You Are What You Eat

I grew up seeing Christians eat pork like Leviticus 11 didn't speak against it. Not once did anyone explain why we living contrary to that law. Eventually I decided to find out for myself. Spoiler alert, I realized the Bible didn't give us permission to eat things God told us not to.

PSALMS to God · You Are What You Eat

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 1 Corinthians 6:19 NKJV

• What you eat matters!!
• What you eat affects your physical health[3][4][5]
• What you eat affects your mental health[1][2]
• Think about what happens to your mind and body when you consumer things such as: coffee/caffeine, heavy drugs (e.g., heroin), alcohol, medication, etc.
• When I changed my diet I saw major differences. When I cut out unclean meat, it was like a Claritin clear commercial. When I cut out meat entirely, I no longer struggle with eczema, I have less menstral cramping, and I have more energy.
• God gave us specific information concerning what we eat from the very beginning!

I actually have an episode from season 1 with the same title. 🤷🏾‍♀️ It's worth a listen to if you haven't heard it yet (it's about self control when eating)

Genesis 1:29 & Genesis 2:16-17

• God gives Adam and Eve permission to eat from all seed bearing vegetation
• God's only rule is that they cannot eat from the Tree of Knowledge—the first and only rule before the fall was about what people consumed as food.
• for more information check out: You Are What You Eat: The Original Diet

Genesis 9:3-5

• God introduced flesh into our diet after the flood
• Noah knew the difference between clean and unclean animals; this is evidenced in Genesis 7:2,8 and Genesis 8:20. If Noah had been expected to eat and/or sacrifice the unclean animals, God would have told him to bring equal amounts of those animals.

Leviticus 11

• This is where we (the reader) are introduced to the definition of clean and unclean meat
• This definition had to exist before Moses wrote this chapter as Noah already knew what clean and unclean was. A precedence had already been set that only clean animals were sacrificed (meat eaten was always sacrificed first). Also, Islam formed from descendents of Abraham's oldest son, Ishmael, who lived long beofre Moses. Islam adheres to a similar dietary law—differences in the law could be due to passing down word of mouth, versus God re-establishing the definition with Moses.

Isaiah 66

• During the end times there consuming swine (pork) is still considered an abomination
• Read Isaiah 65 to under the context that these verses reference the end of days
• for more information check out: You Are What You Eat: Isaiah 66

Why do people think we have permission to eat unclean meat?

Mark 7 / Matthew 15

• People generally skip to "it's not what goes in but what comes out that defiles a man"
• The context of the passage is that the Pharisees were upset the disciples didn't wash their hands before eating bread
• This passage doesn't address unclean food, and if it did Peter wouldn't have been so shocked in Acts 10 since he was present for Christ's lecture
• for more information check out: You Are What You Eat: Mark 7

Acts 10

• Peter has a vision where he is told to kill and eat unclean animals
• Peter rejects this idea and boasts that he has never eaten unclean meat (this how we know Jesus didn't give them permission to do so in Mark 7)
• As with most dreams/visions in the Bible, we are told what the dream represents: Acts 10:28 and Acts 11:1-18
• The "beasts" in the dream symbolized unclean nations (the Gentiles); this follows the pattern of dreams in the Bible (see Daniel 7)
• for more information check out: You Are What You Eat: Acts 10

Romans 14

• The weak man eats only vegetables, but the strong one eats meat
• Note that the contrast is between vegetarian and omnivore, not clean and unclean meat
• Parallels 1 Corinthians 8 and 10, which are about meat sacrificed to idols
• for more information check out: You Are What You Eat: Romans 14

1 Timothy 4:1-7

• Can you actually eat all things? You can't eat bleach, poison, things you're allergic to, etc.
• Key phrase: "God created to be received with thanksgiving"
  What was created to be received with thanksgiving? Seed bearing plants and clean meat
• Notice that both forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from clean meats is something that is done in the Catholic Church (and some protestant churches that kept traditions such as Lent)
• for more information check out: You Are What You Eat: 1 Timothy 4:1-7

Colossians 2

• This is about man made docrtines—while the Jews were notorious for adding to the law, there is a dietary law given by God
• Eating healthy is not an ordinance that is against you—the ordinances that were against the Israelites were the ones that required death and/or sacrifice when they broke them
• The list of things not to be judged on all related to the feast days and the ceremonial law (sacrifices)

¹⁷“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. ¹⁸For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. ¹⁹Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.Matthew 5:17-19 NKJV

References & Footnotes

1. Jeremy P. E. Spencer. "Food for thought: the role of dietary flavonoids in enhancing human memory, learning and neuro-cognitive performance: Symposium on ‘Diet and mental health’". Cambridge University Press; Volume 67, Issue 2. May 2008, pp. 238-252
2. Adrienne O'Neil, PhD et al. "Relationship Between Diet and Mental Health in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review". American Journal of Public Health. October 2014
3. "Diet and Health: Implications for Reducing Chronic Disease Risk". National Research Council (US) Committee on Diet and Health. 1989
4. WC Willet. "Diet and health: what should we eat?". Science ; Volume 264, Issue 5158. April 22 1994, pp. 532-537
5. Marian Glick-Bauer and Ming-Chin Yeh. "The Health Advantage of a Vegan Diet: Exploring the Gut Microbiota Connection". Nutrients. 2014

You Are What You Eat: Romans 14

Eating Herbs/Vegetables vs. Eating 'All Things'

²For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. ³Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Romans 14:2-3 KJV

Introduction

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Stefan Vladimirov

I started the You Are What You Eat Series a long time ago and for some reason, I never finished it. I believe I became tied up with life, probably the podcast, and other ideas. Eventually I forgot I had even started the series. However, I still feel like this is an important topic so I'm picking up where I left off and continuing. If you only recently began following the blog, I'd advise you start from the beginning of the series with "You Are What You Eat: Introduction".

Romans 14:2-3 is the second verse that comes up in defense of eating unclean meat when talking about the dietary law post-Crucifixion that I actually understand why people are confused. This verse explicitly says someone who is weak (in the faith) only eats herbs, implying that the strong in faith eat meat. Unlike the verse we mentioned before in 1 Timothy, there doesn't seem to be a qualifier on meat because it explicitly says "all things." So, why does Isaiah 66 condemn the man eating pork in the end times? Why does Acts 15 tell us we can't eat blood?

Breaking Down the Scenario

We already spoke about the concept of "all" things in previous posts. I can't eat poison or metal; I can only eat things that are edible. As with the other verses we've studied, we should also keep in perspective that Romans was written by Paul, who was Jewish. "Edible" would have referred to clean meats only in his mind. Nonetheless, let's look at the whole scenario and put it in context.

