The Bible And Lobster: A Sinful Delicacy?

The consumption of lobster is a topic of debate among Christians. Some believe that eating lobster is a sin, citing Leviticus 11:9, which states that one cannot eat any creature living in the water that does not have fins and scales. However, others argue that Jesus abolished dietary restrictions, as seen in Matthew 15:10-11, where he says, Listen and understand. What goes into someone's mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them. This interpretation suggests that Jesus is explaining that food cannot be a sin in itself, and that the dietary laws were specific to the Jews.

The Bible says only sea animals with fins and scales can be eaten

The Bible states that only sea animals with fins and scales can be eaten. This is found in Leviticus 11:9, which says that you cannot eat crab or lobster. However, in Matthew 15:10-11, Jesus says:

> Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.

This has been interpreted in different ways. Some believe that Jesus is explaining that it is not a sin to eat these things, and that it does not pertain to the New Covenant. However, others argue that Jesus is not lessening the dietary law, but rather explaining that it is not intrinsically a sin. Instead, it is still sinful to directly disobey God, who said for reasons other than that it offends him intrinsically that you are not to eat this thing.

Christians have traditionally viewed this as referring to the different types of laws in the Old Covenant. The Old Covenant was given to Israel, and included moral laws, civil laws, and ceremonial/sacrificial laws. Moral laws, such as "don't murder" or "tell the truth", are based on God's identity and are therefore binding on all people for all time. Civil laws were specific to Israel and provided legal organisation, while ceremonial/sacrificial laws governed Israel's worship of the Lord. Christians are no longer bound by civil and ceremonial/sacrificial laws, but they are still bound by moral laws.

Therefore, it is not a sin for Christians to eat lobster, as this falls under civil law, which is no longer binding.

Eating lobster was a ritually unclean act

The Old Covenant was given to Israel, telling them who they were, how they are to live, and how to be saved from their sins. It is important to remember that the Old Covenant was made with Israel but for the sake of all nations on the earth. That means God's eye was on both Israel and the world. It makes sense, then, that some of the laws are specific to Israel while others pertain to his desire for all humanity.

There are three types of laws in the Old Covenant: moral, civil, and ceremonial/sacrificial. Moral laws are about foundational human living, such as not worshipping idols, not murdering, telling the truth, and loving your neighbour as yourself. These laws remain binding on all people for all time because they are based on God's eternal nature and the imago Dei.

Civil laws are specific to Israel for their governance and legal organisation. For example, if someone steals your cattle, the civil law provides insight about what justice looks like. These laws were specific to Israel and while we may continue to learn from them, they are not binding.

Ceremonial/sacrificial laws direct Israel's worship of the Lord and govern the sacrifices presented in the temple. Christ fulfilled the ceremonial law by offering himself once for all.

Eating lobster falls under the civil law, which is particular to Israel and not binding on Christians today. This is why Christians uphold the Old and New Testament's teaching on sexuality while eating lobster.

Jesus explains that it is not what goes into someone's mouth that defiles them, but what comes out of their mouth. This distinction is made because evil is accounted for based on the intention of the heart, not the playing out in space and time of that intention.

However, one source argues that this does not mean that it is not a sin to eat lobster. Rather, it is sinful to directly disobey God, who said not to eat lobster, for reasons other than that it offends him.

Jesus says it doesn't matter what you eat

In the Bible, Jesus says it doesn't matter what you eat. In Mark 7:19, Jesus says:

> "Food does not go into a person’s mind. Food goes into his stomach. Then that food goes out of his body.' By saying this, Jesus was calling all foods 'clean.' For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of their body.’ In saying this, Jesus declared that all foods are clean."

This passage shows that Jesus was more concerned with what comes out of a person's mouth, rather than what goes into it. He believed that evil thoughts and deeds were what defiled a person, not the food they ate.

In the same vein, Romans 14:2-23 emphasizes that God welcomes all believers, regardless of their dietary choices. It says:

> "Who do you think you are to sit in judgment of someone else’s household servant? His own master is the one to evaluate whether he succeeds or fails...No one lives to himself and no one dies to himself...So dead or alive we belong to our Master...Why would you judge your brothers or sisters because of their diet, despising them for what they eat or don’t eat? For we each will have our turn to stand before God’s judgment seat...I know and am convinced by personal revelation from the Lord Jesus that there is nothing wrong with eating any food. But to the one who considers it to be unclean, it is unacceptable."

This passage highlights that believers should not judge or condemn one another based on their dietary choices. Instead, they should focus on living a life of peace and harmony, as this is what truly matters in God's kingdom.

Furthermore, the Bible also mentions that Jesus himself declared all foods clean. In Acts 10:9-16, Peter has a vision in which God tells him:

> "What God has made clean, do not call common."

