Leviticus 11:30-31 states that, among other things, snails and lizards are unclean under the Law of Moses (KJV). Some use these types of restrictions from the Law to dictate the boundaries for a Christian diet, even going so far as to refuse escargot because it is unclean. Is that an appropriate application of these passages? Does God bind the lifestyle components of the Law of Moses on all people today? The Scriptures emphatically answer, “No.”
The boldest statement on this subject comes from Jesus Himself in Mark 7:18-19, where He said, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” So that no person would miss the importance of this reasoning, Mark added by inspiration, “Thus He declared all foods clean.” By inspiration, no foods are unclean anymore.
Other noteworthy passages include Hebrews 9:9-12, which states that the regulations of the Old Law were only in place “until a time of reformation.” That time came when Jesus arrived and obtained eternal redemption for all through His blood. Colossians 2:16-17 also says, “Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day – things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.” There is no restriction for Christians concerning clean and unclean foods, nor are there required holidays or Sabbath days in Christ.
These passages all show God’s judgment on these matters. He has declared all foods clean, and the words He spoke to Peter in Acts 10:15 are now appropriate for us: “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.”
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