The scenario presented is that there are two men eating somewhere. The one who is strong in faith eats everything on the menu. The one who is weak in faith only eats herbs, re: vegetables. Think about this: the contrast of all things is herbs, not clean meat. If Paul was saying it was ok to eat unclean meat, why would he compare it to vegetarianism? We do not have a juxtaposition of unclean meats (such as pork or shellfish) and clean meats (such as chicken or beef), which are also not herbs/vegetables. So, wthy does the weak in faith believe he cannot eat the chicken on the menu?

In an episode of his radio broadcast,^[19] Pastor Doug Batchelor concludes that Paul was referencing foods sacrificed to idols. Of course that muddies the water with Acts 15, which clearly forbids eating food sacrificed to idols. If we bring in 1 Corithians 8 and 1 Corinthians 10 as well, we can get a clearer view of what the actual problem is.

The Gentiles whom Paul wrote to lived an experience completely different from the Jewish Christians. To make a modern parallel, a Jewish follower of Christ interacting in Judea is like a Baptist interacting with a Methodist or Pentacostal. Fundamentally, they believe the same things and use the same scriptures for reference. The differences between them are so small that its possible for them to not even notice. In contrast, a Gentile convert interacting in Rome is like the same Baptist interacting with a Muslim or Hindu. The differences in belief will become apparent much more quickly.

One of these diffrences concerns meet sacrificed to a deity. During this time period, all meat was sacrificed to some deity before being consumed. In Israel, this deity was YHWH, but in Rome it could have been any one of their gods or goddesses. When this food was presented to a Gentile Christian, it presented a conundrum. Someone who was born in paganism may see the meat and instantly be reminded of ritual cermonies to pagan deities—associations cannot be removed overnight. Yet others knew they had not only had they not participated in the ritual, but the god who'd "received" the sacrifice wasn't real. Those who struggled with separating from the their previous lives, abstained from the meat all together (the way a recovering alcoholic may abstain from all alcoholic drinks).

In both 1 Corinthians and the passage in Romans 14, Paul is addressing the disparity between those who can and cannot detach themselves from the pagan lifestyle. In a perfect world, no one would be concerned with who the meat was sacrificed to because everyone would know there is only one God and would understand that there need not be anymore sacrifices anyway. However, since we do not live in a perfect world, Paul must advise on how to hand this matter. The advice given is to act in love and avoid being a stumbling block. New Christians (and even pagans), who saw a person eating meats sacrificed to idols may become confused and believe it is a sign of worship for the false deity. When offered meats sacrificed to idols, the strong Christian was to decline the meat not because the meat was actually tainted, but to ease the conscience of the weaker believers around him/her.[2][3] This also set the Christians apart from pagans by showcasing their dedication to YHWH.

Conclusion

In this passage Paul is not speaking of clean versus unclean. Paul is speaking of (clean) meat vesus not eating meat at all.

Up Next: Acts 15

The next post in this series will tackle Acts 15. There is already a post in the Bible Study section on Acts 15, though it is not specific to the clean vs. unclean meats discussion.[6]

Other Posts in the Series

References

1. Pastor Doug Batchelor. "How does Romans 14 fit with biblical direction to avoid unclean meat?". Amazing Facts; visited 2017 and September 12, 2020
2. What does the Bible say about eating food/meat that has been sacrificed to idols?". GotQuestions.org; visisted September 12, 2020
3. Tom Martincic. "Romans 14: Who is the weak brother?". EliYah; visited September 12, 2020
4. Pastor Joe Crews. "Hogs And Other Hazards". Amazing Facts; visited September 12, 2020
5. United Church of God. "". Beyond Today. January 31, 2011
6. Ree Hughes. Acts 15: Disagreements in the Church". PSALMS to God. July 1, 2020

You Are What You Eat: Isaiah 66

Isaiah 66 is pretty simple to understand. Once you accept it, you realize unclean meats will be unclean at the end of the world, so they must be unclean now too.

Isaiah 66:3, 17

³He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man;
he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck;
he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood;
he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol.
Yea, they have chosen their own ways,
and their soul delighteth in their abominations.
¹⁷They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens
behind one tree in the midst,
eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse,
shall be consumed together, saith the Lord.Isaiah 66:3,17 KJV

Introduction

Before you jump into Isaiah 66, take a minute to read Isaiah 65 and remember that someone divided to the book into chapters thousands of years after Isaiah wrote these words. Starting in Isaiah 65:17, God is detailing to Isaiah what it will be like when His creation is made new, re: after the end of this world. In Isaiah 66, God is basically telling us why He had to create a new Heaven and a new Earth. We get further evidence that this is talking about the end times in Isaiah 66:15-16—"[He] will come with fire" (Daniel 7:9).

Isaiah 66:3

In the third verse, God tells us about people who are going through the motions. These are the people who say they are His but have no relationship with Him. They do things that they think will please God, such as give offerings, but because their heart is in the wrong place, the acts are still an abomination. To show this, God juxtaposes the actions He previously commanded with actions He has condemned. In this He reiterates the uncleanness of swine, otherwise known as pigs (or pork).

Isaiah 66:17

In Isaiah 66:17, God makes His stance on the offense of eating unclean animals more clear by telling us that those eating unclean food will be consumed in the coming fire. These people are the ones who appear to be holy (sanctifying themselves) but are doing unholy things (eating unclean meat). In short, God is referencing hyprocrites, but the manner in which He calls them out, is to specify the particular sin of consuming unclean flesh.

Why These Verses Are Important

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Annie Spratt

As I've been saying throughout the series, the Bible cannot contradict itself. It is the same Spirit from God inspiring both Isaiah and Paul to write, therefore their teachings must exist in harmony. Isaiah makes it very clear that in the end, God still sees the things He called unclean in Leviticus as unclean. Isaiah could have easily used lustfulness or covetousness to make the point of disobeying God or allowing sin to fester in the shadows while outwardly portraying godliness. However, he specifically uses unclean meats. If eating pork was an abomination and will be an abomination, doesn't it make sense that it is an abomination?

Up Next: Romans 14

Ok, now that I've inserted this tidbit about Isaiah 66 so it makes sense when I say the Bible can't contradict itself, we can keep moving through verses. The next verse I think we should talk about is Romans 14.

Other Posts in the Series

You Are What You Eat: 1 Timothy 4:1-7

Another famous passage people use to justify eating clean meats is 1 Timothy 4:1-7. At first glance it seems to do just that, but once you add context to is that interpretation falls apart. So, let's add some context.

Abstaining from Meats is False Doctrine?

¹Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; ²Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; ³Forbidding 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. ⁴For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: ⁵For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. ⁶If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. ⁷But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 1 Timothy 4:1-7 KJV

Introduction

1 Timothy 4:1-7 is one—of two—of the only arguments for eating unclean foods that ever made the slightest bit of sense to me. It's a fairly convincing passage because, here, Paul is telling Timothy about some of the false doctrines that will appear in the end of days, and one such doctrine is abstaining from meats. Paul goes on to say that "every creature of God is good and not to be refused." Sounds not only like permission to eat whatever we want but a warning to be wary of those suggesting otherwise! However, as with all passages in the Bible, you have to put these words into context, and once you do, he's not giving us permission to eat unclean meat.