This vision signifies that Jesus' death and resurrection have made all foods acceptable to eat, and that believers should not be concerned with dietary restrictions.

Therefore, while there may be varying interpretations and debates about specific foods like lobster, the overarching message from Jesus in the Bible is that it doesn't matter what you eat. Believers are called to live in peace and unity, respecting each other's convictions without passing judgment.

Christians view the Old Testament in terms of covenants rather than testaments

Christians view the Old Testament in terms of covenants, which are formal partnerships between God and humans, rather than testaments. Covenants are one of the most important themes in the Bible, as they are the key to God's redemptive plan to restore humanity to its divine calling.

The Bible describes five foundational covenants that God makes with Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David, before establishing the new covenant through Jesus. These covenants are found in the Old Testament and are essential for understanding God's work in history and the development of the biblical narrative.

The first covenant is made with Noah, where God promises to never again flood the earth, preserving the world and working towards rescuing humanity through the "offspring of the woman" (Genesis 3:15).

The second covenant is with Abraham, where God promises a large family that will inherit the land of Canaan and bring blessings to all humanity. This covenant is accompanied by the sign of circumcision, setting Abraham and his family apart.

The third covenant is with Moses, where God frees the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and leads them to Mount Sinai. Here, God establishes the nation of Israel and gives them the law, including the Ten Commandments, to follow.

The fourth covenant is with David, where God promises to make his name great and raise up a descendant from David's line, whose kingdom will last forever.

Finally, the fifth covenant is the new covenant established through Jesus, where God fulfils all the previous covenants and offers salvation and satisfaction to believing sinners.

Christians view these covenants as progressive revelations of God's plan and character, with each covenant building upon the other and leading towards the climax of Jesus' sacrifice and the establishment of the new covenant.

While the old covenant has passed away with the coming of Christ, the Old Testament still holds authority and relevance for Christians today. It provides a foundation for understanding Jesus' teachings and the New Testament, and it reveals the character and nature of God, including His grace, mercy, and wrath.

In conclusion, Christians view the Old Testament through the lens of covenants, recognising the progressive revelation of God's plan and the development of His relationship with humanity, culminating in the new covenant established through Jesus.

The Old Covenant was given to Israel

The Old Covenant was a conditional or bilateral agreement that God made with the Israelites. It was in effect during the dispensation of the Law and is "old" in comparison to the New Covenant. In the Old Covenant, the Israelites were required to obey God and keep the Law, and in return He protected and blessed them. The Old Covenant was fulfilled in Christ.

God's relationship with Israel was structured around covenants. A covenant is usually defined as an agreement or contract between two parties. However, an examination of the covenants God made with Israel reveals that they were decidedly one-sided. In other words, they were sovereign declarations. Even the Mosaic Covenant, which is viewed as conditional, in the final analysis, turns out to be unconditional, i.e., sovereignly established, because its provisions will be fulfilled through the New Covenant. Therefore, the best way to view these covenants is as promises.

God made six covenants with Israel: the Palestinian or Land Covenant, the Abrahamic Covenant, the Mosaic Covenant, the Sabbatical Covenant, the Davidic Covenant, and the New Covenant.

The foundational covenant for Israel’s relationship with God was the Abrahamic Covenant. It formed the groundwork for the promises that would be revealed in the other covenants. The Scriptures teach these covenants were given to Israel alone. The Scriptures declare national Israel will exist forever and God will never forsake the nation. God established a relationship with Abraham and that relationship began a new period of time in how God would deal with the human race. Gentiles would be blessed by being united to Israel and through abiding by the Abrahamic Covenant.

The Mosaic Covenant, unlike other covenants God gave to Israel, was temporal and conditional. It required obedience. God knew Israel would not, indeed, could not keep it—even though the people promised they would. In anticipation, God promised Israel a New Covenant to replace the Mosaic Covenant. Jesus inaugurated this New Covenant, but its fulfillment remains future.

Under the Mosaic Covenant, the Law was given. The Law’s purpose was to reveal and condemn sin, not to justify. The Mosaic Law is not for the Church, the body of Christ, i.e., Christians are not under the authority of the Mosaic Law. Christians are under grace, not Law, and called to liberty. Love is to be the operative motivation for the believer, and the believer is to conduct his life under the control of the Holy Spirit.

The New Covenant, a sovereign covenant which guarantees national Israel a converted heart, replaced the Old or Mosaic Covenant, which Israel failed to keep. Instead of the Law being written on tablets of stone, it will be written on the hearts of the people. When will this covenant be fulfilled? It will be fulfilled when all the sovereignly established covenants will be fulfilled—in the Messianic or Millennial kingdom.

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