BY Argie Simonis
"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." 1Tim. 4:1-3
I believe that there are many doctrines of demons that have been sown in the Church, but Paul singles out two of them here:
1. forbid people from getting married
and
2. forbid people to eat meat.
Obviously, both of these demonic teachings continue to flourish even today and in fact their observance is demanded.
Those who forbid people, such as priests, from marrying, Paul clearly tells us that they are spreading demonic doctrines.
Paul himself spoke of the advantages of remaining a single minister (1 Corinthians 7), but did not demand it.
Demanding a servant of God to remain unmarried is a teaching that comes from the depths of hell.
That is why we see the abominations that take place in places where celibacy is imposed on people who have not been given it by God as a calling.
On the subject of abstinence from food, Paul writes to the Romans:
"Him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not to doubtful disputations.
For one believes that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eats herbs.
Let not him that eats despise him that eats not; and let not him which eats not judge him that eats: for God has received him." Rom. 14:1-3
In other words, we see that Paul commanded the Romans not to reject those who ate only herbs and likewise those who ate only herbs (today's vegans I would say) not to criticize those who ate meat.
There is nothing wrong with staying single and being a minister and you can eat whatever you like. It is wrong though to impose celibacy or abstinence from meat.
Paul also writes:
"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:" Col. 2:16
The food laws of the Old Testament were symbolic. It may be true that pork, if not cooked properly or consumed in big quantities, can harm our health or that birds and fish can transmit diseases, but these are not the reasons the Lord forbade the people to eat these animals.
What was unclean under the Old Testament has now been cleansed by the sacrifice of Jesus in the New Testament:
"And the voice spoke to him again the second time, What God has cleansed, that call not you common." Acts 10:15
These nutritional laws have been fulfilled in the New Testament through Jesus. Therefore, we are now free to eat meat that was considered unclean according to Jewish law.
God created animals to be food for man. Jesus ate meat at the Passover feast. Even with His glorious body, Jesus ate fish (Luke 24: 41-43).
There is always room for everyone to make a personal choice about what to eat or how much and which meats are good for us, but anyone who teaches that some or all meats are forbidden promotes a demonic doctrine.