Putting the Passage into Context

The main difficulty of understanding what is written in the Bible stems from people assigning their interpretation based upon modern times and their own personal culture. However, the Bible was written thousands of years ago. Both the language and the culture of the people writing and reading the text was different from our own. To show how quickly phrases, words, and references can change, I have two examples:

When I was in middle school, I met a elderly lady from Alaska. After she described the scenery to me, I remarked that it sounded "cool." She immediately began to agree and explain the chilliness of the weather, but I meant "cool" as in hip, awesome, or interesting. Fast forward about 10 years and my younger cousin was going on about how much she loved the song "As Long As You Love Me." I agreed that I liked the song, but when she started singing it, she wasn't singing the song I was thinking of—she was referencing the more current hit by Justin Bieber and I was referencing the 90's hit by the Backstreet Boys.

My point: Biblical passages have to be put into the context of the people writing them and the time period in which they wrote. Since there's also a language change, studying the original text is helpful as well. At some point, I plan to take a class on Hebrew and Greek to help me when I study the word.

Biblical Context

Another important point of context for each passage is what other passages in the Bible say about the topic. Malachi 3:6 tells us that God does not change, which means if He didn't like it when Moses was writing it, He doesn't like it now. One example where God appears to change is when He grants Noah permission to eat flesh. Prior to this, everyone was vegetarian (or at least they were supposed to be vegetarian). Did God change His mind about killing animals for the purpose of food? No. In Isaiah 1:11 God says He hates the sacrifices and gets no pleasure from the blood. Remember, back then, people didn't go to the grocery store or the local burger place to get meat for their meals. The way they got meat was by first sacrificing an animal to God; it was the meat from this sacrifice that they ate (Exodus 12:1-10). If God didn't like needless sacrifices of the animals He created, do you think He delights in us killing the same animals in the name of gluttony? God simply allowed additional sources of nourishment because of the need that arose from flooding the planet. A secondary theory is that this a part of what he used to diminish the length of our life in punishment of the events preceding the flood.[12] We'll get into that in a different post.

In short, Paul's teachings cannot contradict the teachings of God; if they do, then Paul would be a false prophet.

What is Meat?

You may not think much of it, but I think it's important to define meat. Like the mix up I experienced with the lady from Alaska, words have a tendency to change, even if only in connotation, over time. Meat is one of those words. During the time the Bible was first translated to English, meat was used to describe any food substance. Even today, you can see the evidence of this if you look up "meat" in a dictionary. Merriam-Webster lists the top definition of meat as food or the edible part of something.[1]

We think of meat as the flesh of an animal: chicken, turkey, beef, pork, etc. Evidence of the Bible using "meat" to mean food as opposed to flesh can be seen in Genesis 1:29 and Leviticus 2:1. In these verses meat has nothing to do with flesh. This tells us that we need to be careful when interpreting the word "meat" in the Bible.

The word translated to "meat" in 1 Timothy 1:3 is βρωμάτων, which actually means "food of any kind."[3][4] So, the command Paul is referencing isn't specifically tied to flesh. Now, as we continue into verse 4, Paul references creatures (κτίσμα[5][6]), which indicates a focus on flesh. There are fewer restrictions on non-flesh foods so while the false doctrine might require unnecessary fasting of all foods, the real issue Paul is addressing is specific to the flesh.

Thanksgiving

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Mantra Media

Once we establish that Paul is in fact addressing an issue related to flesh, it still seems like the passage is giving the OK to eat anything, right? Especially if that's what you've been taught your whole life and that's what you want it to mean. However, the clauses at the end of verse 3 and verse 4 add meaning that is often over looked. Notice that both verses reference "thanksgiving."

In 1 Timothy 1:3-4, Paul makes it clear that he isn't actually talking about any food, he's talking about the food that was created to be received with thanksgiving. What did God create to be received with thanksgiving? Herbs and fruit from plants bearing seeds (Genesis 1:29; 3:18) and clean meats (Leviticus 11).
Remember when I mentioned that the original Greek word is βρωμάτων? Strong's Exhaustive Concordance gives us the following definition of the word: "From the base of bibrosko; food (literally or figuratively), especially (ceremonially) articles allowed or forbidden by the Jewish law -- meat, victuals." In contrast, the word for unclean is ἀκάθαρτος[7]—though it does not ever seem to have been used in reference to food. ἀκάθαρτος is the word used in Acts 10:14,28, which we previously discussed.[7][8] The word in Timothy 4:3 is referring to ceremonial meat—that which was allowed by Jewish law (sacrifices to God, which are no longer necessary now that Jesus has given the ultimate sacrifice) and that which was forbidden by Jewish law (sacrifices to idols or things handled by pagans/Gentiles). The original is not specifying unclean meats.

Who is Speaking? Who is Being Spoken To?

Another thing we should consider is the point of view of the author and reader of the text. If you are speaking to an American and use the phrase "boot," he or she will assume you're talking about footwear. However, if you are talking to someone from Great Britain, he or she will assume you're referencing the trunk of your car.[10] Same language, different context.

The author of 1 Timothy is Paul, and although he is known for preaching Christ to the Gentiles, he was born a Jew. The recipient of the letter was Timothy, who was the son of a Greek man and a Jewish woman (Acts 16:1). Both men would have been well versed in the Jewish customs; specifically clean and unclean meat.

Assume I go out of town for a while and ask you to stay at my home to watch my cat. Before I leave, I tell you to make yourself at home and feel free to eat or drink anything you find in my home. Are you going to drink bleach or try to eat my cat's food? Of course not, you will know automatically that I'm giving you permission to eat the things we both agree are edible. Paul and Timothy would have the understanding that clean meats are food, but unclean meats would not have been considered βρωμάτων in their minds.

The Actual Command

From a modern perspective it seems really odd that someone would be forbidding us to eat clean meats. The debate within the church is on unclean meat, not clean meat; even among Seventh Day Adventists who promote vegetarian and vegan lifestyles it is clear that clean meats are still OK for us to eat.[9] So what is Paul talking about? As with most Biblical passages, there is a meaning that is specific to the time Paul was writing it, but there is also a meaning specific to today.

In Paul's Day

There was actually a few ways clean meat could become unclean according to Jewish tradition. The one I think bears the most relevance is that of meat sacrificed to idols.

In 1 Corinthians 8, another letter by Paul, the discussion of meat is around meat offered to an idol. In this passage, Paul is reminding believers that we know idols are not real. In Acts 15, once again we see a council of believers discussing the issue of eating meat offered to idols, and here, forbidding it. Paul and Timothy, as well as many other apostles, were teaching in societies that were not based on Godly worship. The people they were ministering to were not just Jews who trusted in Christ, but Greeks and Romans who had been worshiping pagan gods before. Their daily practices and marketplaces would have been abundant in meat sacrificed to idols because that is what was considered normal.

