Dietary Restrictions and Other Forms of Control

To what extent are Christian churches justified in imposing dietary and other restrictions on their members, which are not found in the bible. There is quite a lot of that going around.

In the early days of the Catholic Church scaring people with eternity in hellfire was sufficient to control them. That doctrine has less appeal now for some reason. Instead there are restrictions on coffee, tea, pork, porn etc and in some cases churches are promoting veganism.

Looks like anything to exercise control.

@Rajk999

Can you give an example of a Christian church which imposes dietary restrictions ?

@moonbus said
@Rajk999

Can you give an example of a Christian church which imposes dietary restrictions ?

Seven Day Adventists is one. They originally started off with focusing on the Law of Moses which prohibits certain meats. Now it appears that they are telling their people now that they are to go back to the laws of God in the Garden of Eden. Failure to do this would make them unworthy of being in Gods Kingdom. There is a lot of hype now about the return of Christ, the tribulation and the rapture and churches are using peoples gullibility to get them in line, with the idea that Christ return is now so changes have to be made.

In the Garden of Eden people were vegans apparently. After the flood people were carnivores. Got most of this first hand from friends in the SDA churches.

@Rajk999

Seems to me to be an extreme, non-mainstream, interpretation, which Matt. 15:11 definitively refutes.

@rajk999 said
That doctrine has less appeal now for some reason. Instead there are restrictions on coffee, tea, pork, porn etc and in some cases churches are promoting veganism.

Looks like anything to exercise control.

Worth noting that before the flood, mankind didn't have God's permission to eat meat.

“I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.” (Genesis 1:29)


Only after the flood, when mankind had become less perfect and more like the animals were they given consent to eat meat.

"Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs." (Genesis 9:1-3)


A Christian therefore, striving to return to their perfect state, should seriously consider veganism/vegetarianism.

@moonbus

At one time the Catholic Church tried to dissuade the faithful from eating meat on a Friday, but encouraged the eating fish instead.

This linked back to "Good Friday". I don't know if this is stil observed but it was.

Also some groups shun delicacies like Black Pudding because it's primary constituent is blood (hence also known as a blood sausage) - there clear scrptual prohibitions on partaking of blood.

4 edits to get this right? My typing is appalling these days 🙄

@medullah said
@moonbus

At one time the Catholic Church tried to dissuade the faithful from eating meat on a Friday, but encouraged the eating fish instead.

This linked back to "Good Friday". I don't know if this is stil observed but it was.

Also some groups shun delicacies like Black Pudding because it's primary constituent is blood (hence also known as a blood sausage) - there ...[text shortened]... ohibitions on partaking of blood.

4 edits to get this right? My typing is appalling these days 🙄

Too many blood sausages perhaps?

@medullah said
@moonbus

there clear scrptual prohibitions on partaking of blood.

There is a scripture, but it’s not “clear” on exactly what it means.

@moonbus said
@Rajk999

Seems to me to be an extreme, non-mainstream, interpretation, which Matt. 15:11 definitively refutes.

Correct, and Paul here as well:
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. (1 Timothy 4:1-3 KJV)

This is the passage that references abstaining from blood.

KJV Acts 15:29

29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

This is the same passage, but from the Easy To Read Translation

29 Don’t eat food that has been given to idols.

Don’t eat meat from animals that have been strangled or any meat that still has the blood in it.

Don’t be involved in sexual sin.

If you stay away from these, you will do well.

We say goodbye now.



So if the bible isn't talking about eating blood, as was a common practice at the time of the Roman Empire, what is it talking about?

@Ghost-of-a-Duke

Lack of Guinness I think

The wife used to like black pudding but has gone totally veggie due to Lupus

@medullah said
This is the passage that references abstaining from blood.

KJV Acts 15:29

29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

This is the same passage, but from the Easy To Read Translation

29 Don’t eat food that has been given to idols. ...[text shortened]... ut eating blood, as was a common practice at the time of the Roman Empire, what is it talking about?

Yes, eating blood is prohibited both in the Law of Moses and in the NT. Although Paul did say let no man judge you in any matter pertaining to food and drink. Really it is of no relevance after Christ.

@ghost-of-a-duke said
Worth noting that before the flood, mankind didn't have God's permission to eat meat.

“I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.” (Genesis 1:29)


Only after the flood, when mankind had become less perfect and more like the animals were they given conse ...[text shortened]... refore, striving to return to their perfect state, should seriously consider veganism/vegetarianism.

This is a contentious point. The bible in my opinion does not contain all the fine details required to understand everything. We have to draw on the other books in the Jewish library and historical accounts. Why did Abel and many others at that time immediately after the fall of man keep flocks of animals? I think eating the meat would be one reason.

In the Book of Jubilees [which is like a detailed Genesis account], God gives people the instructions on how to perform animal sacrifices prior to the flood. Just like in the Law of Moses, the priest/people must also partake of the flesh of the animal. There were instructions of which animals were clean and which unclean. All of this happened long before Noah.

The difference is that after the flood, there was a change in the behaviour of the animals. Prior, they seem to be tame, but after they were wild and lived in fear of man. Also, all animals could be eaten, whereas prior to the flood, it appears that only clean animals could be eaten.

But, this needs some more research.

@medullah said
This is the passage that references abstaining from blood.

KJV Acts 15:29

29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

This is the same passage, but from the Easy To Read Translation

29 Don’t eat food that has been given to idols. ...[text shortened]... ut eating blood, as was a common practice at the time of the Roman Empire, what is it talking about?

I didn’t say it wasn’t talking about blood, I said it isn’t clear exactly what it means.

For examples:
- JWs forbid blood transfusions, most other Christians don’t.
- most Christians eat red meat containing blood, some don’t.
- many Christians eat black pudding, many don’t.

@rajk999 said
Yes, eating blood is prohibited both in the Law of Moses and in the NT. Although Paul did say let no man judge you in any matter pertaining to food and drink. Really it is of no relevance after Christ.

God also said to Peter “go kill and eat” when he had the vision of the blanket containing all types of animals which were good for food.