As a Christian theologian who has studied religious laws and beliefs, regulations on clean and unclean food have always fascinated me, particularly on the eating of pork. Pork is a typical delicacy in the modern world, but some Christians do not eat it. I got this firsthand experience when I lived for two years in a Christian community that does not eat pork and believes Christians should not. As a theology teacher, I like discovering my students’ perspectives. As such, in our last session, we discussed what happens if you eat pork. I began the lesson by asking, “Can you go to heaven if you eat pork?”
Romans 3:22-24 implies that you can still go to Heaven if you eat pork because righteousness and going to Heaven are based on faith in Jesus Christ and not by observing laws. In Mark 7:14-23, Jesus said nothing that goes into the stomach can defile a person. Such implies that food, including pork, cannot make a person unclean and hence are permissible.
This article will discuss what the Bible says about eating pork and whether you will go to hell if you eat pork. To know these and more, continue reading.
What does the Bible say about eating pork?
In Leviticus 11:7-8 and Deuteronomy 14:8, the Bible forbade the Israelites to eat pork because it does not chew cuds and is an unclean animal. The Bible says that although the pig has a hoof divided into two, it does not chew cud and hence is not clean. The Israelites weren’t to eat or touch its carcasses. Eating or handling the carcasses would have made them unclean and unacceptable to God.
Am I going to hell if I eat pork?
You will not go to hell if you eat pork. This is because the Bible permits you to eat all types of food. Jesus, in Mark 7:14-23, taught that whatever goes into the stomach does not defile or make unrighteous.
Dr. Michael Gleghorn notes that since we are not under the terms of the old covenant that forbade the eating of pork, Christians can eat all types of food. This is in line with Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 8:8, which says that eating or not eating some food does not make us better before God.
Does the Bible allow Christians to eat pork?
The Bible does not explicitly tell Christians to eat pork; however, Jesus’s and Apostle Paul’s teachings in Mark 7:14-23, Romans 14:1-3, and 1 Corinthians 8:8 indicate that Christians can eat pork. These passages show that by eating a particular type of food, a person does not become unrighteous. They also show that not eating such foods is not considered righteousness.
Does eating pork affect my salvation?
Eating pork does not affect your salvation, as indicated in Mark 7:14-23. In these verses, Jesus demonstrated that anything that goes into the stomach does not impact the spirit and cannot affect salvation.
Additionally, in the new covenant, the Bible does not prohibit eating any meat. As such, eating pork cannot affect your salvation.
Also, Peter saw a vision of animals that were considered unclean. He was told to eat them in the vision because God had made them clean. This demonstrates a change and no dietary restrictions in the new covenant.
Finally, eating meat does not affect matters of salvation because it is food. Food impacts the physical body and never the spiritual.
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