Back in South Carolina, where anything goes when it comes to food, it is very difficult to find Kosher food. Almost everything is cooked in fatback (pork) and since people do not care about the dietary laws, they don't think about mixing the utensils, surfaces, pots, etc. that come into contact with clean and unclean meats. This makes it hard for me to eat when I go home. I fully understand the plight of the people Timothy was ministering to. Their families and friends would likely continue to serve meat that had been sacrificed to idols and the marketplace would have contained meat to purchase that had been sacrificed to idols. Their question to Timothy would have been if it was OK to still eat that meat.

Today

Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats... 1 Timothy 1:3 KJV

Are you familiar with Lent? Many Denominations participate in this fast from Ash Wednesday until Easter, but it was started by the Catholic Church. When Lent first began it was actually a fast from flesh, though today people typically fast from anything they choose. Today, some Catholics still observe fasting from flesh on Fridays during the Lent season.[2][11] The Catholic Church also forbids their priests from marrying...

Up Next: Isaiah 66

We established earlier that each passage must fit within the context of the Bible. If our interpretation of a verse contradicts something else in the Bible, we have to go back and reassess our interpretation because something isn't right. If any of the verses I've been sharing with you actually mean you can eat unclean meats like pork, we have a problem with Isaiah 66. So next time, let's look at Isaiah 66.

Other Posts in the Series

References

1. "Meat". Merriam-Webster Dictionary; visited September 15, 2017
2. "US Bishops Pastoral Statement on Penance and Abstinence". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. 1983
3. "Interlinear Bible 1 Timothy 4:3". Bible Hub; visited December 29, 2018
4. "1033. bróma". Strong's Concordance via BibleHub.com; visited December 29, 2018
5. "Interlinear Bible 1 Timothy 4:4". Bible Hub; visited December 29, 2018
6. "2938. ktisma". Strong's Concordance via BibleHub.com; visited December 29, 2018
7. 169. akathartos". Strong's Concordance via BibleHub.com; visited December 29, 2018
8. Ree Hughes. "You Are What You Eat: Acts 10". PSALMS to God. December 16, 2018
9. Dr. Mark A. McCleary. "Meat on Adventist Church Property". Adventist Today. October 20, 2015
10. "boot". English Oxford Living Dictionaries; visited December 29, 2018
11. "Lent". Encyclopædia Britannica. March 22, 2018
12. Bodie Hodge. "Why Did People Start to Have Shorter Lives After the Flood?". Answers in Genesis. July 16, 2010

You Are What You Eat: Acts 10

In Acts 10, Peter has a dream about eating unclean food. Some people use this to justify eating unclean meat, but in the Bible a dream is rarely what it seems. In every case where God gives people a vision, the vision is interpreted elsewhere in the text. Similarly, Peter's vision is explained later in the chapter. As it turns out, Peter was actually being told to accept Gentiles, not to consume unclean meats.

Kill and Eat?

¹²Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. ¹³And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. ¹⁴But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. ¹⁵And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.Acts 10:12-16 KJV

Introduction

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Christopher Carson

Acts 10:9-18 details a vision Peter is given from God. In this vision, Peter sees animals of all types, and a voice commands him to kill these animals to eat. When Peter receives these instructions, he protests. Peter says he has never eaten anything unclean, implying that he isn't about to start eating unclean animals now. Since God is the one commanding Peter to "rise and kill," many people take this as proof that we can eat unclean animals. However, if we really look at the passage, that isn't what's happening here.

The Punchline

After Peter experiences his vision, he has to think on it (Acts 10:19)—it isn't clear to him that God is giving him permission to eat unclean flesh! Eventually, Peter tells us what he has determined his dream means. In Acts 10:28 and Acts 11:5-18, it is explained that God gave this vision to Peter to prepare him for the inclusion of Gentiles in the movement. This makes sense because if you read prior to Peter's vision, you'll see that we are told about a Gentile, named Cornelius, who is sent by God to Peter. Cornelius receives his instructions in a vision as well. Prior to the dream's revelation, the Jews did not associate with Gentiles; Peter likely would not have received Cornelius without God revealing this message.

Other Examples of Beasts in Visions

If you remember back in Genesis, Joseph was an expert at interpreting dreams. Many of the dreams he interpreted weren't literal translations. The objects and animals in the seen in the dreams were usually metaphors or symbols for a larger picture. In Daniel 7, Daniel recounts a vision he was given from God that also includes beasts. These same beasts are repeated in the vision given to John and recorded in Revelation. If you compare Peter's dream with the visions given in Daniel and Revelation, you will notice continuity of symbolism in beasts or animals representing nations.

Moral of the Vision

Up until this point, the gospel was reserved for the Jews. The Jews didn't associate with Gentiles and essentially looked upon them the same way they looked at unclean animals such as pigs. Although God never told them to treat other people with such disdain (they weren't to yolk themselves with pagans, but strangers could be converted, at which point they became part of Israel), the Jews developed this tradition anyway. The development of unbiblical traditions was one of the main problems Jesus had with the Pharisees. He was constantly trying to get them back on target with God's word and to abandon man made traditions. Despite following Jesus during His ministry, Peter would have been raised in the Jews' tradition and been wary of Gentiles. So, when God sent Cornelius to Peter, He had to also send Peter a message to inform Peter that he should receive Cornelius with open arms. In the Old Testament, prophets like Isaiah talk about the time when the Gospel would be preached to the Gentiles, this is the beginning of the fulfillment of those prophecies.

Up Next: 1 Timothy 4:1-7

In the next post we'll look at 1 Timothy 4:1-7, another popular passage in the "can we eat unclean foods" debate.

Other Posts in the Series

References

1. Jeffery Spitzer. "The Non-Jew in Jewish Law". My Jewish Learning; visited December 2018

You Are What You Eat: Mark 7:15

The most often quoted passage to excuse eating unclean foods is Mark 7:15. In this verse Jesus tells the Pharisees it isn't what goes into a man but what comes out of a man that defiles him. But is this verse actually giving us permission to eat whatever we want?

Mark 7:15/Matthew 15:11

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. Mark 7:15 KJV

Introduction

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Ken Lawrence

It's not what goes into our mouth that defiles us, but that which comes out of us. This is the go-to explanation for why we can eat whatever we want as Christians. It makes sense if you don't think about it too long, but when I stopped to ponder it for a minute, it wasn't what it seemed.

Permission to Eat Anything?

To argue that this gives us permission to eat unclean flesh, you have to interpret Mark 7:15 to mean we can ingest anything. After all Jesus is saying nothing external to us can enter and defile us. Can you drink bleach? How about tar? No? Certainly Jesus didn't mean we could just go off eat any and everything we see. Paul reaffirms this in 1 Corinthians 10:23.

