Bacon: To Eat or Not to Eat?

Reading:   Leviticus 11

Now I have a better understanding of why the Jewish religion so disdains the flesh of pigs...

LEVITICUS 11:7

7    And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. 

There it is...pigs don't chew cud and are therefore unclean to eat.  Chapter eleven of Leviticus gives the entire menu of what is considered clean and healthy to consume versus those items which are not.   I would go deeper into the various categories of animal (ie. beasts, fowl, fishes, and creeping things) and what, in each category, is considered clean but, as a Christian, I pretty much eat everything so I will skip the details.

Why, you might ask, do I, as a Christian, choose not to follow this particular law, as contained in the Old Testament, and yet do follow others that seem, in the eyes of many, outdated as well (such as homosexuality).  Let me try and explain...far be it from me to understand the ways of God - meaning - I'm sure God had a reason to forbid the people from eating certain animals (ie. hogs notoriously carried various infectious elements that caused trichinosis; fever, muscle weakness, and diarrhea).  it quite simply may have been for obedience porpuses or simply to maintain a healthy populous based on cooking methods of the day - don't know.  What I do know is that Peter, of the New Testament, had a dream (Acts 10:10-15) and though that dream had multiple meanings, especially pertaining to missionary work, it does put an end to the law of Moses pertaining to clean and unclean eats...

¹⁰ And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance. ¹¹ And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: ¹² Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. ¹³ And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. ¹⁴ But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. ¹⁵ And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

As for modern day interpretation of the law, in regards to Jews, I think it stands more as an obedience issue than anything else.  Here is a link to a great explanation from the Fly Fishing Rabbi...Why Do Jews Not Eat Pork.

I applaud anyone who abstains from something as a point of self-mastery, especially those who choose not to eat the delectable bacon, and say, "Well done, carry on (more for me)."

~Kipling