Is it okay to consume seafood in this day and age?

----- Original Message -----

From: Paul Stringini

To: Name Withheld

Sent: Monday, July 09, 2012 4:29 PM

Subject: Re: Is it okay to consume seafood in this day and age?

Name Witheld, Sorry, I'm a bit behind on email.

This is a matter of conscience. I don't buy into any doctrine that says we have to go back and follow the old testament law. I think it is foolishness, it can't be done. We have been given liberty in Christ to ignore the Jewish law.

Mark 7:15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
17 And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.
18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;
19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?
20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

And this is the crux of the issue, you danced around it a bit, you asked , "Is it okay ?"

What does "OK" actually mean? Is it unrighteous? Is it sin? Will I fail to inherit eternal life? Even some of the people I have argued with over this issue have been reluctant to say outright that it is a SIN to eat Pork, crab, whatever. They usually try to take the angle that "It is for your health." But I don't believe in that kind of pragmatic view of God, you might as well outlaw butter. Many of the The Old Testament laws are arbitrary. Like the tassels and fringes that people are supposed to wear on the hems of their garments (and some Christian's even try to say we ought to practice this today.)

What it stems from is sinful people trying to go about establishing themselves as righteous, it makes them feel good to abstain from certain foods, it makes them feel special (that was the original intent of the law, Israel was a special nation) It gives us a sort of boost, I certainly understand the feeling, when I overcame my drug and alcohol addiction years ago, it certainly boosted me. But sometimes people will take things like eating the "right " foods and forget about the more important issues of righteousness. The truth is that nothing you eat can make you "defiled" or "sinful" there is no sinful food, gluttony is sinful, but that is not the food's fault. it is a heart issue. That is where I would make my stand, because all the "buts in the world cannot stand up to the simple saying of Christ

...that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; (but drugs do enter the heart)
19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?
20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

So-called forbidden Food cannot make you sinful. And if it cannot make you sinful then really there is no food which in moderation should cause you any concern.

Feel free to ask any follow-up question , I will answer as I am able.

Sincerely

Paul Stringini