Let's think about this. When Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, what actually happened? Did they die right then? Did it bar them from enteral life? Did they become defiled? Adam and Eve suffered, but it wasn't the fruit's fault. Adam and Eve weren't punished because the fruit was bad, but because they chose to eat the fruit. Remember, the action of eating the fruit didn't start with the fruit, it started inside Adam and Eve, in their mind. Their disobedience to God is what defiled them and caused problems.

Putting it in Context

In the previous section, when I asked if you could drink bleach or tar, you may have rolled your eyes at me and thought I was out of line making such a comparison. After all, who would eat something that isn't even food? That's dumb, right? If you stayed the night at my house and I said feel free to eat anything you find in the house, you would automatically restrict that to that which you consider edible, right? You wouldn't attempt to eat my couch or cleaning supplies. Similarly, when Jesus spoke to His audience in Mark 7, they probably would have assumed Jesus was referring to things designed to enter the body. Unclean foods were never designed to enter the body. The Jews (which includes Jesus), would not have considered unclean flesh to be something to eat!

If we read the verses leading up to that passage, we see that the squabble was over Jesus allowing the disciples to eat bread without washing their hands. There are no unclean foods in the passage.

The Pharisees claimed the disciples had defiled themselves by eating clean food before washing up. Jesus chastises the Pharisees for following man made laws (washing of hands before eating) and not believing in their hearts. They followed the details of the law, but never made a relationship with God and had weak faith. This is the very definition of legalism. To make the situation even clearer, Jesus explains that whatever the people eat, it will eventually pass through the body and disappear. However, the evil thoughts in their hearts would stay within them; that is what defiles them.

We have to remember that while Jesus' comments hold truths for us today, He was talking to a specific group of people. Jesus was essentially telling the Pharisees that they were worried about something as trivial as washing your hands before eating bread, meanwhile they were rotting on the inside with unclean thoughts and desires. Matthew 23:24-25 expounds on this. The Pharisees were concerned with the pots and pans they put the food in and making sure a fly wasn't in the water, but they would eat a camel (unclean) and take part in shady dealings. Jesus was calling them out for sweating the small stuff when they needed to be looking inward.

Matthew 15

Matthew 15 provides another reference for this encounter. As we continue through to the end of Jesus' explanation, He summarizes His point at the urging of the disciples. In this He specifies that He is permitting the eating of food with unwashed hands. Jesus' critique was not about clean and unclean food but about the tradition—made up by man—of washing up before eating foods already declared clean!

These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.Matthew 15:20 KJV

Proof of Understanding

When Jesus has this conversation, there are two groups present, the Pharisees and the disciples. The Pharisees were always at odds with Jesus, but the disciples spread and followed His teachings. This means, if the disciples understood Mark 7:15 to mean they were free to eat anything, that is what they would have taught.

However, in Acts 10, some time after Jesus' crucifixion, we find Peter appalled that God would command him to eat an unclean animal. Yet, Peter is the one who asks for more clarity in Matthew 15:15. Peter vehemently denies ever eating anything unclean. Clearly, Peter didn't think Jesus had given them permission to eat unclean food when He told them it was the stuff within that defiles men.

Up Next: Acts 10

It's only natural that since we brought up Acts 10 we talk about that next. In the next post, I'll discus God commanding Peter to kill and eat unclean animals.

Other Posts in the Series

You Are What You Eat: Introduction

My mom used to tell me I was going to turn into a grilled cheese sandwich because that all I ever wanted to eat. It sounds crazy, but truthfully the food you eat has a lot to do with how you feel and your overall health. If you eat things that are bad for you, your body will definitely protest. Sometimes its as simply as stomachache or as inconvenient as a hangover. Other times it might be more troublesome like diabetes or high cholesterol. Of course, there's also extreme cases that lead to organ failure and death! Don't you think God, our Creator and knower of all things, would give us a little insight on how to stay healthy?

Posing the Question

Introduction

The most life changing moment in my faith began the Spring semester of my Senior year in college. I was taking a class called "History of the Old Testament" and studying the Bible in the most in depth manner I had ever been taught. I was a little wary of the professor, considering he quoted Wikipedia to summarize Job rather quoting The Book of Job. So, one would think when he dropped the line that dramatically shifted how I looked at things, I would have passed him off for being crazy. Instead, the Holy Spirit convicted me and focused my attention so that I would seek a Biblical answer instead of writing my professor off.

What was this line, you ask? Well, we were in Leviticus—Leviticus 11, to be specific—and the professor explained that this was the reason Jews, Muslims, and Christians don't eat pork. If you attend or attended a typical church, you picked up on the same thing I picked up on: Christians totally eat pork. There are definitely denominations and specific congregations that follow the dietary law as presented in Leviticus, but we make up a minority among Christians. That was the beginning of a detox that fast-tracked my relationship with God...

Christianity and Dietary Restrictions

Photocredit: Unpslash.com/Jay Winnington

I'm from the middle of nowhere South Carolina; pork isn't just something you have as an entree, it's also a seasoning, a side, and maybe even a dessert. If you go to the church picnic my childhood church puts on in July, there's a 50/50 chance the rice was cooked in ham broth. There's a 100% chance the greens, string beans, and other vegetables were cooked with fat back (which is also pork). There will be pork ribs and pork hot dogs, maybe even sausages, which of course are also pork. The spoons and pots that have touched these dishes may or may not be passed amongst the dishes that do not have pork cooked into them because absolutely no one is worried about it.

Growing up, the strictest diet for a Christian I'd ever observed was that of a Mormon family I was close to. They abstained from alcohol and caffeine. Most of the churches in the area preach against drunkenness, but the members still drink a little here and there. This family was totally against alcohol and my friend thought I was crazy for drinking caffeinated soda. Yet, like the rest of us, they had bacon for breakfast, pepperoni pizza for lunch, and pork infused veggies for dinner.

Despite having read Leviticus prior to "History of the Old Testament" and being well aware that pork was considered unclean, it never occurred to me that it was odd we ate any and everything put before us. There's a total disconnect there—like some sort of 1984 doublespeak where I'm telling you God said pork is unclean while biting into a pork chop and praising it's flavor. To this day, I'm not sure how I did it, but without having any knowledge of where in the Bible the dietary law was lifted, I could quote that law and break the law without thinking twice about it.

Question That Needs Answering (#QTNA)

When I heard my professor state that all 3 Abrahamic religions abstained from pork, it changed something about the perspective in which I was looking at the situation. I knew that Jews didn't eat pork, and I knew that Muslims didn't eat pork. It wasn't new information, but I think it was first time I thought about these two groups at the same time. You see, most Christians I know reference the law (particular the issue of clean vs. unclean) as being "Jewish" or for the Israelites. The reason most Christians think it's OK to eat whatever they want is because "those laws were written for the Jews and don't apply to Gentiles." Never mind the fact that some "Gentiles" might actually be lost Israelites. The question I have is, if Muslims are also Gentiles or "not Jewish", why don't they eat pork?

