Christianity, unlike Judaism, Pagan or Cults, does not impose permanent dietary prohibitions on specific foods. The New Testament teaches that no food is spiritually unclean in itself and that moral purity comes from the heart, not from what is consumed.
Old Testament: Dietary Laws for Israel
In the Old Covenant, God gave the Israelites strict food laws (kashrut), distinguishing between clean and unclean animals:
Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 list forbidden foods such as pigs, shellfish, and certain birds.
These laws were part of Israel’s ceremonial identity and were not given as universal rules for all humanity.
The Bible—especially in the context of Christianity—has a complex and evolving teaching on food, meat, and dietary restrictions. Here’s a clear breakdown of what the Bible actually says, divided by Old Testament (mostly for Israel) and New Testament (normative for Christians).Old Testament (applies primarily to ancient Israel under the Mosaic Law)God gave very specific food laws to the people of Israel (not to all humanity). These are mainly in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14:
- Clean animals (allowed): animals that chew the cud AND have a divided hoof (cow, sheep, goat, deer, etc.)
- Unclean (forbidden): pig, camel, rabbit, rock badger, most seafood (no fins/scales), most birds of prey, reptiles, insects (except certain locusts), etc.
- Blood is strictly forbidden (Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:10–14; Deuteronomy 12:23)
- Fat of sacrificed animals was forbidden in some cases (Leviticus 7:23–25)
- No eating animals that died of natural causes or were torn by beasts (Deuteronomy 14:21)
These laws were part of the covenant with Israel and served multiple purposes: holiness, separation from pagan practices, health, etc.
New Testament – Major Changes for Christians
Jesus and the apostles radically changed the rules for believers in Christ:
- Jesus declares all foods clean
Mark 7:18–19 (NIV):
“Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? … (Thus he declared all foods clean.)”
The Greek text literally says “purging/cleansing all foods” — most scholars and translations agree Jesus abolished the kosher laws here. - Peter’s vision in Acts 10
God shows Peter a sheet full of unclean animals and says:
Acts 10:15 – “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
This vision was primarily about accepting Gentiles, but it also symbolized the end of Jewish food laws. - Paul explicitly says all food is clean
Romans 14:14 – “I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself.”
Romans 14:20 – “All food is clean…”
1 Timothy 4:3–5 – Warns against those who “forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods,” saying everything God created is good and nothing is to be rejected if received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. - The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15)
When Gentile Christians asked what rules they must follow, the apostles did NOT impose kosher laws. They only asked Gentiles to abstain from:- Food sacrificed to idols
- Blood
- Meat of strangled animals
- Sexual immorality
(Acts 15:28–29)
Even these restrictions were largely temporary or cultural; Paul later says eating food offered to idols is fine if your conscience is clear (1 Corinthians 8 & 10).
So what does this mean for Christians today?
Mainstream Christian teaching (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) is almost unanimous:
- No food is forbidden simply because it is “unclean” (pork, shellfish, etc. are allowed).
- The only possible remaining restrictions are:
- Don’t eat blood (blood sausage, rare steak dripping blood, etc.) — some Christians observe this, many don’t.
- Avoid meat sacrificed to idols (basically irrelevant today except in some mission contexts).
- Some denominations practice voluntary fasting (e.g., Lent for Catholics/Orthodox — no meat on Fridays or during Lent, but this is tradition, not biblical command).
Groups that still keep Old Testament food laws
- Seventh-day Adventists (officially encourage “clean” meats, many are vegetarian)
- Hebrew Roots / Messianic Jews (try to keep kosher)
- Some independent churches
These are minority positions not shared by historic Christianity.
Christian Discipline: Fasting, Not Prohibition
While Christianity does not forbid particular foods, it promotes fasting and self-discipline as spiritual practice:
Many traditions (Catholic, Orthodox) abstain from meat on certain days (e.g., Fridays, Lent)
This is not because meat is sinful, but as an act of penance and spiritual focus
Paul warns against legalism regarding food:
“Do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink.”
— Colossians 2:16
“Everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.”
— 1 Timothy 4:4
Bottom line – What the New Testament actually teaches Christians:
- All foods are clean (Mark 7, Romans 14, 1 Timothy 4).
- Eat whatever is set before you with thankfulness (1 Corinthians 10:25–27).
- The only universal prohibitions are idolatry and (for some) blood.
- Christians are free to be vegetarian or restrict foods for personal reasons (Romans 14), but no one can command others to abstain from certain foods as a requirement for salvation or holiness.
So no, Christianity does NOT forbid pork, shellfish, or any other food that was unclean under the Old Covenant. The New Testament explicitly ended those restrictions for believers in Christ.