When I was a new Christian in 2017 and 2018—just beginning to really get to know God—I didn’t know whether pork was considered clean or unclean. I had heard some Christians say it was okay to eat, while others insisted that the dietary laws were still in effect. I was very confused. So, I prayed and asked God to show me the truth.
I believe God began to send me signs. One day in 2017, I was scrolling through Facebook, and I came across a social media post that really stood out to me.
Even after seeing that, I wasn’t fully convinced. I continued eating unclean foods, but the question stayed in my heart. Then, in June of 2018, I started to wonder again. I prayed and asked God, “Is it okay to eat unclean foods?” Not long after that prayer, I saw the same social media post again.
But what truly shocked me was what happened next. I was playing one of my favorite video games—The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series, Season 4, Episode 3. Out of nowhere, a Bible verse about unclean meat popped up! It was the craziest thing because it’s a completely secular game. The verse appeared on a lighter, and right before Clementine (the main character) pulled it out, someone told her, “Here’s the answer to all your questions.” Then she looks at the lighter, and on it is written the verse:
“Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.”
Even after that moment—which I now call a Godincidence because it was too perfect to be a mere coincidence—I was still unsure. It felt like God was trying to show me, but I hadn’t fully accepted it yet.
Later on, after going through what some people call a "dark night of the soul," I connected with a man online who had been through a similar spiritual trial. During one of our conversations, he mentioned that he still didn’t eat unclean seafood. That made me pause and ask him why. He showed me a Bible verse that finally convinced me once and for all to stop eating unclean foods.
He directed me to me Isaiah 66:15–17, a powerful prophetic warning connected to the end times:
“For behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with His chariots, like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves, to go to the gardens after an idol in the midst, eating swine’s flesh and the abomination and the mouse, shall be consumed together,” says the Lord.
This is not just a reflection on the past—it’s a prophecy about the future. In Isaiah 66:17, God clearly states that those who eat pig’s flesh, the abomination, and the mouse will face judgment. If He still calls it abominable at the time of judgment, then it is still abominable today. This verse powerfully affirms that God’s view on unclean foods hasn’t changed. What He once called detestable, He does not now call acceptable.
That’s when everything started to click. I began to understand that animals were created with specific purposes, and there’s a reason God distinguished between clean and unclean. As I continued studying, I saw a clear pattern—many of the animals God calls unclean were scavengers. They often fed on waste, carrion, or other harmful materials. These creatures serve a vital role in the ecosystem, but they weren’t designed for us to eat.
So what about Acts 10? When we look closely at the context of Acts 10, it becomes clear that the vision God gave Peter wasn’t actually about food—it was about people. In Acts 10:9–16, Peter sees a vision where a sheet is lowered from heaven, filled with all kinds of animals, including those considered unclean according to the Torah. A voice tells him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter replies, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean” (Acts 10:14, NKJV). This exchange happens three times, showing how significant—and confusing—it was to Peter.
At first, Peter doesn’t understand what the vision means. But later, when he meets Cornelius, a Gentile, the message becomes clear. In verse 28, Peter says, “God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” So, the vision wasn’t about changing God’s dietary laws—it was about shifting Peter’s mindset toward Gentiles. God used the image of unclean animals as a metaphor to reveal a deeper truth: that the type of animals in vision were unclean, but not to call people unclean that God had accepted.
It’s also important to understand that the animals described as “unclean” in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 weren’t considered unclean because of man-made rituals or outdated traditions. They were unclean by their very nature—based on how their bodies worked and what they consumed. That’s why God gives such specific instructions, like only eating animals that chew the cud and have split hooves, or fish that have both fins and scales. These weren’t just symbolic or ceremonial rules; they were rooted in design, health, and practical wisdom.
And even going back to the days of Noah, we can see that God made a clear distinction between clean and unclean animals—long before the laws were written down in Leviticus. In Genesis 7:2, God tells Noah to bring seven pairs of every clean animal and only one pair of each unclean animal. That alone says a lot. It suggests that clean animals were likely meant for more than just reproduction—they were likely used for sacrifices and even food (especially after the flood), while unclean animals were not. That really opened my eyes. If God made such a clear separation way back then, it only confirms that this wasn’t a temporary or ceremonial idea—it was a divine principle from the beginning.