A quick and thoughtless answer would have been the fact that they don't have Jesus the way Christians do. In Islam, Jesus is merely a mortal teacher. In Christianity, we can say Jesus abolished or did away with this or that and really we're saying God axed a law. I could have thought this and continued on with my life as is, but I didn't because I thought about something else.

We often read passages of the Bible in sporadic chaos. In sermons, the preacher will jump from one book to another, seemingly tying together the Word, but we rarely just read straight through from page 1 to the end. In this class, that's exactly what we were doing. As such, we had just read about Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael. We had just talked about the rift between the two brothers and the idea that Islam was born from the descendants of Ishmael.[1] Abraham was not an Israelite. Isaac was not an Israelite. Ishmael was not an Israelite, in fact, Ishmael was half Egyptian. They all predate Israel. Christianity is a continuation of Judaism, but Islam should diverge from from Judaism well before the law was given to Moses... How then, did abstinence from pork find it's way into Islam? If it was just for the Jews (or Israelites, really), why does the second largest religion of the world, which was founded by non-Israelites, also abstain?

I knew that the only way I could be sure in my conscious that it was right, was to answer the question of where in the New Testament Jesus gave us permission to eat whatever we wanted. After all, my only concern is what the Bible says not what other people do; so I don't need to understand why Muslims don't eat pork, I just needed to find a place in which Jesus confirmed that this law was done away with.

Possible Answers

Naturally, I went to my fellow believers, pastors, and Sunday school teachers to pick their brains for the magical verse that would say we were free to eat pork. The most popular verses given to me were Mark 7:15 and Acts 10. Eventually people got around to Colossians 2:14-18 and 1 Timothy 4:1-7. Google brought me to Romans 14 and Acts 15.

By themselves and at first glance, these verses all seem to do the trick. Unfortunately, people forget that all of these verses have to be put in context to the surrounding passage(s) and the Bible as a whole; the interpretation of the verses cannot contradict other parts of the Bible. In order to properly interpret them, we have to take into consideration the original translation, the author, the context, and the audience. As I dug deeper and deeper, I realized that none of these verses gave us permission to eat unclean animals...

Why is it Important?

Besides the issue of knowing what our Creator has commanded of us, simply because He is our Creator, we should be concerned about this because our bodies are Temples of God (1 Corinthians 6:19). Coming upon this issue with a fresh understanding of how holy the Temple was and all the effort and care the Israelites took in constructing this place of worship, helps to put in perspective how we should treat our bodies. Doctors tell us all the time to be careful what we eat. Certain foods put us at risk for illnesses such as diabetes. Alcohol is damaging to the liver. Clorox is poisonous. Cigarettes cause lung cancer. Science has already proven that what goes inside us can kill us from the inside out.

My mom used to tell me I was going to turn into a grilled cheese sandwich because that was all I ever wanted to eat. It sounds crazy, but truthfully the food you eat has a lot to do with how you feel and your overall health. If you eat things that are bad for you, your body will definitely protest. Sometimes it's as simple as stomachache or as inconvenient as a hangover. Other times it might be more troublesome like diabetes or high cholesterol. Of course, there's also extreme cases that lead to organ failure and death! Don't you think God, our Creator and Knower of All Things, would give us a little insight on how to stay healthy? And don't you think our Creator already laid out the best diet for us?

This series, You Are What You Eat, will cover what I discovered as I tried to figure out the Bible's stance on our diet. Each post in the series will focus on a specific verse and place that verse into context to help us answer the question of what the Bible says we should and should not eat.

Other Posts in the Series

References

1. "Ishmael in Islam". Wikipedia; visited September 8, 2017

Numbers 19: Purification

God specifies the purification rites for those who have become unclean.

Introduction

God knew the Israelites would not keep the law perfectly, which would keep them unclean. Thus, God leaves instructions on how to purify someone when they became unclean. Eleazar, who was to succeed Aaron, was placed in charge of the purification rituals.
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Purification Rites

Photocredit: FreeImages.com/Matthew Bowden

Purification rites required the sacrifice of a red, female cow. The blood was to be sprinkled on the altar by Eleazar, and the whole of the cow—including waste and blood—was to be burned on the altar. The priest was to place cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet onto the burning cow. Afterward, both the priest and the offerer were to wash their clothes and would be unclean until the evening. A clean man was to gather the ashes, and he too would be required to wash his clothes and be unclean until evening.
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Law of Death

Anyone who touched a dead body was unclean for 7 days. The purification sacrifice was to occur on the 3^rd day; if the sacrifice didn't occur on the 3^rd day, the person would not become clean on the 7^th day and would be cut off from Israel. If someone died in a tent, anyone who was in the tent, or went in after the death, was considered unclean for 7 days. Touching someone who had been slain, a bone, or a grave, also rendered the person unclean for 7 days.

Discouragement of handling dead bodies is excellent practice, which we can assume is why God specified these laws. Much of the spread of Ebola in Africa during the summer of 2014 was from the ritual touching of dead bodies,^[1] which God is telling us is not safe. Though, one must wonder with such rules about uncleanliness falling upon the dead, why do people today have funerals in the church? Does the casket not defile the sanctuary? Also, note that someone (possibly two people, depending on the person's size) would have to place the body in a casket or grave thus when someone died at least one person had to become unclean. This is further reminder back to the origin of sin and a reminder that the wages of sin are death.
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Unclean Becomes Clean

Interestingly, the unclean ashes of the red cow became a cleansing agent for the unclean. An unclean person was to put the ashes in a vessel along with running water. A clean person was to dip hyssop into the water and sprinkle it upon the tent, vessels, and unclean persons. This process was to occur on both the 3^rd and 7^th days.
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References

1. Haglae. Abby. "Kiss The Corpses in Ebola Country". The Daily Beast. August 2014

Leviticus 14&15: Unclean Buildings & Unclean Flesh

God summarizes a few more unclean things for us in Leviticus 14 and 15. This includes buildings and bodily secretions.

Introduction

When people mention unclean, behaviors, animals, and diseases are likely to pop into your mind. Similarly, when people mention leprosy, skin problems are likely to pop into your mind. Interestingly, houses are described as both unclean and afflicted with leprosy in Leviticus 14. God's instructions concerning uncleanness conclude with a discussion of bodily discharges that make a person unclean in Leviticus 15.
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Leprosy of the House

In Leviticus 14, God discusses unclean buildings. I'm sure many of us have seen building that are unkept and seem revoltingly unclean, but God seems to be describing a "plague" that appears in a house. To me, this plague sounds a bit like mold or mildew.

