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Unclean Food

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › Christian Living › Unclean Food

The question

Please read Mark 7:14-19, Matthew 15:10, Romans 14:14, and 1 Cor 6:12-13.

From the above verses, it seems that we are told no food can defile us. At the same time, eating certain food can be harmful to our bodies which we are to take care of otherwise we would be sinning against them.  "...Certain unclean animals are known to transfer diseases to humans: the pig bears trichinosis; the hare, tularemia; carrion-eating birds, various diseases. Eating animal suet is now known to lead to heart disease...Most unhealthy foods (e.g., poisonous plants)..." (Excerpted from Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, under 'Clean, Unclean' http://bible1.crosswalk.com/Dictionaries/BakersEvangelicalDictionary/bed.cgi.

How can one reconcile that with the following biblical references: (Mark14:15), (1 Cor 6:12), and (Romans14:14)?

The answer

The New Testament directs us to think of uncleanness in a spiritual not a literal way. It is no longer a list of clean or unclean food. However, if I know that a certain kind of food is harmful to my body and still eat it, then I commit a sin. In addition, even if this food is not harmful to my body, but I know that it will make my brother stumble, then I should not eat it otherwise I am committing a sin.

To eat anything that harms the body is definitely a sin because the Holy Bible says, "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?" (1 Cor 6:19).

You mentioned "everything is permissible for me" (1 Cor 6:12) but you didn't continue the same verse which says "but all things are not helpful" (1 Cor 6:12). So although I can eat any unclean food, it is not helpful to do so. God is giving us the free will to choose to keep our holiness or to defile ourselves.

Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)

Related questions

Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 1060 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.