I think there are people who want to ask a question but don't know who to turn to. Pastors know a lot about religion, love, loss, relationships and life in general. My answers will come from personal experiences, colleagues, and especially the Bible as I believe it has definite answers to many of life difficult questions and much wisdom to impart to those on the journey called life.
So my friends, ask away and I will do my best to give a response. You may not always like it but I assure you you will do well to heed good, godly advice from someone who does care.
Pastor Dan
3 comments:
Haver you ever thought that you're going a little blog CrAZy?
I know your question was for Pastor Dan but I'd just like to say that I have been enjoying all his blogs and hearing all the different responses from people.
This new forum is an excellent idea.
I have a question for Pastor Dan. I received an e-mail this morning from a muslim friend who obviously doesn't eat pork. She forwarded this video snipit of Joel Olsteen preaching about how the bible says we are not suppose to eat pork or shellfish. We all know you Pastor Dan eat anything and everything just about. How is it that Pastor Olsteen tells his congregation not to eat pork and shellfish because it says so in the bible and you obviously don't have those same beliefs. I do know you live your life by what the bible and God says. How can 2 Christian Pastors believe 2 vary different ways about the same thing?
Excellent question!
I cannot speak for Pastor Osteen. Each person has there own convictions on what they can eat or not. If I thought that certain foods were bad for my body then I would certainly try to avoid them.
Let's look at what the bible teaches. Or better yet what did Jesus say about this matter?
In Matthew 15:10-18, Jesus clearly teaches that what one eats does not defile you but rather goes out of the body as waste. It is what comes out of your mouth that defiles you.
In Mark 7:14-23, Mark the author writes that by Jesus saying this, he "declared that every kind of food is acceptable in God's eyes."
The Apostle Paul has something to add to this discussion when talking about foods that are offered to idols which was a common practice in that part of the world and there are still some places where it is still practiced. What is the Christian's response to this?
In 1 Corinthians 8 Paul discusses this issue and resolves it simply by saying in verse 9, "but you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble."
In other words we are to live our lives by a higher law. The law of love. If I am invited to eat with someone who I know does not eat pork or some other item because they think it is offensive or unclean then I will not do or eat anything that will offend them because of love.
I am not to impose by freedom to eat anything on anyone else. I must do what is pleasing in the Lord's sight.
Also for Christians the Old Covenant has been replaced by the New Covenant so the dietary laws of the Old Testament do not apply to those under the New Covenant.
Hope this answer helps to clarify a little on this topic. Thanks again for a great question.
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