Photocredit: FreeImages.com/Richard McCroskey

If the plague appeared greenish or reddish, the house was shut up for 7 days then reinspected. Both mildew and mold have a greenish appearance in their most common forms but can appear red as well. If the plague spread during those 7 days, the stones of the house were to be discarded in an unclean place outside the city. They were to patch the area with new stones and new mortar, then check back for a reemergence of the plague. If the plague came back, the priest was to pronounce the house unclean. The house was to be torn apart and the parts disposed of in an unclean place. Anyone who went in the house while it was shut up was unclean until evening, and anyone who ate or lay in the house, was to wash his clothes. If the plague did not return, the priest was to proclaim it clean.
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Cleansing Leprosy in a House

Like with a person, to complete the cleansing process of the house there was a sacrifice. Just like cleansing a leper, the sacrifice required 2 clean birds, hyssop, scarlet, and cedar wood. The first bird was killed and the blood poured into an earthen vessel over running water. The hyssop, scarlet, cedar wood, and living bird were to be dipped in the water and blood. The unclean house was to be sprinkled with the blood. The living bird was to be set free outside the city as an atonement for the house.
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Bodily Discharge

A range of liquids can come from our body, and we have various reactions to them. For instance, tears generally create an atmosphere of sympathy encouraging hugs, whereas sweat discourages hugs. Regardless of your beliefs, some bodily discharges just seem icky, no matter how natural they are. God specifies certain bodily discharges as unclean and anyone emitting these bodily discharges (i.e. unclean) could not participate in worship.

The first thing God declares as unclean is "a running issue" in men; though it has not been confirmed what this issue is, many believe it is either hemorrhoids or gonorrhea.^[1] Not only was the person considered unclean, but anything they came into contact with was considered unclean as well. While the thought of sitting on a bench with layers (underwear and pants) on after someone with such an illness who also had on layers, doesn't make me cringe, the thought of wearing their unwashed clothes does. I'm not sure how many layers the Israelites wore during Moses' era; if it were merely the one piece of cloth for modesty or like the 1800s when people wore several layers of underwear. However, since both ailments can effect men or women, I doubt that is what God was mentioning here. Spit from the unclean person also made one unclean (though this is one of those things that even spit form a clean person seems pretty nasty). Unlike lepers, however, this type of uncleanness did not force the person to leave the camp. Perhaps this is because it was not a visual reminder of imperfection (no one should be seeing "the issue" as it should be covered with clothes). The person was unclean for 7 days after his issue cleared and was to bathe himself and his clothes in water to cleanse himself. On the 8^th day, he was to offer 2 turtledoves or pigeons; one for a burnt offering and one for a sin offering.

The second unclean secretion God describes is semen ("seed of copulation"). This section does not require any sacrifices nor specify a period of uncleanness, rather it simply says that the man should wash himself and any thing the semen comes into contact with (which should seems like good hygienic practice to anyone). Also, the woman who slept with the man was to wash herself. As mentioned in the previous post, likely, God wanted to make it clear that sex was not to play part in worship as it did in many pagan religions.

The third secretion God declares to be unclean is menstrual blood—yet another thing that no matter how natural, you don't get warm fuzzy feelings about touching. During that time of the month, women were to be set apart for 7 days and anything they sat upon was considered unclean. Any man that lay with her during that time was also unclean (for 7 days). Again, if you think about the fact that pads, tampons, and menstrual cups had not been invented yet, simply bleeding through clothes does seem like it would warrant being set apart. One positive is that you would never be expected to work while you had cramps! Like the issue of semen for men, no sacrifice was necessary. I would assume that the reason the woman was set apart while the man was not is related to the heaviness and consistency of the flow.

The fourth an final unclean secretion God talks about, relates to that above. The next passage describes bleeding outside of the normal cycle. In this case, the issue of blood lasted more than the usual time, and the woman would owe a sacrifice just as in the first issue discussed.
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References

1. Thomas Nelson Publisher. KJV Study Bible. pg 225-227. 1998

Leviticus 13-14: Skin Diseases & Leprosy

When you think of Biblical skin problems, you think of leprosy, but is that right?

Introduction

Photocredit: FreeImages.com/Angel Velazquez

The Bible mentions leprosy often, and it was probably the worst thing you could have in Biblical times. Lepers were considered unclean and cast out from society. I always assumed leprosy in the Bible and leprosy today were the same thing, however the Hebrew word tsaraa'ath (translated to leprosy) refers to changes in the surface of human skin.^[1] Apparently leprosy in the Bible is unlikely to be the leprosy we know today. During the postexilic period, rabbis went on to identify 72 types of skin disease^[1]. In this post I'll look at the "types" of leprosy described in the Bible and their medical definitions today.
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Biblical Leprosy

The bible uses the word leprosy to define several types of skin ailments, all of which are called leprosy. Instructions are given to deal with anyone who has a rising, a scab, or bright spot on their skin. Generally, if the hair in the skin had turned white and it looks deeper than the skin of the flesh it is deemed leprosy and the person is instantly pronounced unclean. Otherwise, the person was set apart for 7 days. If on the 7^th day the priest found that the plague had not spread, the person was set apart for another 7 days. If the irregularity had spread, the person was declared unclean and it was ruled "leprosy." However, if the spot did not spread and became dark, the person was required to wash his clothes and pronounced clean. Further, there was differentiation between the skin turning white all over and the presence of raw flesh.
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Vitiligo?

In Leviticus 13:9-17, it seems possible that vitiligo, the condition in which a person's skin loses pigmentation in blotches, is the skin ailment pronounced clean—the skin turns white and this discoloration can spread from head to toe, but there is no raw skin or sores. Vitiligo is not contagious, nor is it life threatening, which would be expected of any skin ailment God deemed clean.^[4][5][6]
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Boils

God details the treatment of a boil, as well. He says that if the hair turns white it is leprosy, but if it is simply dark and not deeper than the skin, the person is to be set apart for 7 days. If it spread, the person was unclean. Boils do in fact turn white—due to pus—roughly 4 to 7 days after the infection occurs. Once the boil has healed the skin would darken or return to its usual color, just as God instructs. Even today, the "when to seek medical attention" symptoms include the spreading or appearance of more boils.^[7][8]
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Psoriasis or Eczema?

Described as an inflammation of the burning, the skin condition listed in Leviticus 13:24-28 is often compared to psoriasis.^[1][9] Here, God says if the skin turns somewhat dark, it is clean and simply inflammation. However, if the condition spreads across the skin or appears deeper than the skin, it is considered leprosy. Psoriasis, which generally causes the skin to turn red or white, can occur anywhere on the body. Based on my research, I do not think the condition spreads so much as appears in particular locations. However, there is no timeline on psoriasis; the skin could be inflamed for much more than 7 days. I am not sure that the skin will be "somewhat" dark to warrant the person being marked clean (psoriasis is not contagious and thus I would expect it to be "clean", of course I could be wrong, God could still consider it unclean for a reason I am not privy to). There is also the possibility that this passage is speaking of eczema, which is similar to to psoriasis, but definitely will leave a dark patch as it heals (I know this from experience). Eczema can also last indefinitely, so if these passages refer to either of these ailments, it is likely those of us with sensitive skin would have been considered lepers. Not much is known about what causes either of these skin ailments, though allergens seem to be the trigger.^[8][11] Discussion on why this might be considered unclean can be found below.
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Hair Trouble

When the Israelites had an ailment with their head (not just balding), God instructs them to examine if the hair has turned yellow. Though I have not seen confirmation of this, it seems to me that this may be a sign of pus. Thus was considered unclean. The absence of a black hair meant the person was set apart for 7 days then re-examined. If a yellow hair does not appear and the rash appears only skin deep, the person was to shave their head (but not the area in question) and wait 7 more days. If a black hair grows out the area, the person is pronounced clean. Since this passage specifically declares "man or woman" we can assume that women were also expected to shave their heads in this case. I wonder if lice was an issue during Moses' era and if it were part of this description; while the hair would not turn yellow, a yellowish egg would be on the hair and it would spread, rendering the person unclean.

