I Timothy 4:1-5
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“Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God has created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”
Can “every creature” that God made be eaten for food as long as those who do this are “thankful” (I Tim 4:4)? Three points clarify this verse:
First, Paul is combating vegetarianism (avoidance of all meat). He is not indicting people promoting avoidance of unclean meat. The passage states “abstain” from meats. This scripture explains the fact that meat (within God’s guidelines) is not a sin to eat.
Second, the Word of God, however, must “sanctify” (set apart) any particular meat. The Bible only sanctifies the clean meats of Leviticus 11:1-47 and Deuteronomy 14:1-29! This leads to…
Third, Lev 11:3 explains that Christians can thankfully receive meat only if they “believe and know the truth.” John 17:17 declares, “Your word is truth.” The Bible is our only acceptable standard for the truth, and this includes meats that are acceptable to God.
It is important to note Paul records here that abstaining from meats and forbidding to marry are “doctrines of demons.” An interesting side point is that certain clean meats provide crucial proteins for the proper development and strength of the brain, and thus the mind, so that it can resist demons. It is not strange demons would inspire the idea of vegetarianism.
Also—the other subject here—when fully understood, the teaching of celibacy for any reason is utterly satanic, because human marriage represents the very God-given pattern of His Plan to expand His family. Suggested reading:
• Are All Animals Good Food?
• Sex – Its Unknown Dimension
• The Purpose of Marriage – Ever Obsolete?
• The Awesome Potential of Man