We’re not all slaves to our bellies

THE EDITOR, Sir:

IWRITE in response to the article ‘Plate that pig! CB pressing Jamaicans to ignore biblical references and eat more pork’, published in your newspaper on Sunday, September 18, 2016.

Dr Keith Amiel is, indeed, a hired gun for the Caribbean Broilers Group of Companies. As a veterinarian, he has certainly spoken well, from a scientific and public-health viewpoint. But what the goodly doctor, and those whose cause he represents, has failed to recognise is that the ways of God are not subject to human approbations.

Dr Amiel cited a few biblical references of pigs and why many believers abstain from them. But let me bring a few things to his attention.

First, Genesis 3 shows us that the first sin was a ‘belly’ sin. God instructed man not to eat; the devil basically asked, ‘What’s the big deal?’ Man ate, contrary to God’s command, and you know the rest of the story. So it does matter whether we eat according to God’s dictates or not. And notice, too, that God never cited anything scientifically wrong with the fruit. It was just His sign of authority; something many have nothing to do with nowadays, because they prefer their own ways.

Furthermore, in Genesis 7:2, God instructed Noah to bring seven of each clean animal, and two of each unclean animal into the ark. Thus, even on a logical level, God had more purposes for the clean than for the unclean. Perhaps, there were only two unclean, for the sake of preservation; but seven clean, for the purposes of preservation, food, and sacrifice. Note, also, that no Jews existed at the time. Clean and unclean, accordingly, transcend Leviticus.

SCRIPTURAL DEFENCE

Later on, Satan tried the same stomach approach on Christ, in the wilderness. But, instead of rationalising God’s command, like Eve did, Christ simply quoted what the scriptures said – “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY word which proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

Therefore, it is not for men to try and rationalise why God has set certain laws in motion, but for them to obey the commandments of God. And whereas the CB Group is more concerned about making more money, there are some of us who are more concerned about our soul’s salvation.

Finally, there are many and differing opinions on the whole matter of faith and belief, but may the words of Romans 3:4 guide us in our stances: “Let God be true, and every human being a liar.” (NIV) J. FITZROY JOHNSON Pastor