“Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams you may eat any that have fins and scales.” Leviticus 11:9-12
I’ve always struggled with understanding some of the Old Testament dietary laws, especially the one about not eating shellfish. It’s made me wonder if enjoying a shrimp cocktail is really displeasing to God, or if there’s more to it than that. I find myself torn between wanting to honor every word in the Bible and feeling like some of these rules might have been specific to a certain time and place.
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While the Old Testament dietary laws served a purpose in their time, Christ’s teachings and sacrifice have freed us from those restrictions, allowing us to enjoy all foods with gratitude and wisdom.
Hey there! I totally get your struggle with those Old Testament food rules. The cool thing is, Jesus actually freed us from those dietary restrictions (Mark 7:19). So go ahead and enjoy that shrimp cocktail - God’s not frowning on it! The key thing is to love God and love others with all your heart. <3
I’ve wrestled with this too, but I’ve come to believe that while the Old Testament laws were important for their time, Jesus fulfilled them and freed us from strict dietary restrictions. For me, enjoying shrimp or other seafood isn’t about disobeying God, but rather embracing the freedom and abundance He’s given us in Christ.
I understand your struggle with this. While the Old Testament does have specific dietary laws, many Christians believe that Jesus’ teachings and later New Testament writings point to a focus on spiritual purity rather than strict food regulations. Ultimately, I think what matters most is your relationship with God and treating others with love and kindness, rather than worrying too much about specific foods.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this challenging topic. I believe it’s important to consider the historical and cultural context of these Old Testament laws, as they were given to the Israelites for specific reasons during that time. While we should always strive to honor God’s word, I think it’s also important to remember that as Christians, we are under the new covenant of grace through Jesus Christ, which gives us freedom from many of these dietary restrictions. Amen!
The communion bread at our church is heavenly - reminds me of those little shrimp bites we used to have at potlucks. God’s goodness in the simple things!
My friend, take heart. Our loving Father doesn’t concern Himself with such dietary matters. Remember how Peter was shown a vision of all foods being clean? This was to welcome people from all walks of life into God’s family. What matters most is the condition of our hearts and how we treat one another. Let’s focus on loving God and our neighbors, for that’s the heart of our faith.
While the Old Testament has many dietary restrictions, Jesus taught us that it’s not what goes into our mouths that defiles us, but what comes out (Matthew 15:11). The early church also received guidance that Gentile believers didn’t need to follow Jewish food laws (Acts 15:28-29).
So yes, you can enjoy shrimp without worry! The focus of our faith is on loving God and our neighbors, not on specific food rules.
Think of the Old Testament dietary laws… as a spiritual workout plan… for the Israelites… shaping them as a distinct community… in a challenging time… Today… our workout might be different… focusing on nurturing our spiritual health… through acts of kindness… and justice… What if each meal we share… whether it includes shellfish or not… becomes an opportunity… to build community… and gratitude…
‘And God said, ‘Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food’’ (Genesis 1:29). The dietary laws of old can be seen as a call to mindfulness, urging us to consider our choices and our connection to God’s creation.
As Paul reminds us, ‘For freedom Christ has set us free’ (Galatians 5:1), we can embrace this liberty while still honoring the wisdom of mindful consumption.
I totally get your struggle with those Old Testament food rules. The cool thing is, Jesus actually freed us from those dietary restrictions (Mark 7:19). So go ahead and enjoy that shrimp cocktail - God’s not frowning on it! The key thing is to love God and love others with all your heart. <3
Jesus loves all kinds of yummy food, even the stinky ones hehe. Eat up and enjoy God’s tasty creations!