we’ll see – had a quick dig around and it seems interesting.

By: Arthur

Arthur — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 06:53:49 +0000

What else does TD Alexander say about it?

Is the problem with blood itself, or with capitulating to anti-God practices/culture, or something else?

Here’s my gut starting point with a parallel example — I figure there’s nothing wrong with body mods in themselves (tattoos, hair dos, etc.), but in some cultures, certain body mods have certain anti-God connotations and should therefore be avoided by God’s people. That seems to tie in with food dedicated to idols, etc.

Digging and thinking — yes please. Would love to hear what you reckon.