Some men go bald; I have classmates who at 27 years old have already started to bald. The occurrence of balding is not just for men, it can happen in rare cases to women as well. Alopecia, or male patten baldness, causes the hair follicles on the head to stop producing new hair.^[12][13] Balding has been a concern for people for quite some time, evidently even in Moses' day they were concerned about losing hair. God pronounces baldness as clean.
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Freckles

Bright spots were also a concern for the Israelites. Darkened spots were considered freckles and pronounced clean. Thus the first time an Israelite produced a baby with freckles (or in the New Testament met a Gentile with freckles), they would know nothing with wrong the child (or Gentile). Most people are born with freckles, however some may appear due to exposure to the sun. Freckles are harmless and God knew that He would create many people with freckles across the globe, likely He wanted to ensure they were not cast out for their uniqueness.^[14]
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Leprosy Today

If you look up leprosy today, you will see that it is a disease which causes skin lesions, muscle weakness, and numbness. The skin lesions are lighter than one's natural skin complexion and do not heal over time. The disease is contagious, though sources suggest it is not highly contagious. While it is not recommended to isolate lepers today, prolonged contact with someone infected with the disease is not advised. Today there are treatments for leprosy, though during Biblical times, there was likely nothing to ease the pain.^[2]
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Cleansing Lepers

Once the skin disease had healed, the person could be cleansed and rejoin the Israelite society. For this, they were to perform an offering that required two clean birds, hyssop, scarlet and cedar wood. The first bird was to be killed in an earthen vessel over running water. The 2^nd bird, scarlet, hyssop, and cedar wood were to be dipped in the the blood of the first bird. The blood was to be sprinkled upon the person and then the priest would pronounce him clean. The living bird was to be set free in a field, possibly symbolizing the uncleanness leaving the body. Once the ritual was complete, the person was to wash himself and his clothes. On the 7^th day, the person was to wash again and shave all hair from his head, including eyebrows and beard (I wonder if this rule applied to women as well?). On the 8^th day, another offering was to be given. This offering required 2 male lambs and 1 female lamb, all in their first year and without blemish, as well as, flour mingled with oil (for a meat offering), and a log of oil. One male lamb was given as a trespass offering. The log of oil was given as a wave offering. The blood of the offering was to be placed on the right ear, toe and thumb of the person—note that the right side is always considered the "good" side. Jesus sits at the right hand of God, and people blessed their eldest son with the right hand. By placing the blood on the right side of the body, they are interacting with the "best" side of the person. The priest was to sprinkle the oil, with his right finger, 7 times before God and upon the blood of the trespass offering (including the ar, nose, toe, and thumb). The last of the oil was to be poured over the man's head. Next the priest was to use the two lambs to give a sin offering and a burnt offering. Finally, he gave the meat offering. If the person was too poor to offer 3 lambs, he could offer 1 lamb for the trespass offering, with two pigeons or turtledoves (2 for a sin offering and 1 for the burnt offering).
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Unclean Garments

Clothes, being porous and in close contact with the skin, were recognized to be carriers of the plague. As such, they would be deemed unclean as well. Clothing could be quarantined if the infection was something that would go away, or destroyed. If the clothing had reddish or greenish spot, it was to be taken to the priest who would quarantine the clothing items. If the spot did not spread and darkened after a wash, that spot was to be torn out of the clothing. Id the spot was still there, it was deemed unclean and was to be destroyed with fire. If the spot disappeared, the garment was to be washed once more then declared clean.
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Why Are Skin Diseases Unclean?

In a post by Pastor Deffinbaugh, the question of why a person should be declared unclean for something they have no control over comes up. His post and question discuss both skin diseases and other matters of ritual uncleanness such as child birth.

The first thought that came to mind was the fact that these were both reminders and byproducts of sin. In the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve walked around naked all the time, but as soon as they ate the forbidden fruit, they were ashamed of their nakedness. Seeing each other in that manner was not only a reminder of the sin they had committed, but a catalyst for fleshly sins. In a perfect world, there would be no lust only love, and there would be no skin ailments. These changes remind us of the price of sin, something to be reflected upon during the time a person is considered unclean. Overall, my initial thought was that we had fallen, and while one particular sin may not have caused me to contract a skin disease, the fact that I have sinned and those around me have sinned, make me susceptible to such a disease. Again, in a perfect world, these things would not even exist.

Pastor Deffinbaugh's explanation is similar. He suggests these outward physical maladies remind God and us of our sinful nature. He adds that the uncleanness reaped from sex, even with one's spouse, was to safeguard Israel from incorporating sex rituals with worship. I think this makes perfect sense, even in today's covenant. As the bride of Christ, He wants our full attention—mind, body, and soul—when we come to worship Him. It stands to reason that He would not want to be intimate with His church right after each member had been intimate with their spouse. You cannot worship God at the same time you are seeking pleasure for yourself; thus, declaring the artifacts of the act unclean ensured that no one would be having sex while they were supposed to be worshipping God (Sabbath days, feast days, etc.).^[10]
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References

1. Holman Bible Publishers. Holman KJV Study Bible. pg. 197. 2014
2. Vyas, Jatin. "Leprosy". Medicine Plus. US National Library of Medicine. September 2013
3. "Leprosy Overview". WebMD. 2015
4. "Leprosy Overview". WebMD. 2015
5. "Vitiligo". American Academy of Dermatology. 2015
6. "Fast Facts About Vitiligo". National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. 2016
7. "Boils". WebMD. 2016
8. "About Psoriasis". National Psoriasis Foundation. 2016
9. "Jesus Heals a Leper and Creates Much Excitement". Bible Study Tools. 2014
10. Deffinbaugh, Robert L. "9. Offending God: The Clean and the Unclean—Part II (Leviticus 12-15)". Bible.org. May 2004
11. "Eczema". National Eczema Association. 2016
12. "Alopecia Areata". WebMD. 2016
13. "Male pattern baldness". Medicine Plus. U.S. National Library of Medicine. 2016
14. The Nemours Foundation. "What Are Freckles?". Kid's Health. 2016