Understanding all of this helped me realize that God’s food laws weren’t arbitrary—they reflect His deep care for our physical and spiritual well-being.
God doesn't just call these animals unclean—He calls them abominable. And if something is abominable to God, that means it can never be considered clean at any time. The label “abominable” wasn't given just to separate Jews from Gentiles; it reflects God’s deeper view of these things. If God calls something abominable, it’s not something He wants anyone to eat—Jew or Gentile. It’s a strong word that shows how serious He is about avoiding these foods.
As it says in Deuteronomy 14:3-20 KJV:
[3] Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing. [4] These are the beasts which ye shall eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat, [5] the hart, and the roebuck, and the fallow deer, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois. [6] And every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat. [7] Nevertheless these ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the cloven hoof; as the camel, and the hare, and the coney: for they chew the cud, but divide not the hoof; therefore they are unclean unto you. [8] And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase. [9] These ye shall eat of all that are in the waters: all that have fins and scales shall ye eat: [10] and whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it is unclean unto you. [11] Of all clean birds ye shall eat. [12] But these are they of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, [13] and the glede, and the kite, and the vulture after his kind, [14] and every raven after his kind, [15] and the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, [16] the little owl, and the great owl, and the swan, [17] and the pelican, and the gier eagle, and the cormorant, [18] and the stork, and the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. [19] And every creeping thing that flieth is unclean unto you: they shall not be eaten. [20] But of all clean fowls ye may eat.
This passage makes it clear that God's classification of certain animals as unclean and abominable was not arbitrary or cultural—it was a divine standard of holiness. If God declared these things abominable then, He has not changed His mind now.
I know it can be overwhelming hearing so many different teachings. It’s no wonder that many people just end up doing whatever they desire. But Scripture reminds us that we should act with a clear conscience. If we believe something is wrong, then for us, it is wrong to do it.
Romans 14:23 says,
“But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.”
That verse hit me hard. It confirmed that we need to be personally convicted in our choices. We can’t just follow someone else’s rules. The Holy Spirit must be the One who leads us into truth. Otherwise, we’re just doing things out of habit or fear—not genuine faith.
Honestly, the biggest issue I see isn't just about whether someone eats clean or unclean food—it's how people handle the conversation. Some try to push their views on others or even undermine someone else's beliefs. It's okay to share what you believe, but it shouldn't be forced on anyone. That’s why I always try to emphasize this: we each need to be fully persuaded in our own mind.
Romans 14:5 says,
“Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.”
What I’m sharing here isn’t about judging or condemning anyone. I know we’re all on different journeys, and it took me a long time to get to this place myself. I didn’t always understand the importance of these dietary laws. But as I grew in my walk with God, I began to see why He gave us these instructions. I started to recognize that they weren’t burdens—they were blessings.
I also know not all Christians agree on this, and that’s okay. I’m not here to argue. I’m simply sharing what God has put on my heart. For me, this isn’t about legalism. It’s about obedience, reverence, and love for God’s design. It’s about honoring Him with how I live—right down to what I eat.
I now see these instructions as a beautiful part of God’s divine ordinance for health of all people. And that verse in Isaiah made it crystal clear to me: if unclean meat is still being judged at the return of Christ, then it must still matter to God. Swine’s flesh, the mouse, and the things He calls abominations—these aren’t just past concerns. They’re still relevant in His eyes.
I choose to honor God by eating only clean animals, because I believe that's part of His design for us. I want to be clear that this is a personal conviction—my husband, for example, still eats unclean meat, and I don't judge or criticize him for that. I believe everyone has to come to their own understanding in their own time. I don’t think we should impose our choices on others, but I do believe it’s okay to share the reasons behind what we do. So for me, following the biblical guidelines for clean eating is a way I seek to show reverence to God.
