Bible Talk | Tri Harmadji, Ph.D.

In today's Christian life, the issue of food is often considered irrelevant. Many people assume that the concept of “haram” only applies in the Old Testament era, while the New Testament has freed people from these rules. However, in an evolving socio-religious context, especially in a pluralistic society, the question of halal, haram, and consumption practices has once again come to the fore.

Why does religion regulate food? Do these rules still have meaning in modern times? These questions prompt the need for a deeper and more comprehensive study, especially from a biblical perspective.

Pure and Unclean: The Proper Terminology in the Bible

If traced textually, the Bible does not actually use the categories of “halal” and “haram” in the sense commonly known today. In the Hebrew text of the Old Testament, the terms used are unclean and clean.

This distinction is theologically important. “Unclean” is not always related to sin, but rather to ritual conditions. Something unclean means it is unfit to participate in worship or enter God's presence in the context of worship. In contrast, “clean” denotes a state of ritual cleanliness and worthiness.

Thus, a person who becomes unclean is not automatically sinful. He is only in a condition that requires restoration through the rite of cleansing. This is in contrast to the concept of “haram,” which is directly related to lawlessness and sin.

Unclean Isn't Always About Sin: The Ritual Dimension of Israeli Life

In Israel's priestly system, many things can cause impurity without involving a moral element. For example, touching a dead body makes one unclean for seven days. However, the act is not a sin, but rather a consequence of the inevitable realities of life.

Similarly, a woman who gives birth becomes temporarily unclean (Leviticus 12:1-2). Diseases such as leprosy also place a person in an unclean status, even requiring them to live apart from the community.

This fact shows that the category of unclean-purity functions primarily in the realm of the symbolic and ritual, not merely the ethical. Impurity is a condition, not a moral wrong.

Impure Animals and Prohibition of Consumption

In the context of food, then, the concept of uncleanliness is related to prohibition. The Book of Leviticus, specifically chapter 11, details the types of animals that are considered unclean and cannot be eaten. Among these are camels, rabbits, hornbills, and pigs. Interestingly, in modern practice, some of these animals are actually consumed without being considered problematic. This shows a shift in understanding and practice in the history of the faithful.

The prohibition against unclean animals becomes significant when it is violated intentionally, thus falling into the category of sin. As such, this prohibition is normative and legally binding.

Consequences of Offences: Between Inadvertence and Intentionality

The Law does not only set rules, but also consequences. In the Book of Numbers 15:22-30, a distinction is made between unintentional and intentional offences. Unintentional offences still leave room for restoration through atonement offerings. Intentional offences, on the other hand, are seen as a form of rebellion against God and can lead to severe punishment, even death.

This concept asserts that the heart of the matter is not simply the action, but the attitude of the heart towards God's law.

Theological Purpose: Formation of the Identity of the People of God

Why did God give these rules? The answer lies in identity formation. Israel was called to be a chosen nation: a people holy, distinct, and set apart for God. In Leviticus 11:44-45 it is affirmed that the people are to be holy because God is holy. This holiness is expressed through a variety of practices, including circumcision, sabbaths, and dietary rules.

Of all, the food rules are unique in that they are daily. Through the practice of eating, Israel's identity as the people of God was concretely and continually expressed in daily life.

Pig as a Marker of Socio-Religious Identity

Among the various unclean animals, pigs occupy a special position. This is not solely because of its biological nature, but because of its social function as a marker of identity.

Archeologically, it was found that societies surrounding Israel such as the Philistines and Egyptians, consumed pigs extensively. In contrast, Israelite communities show no trace of such consumption. Thus, the rejection of pork became a very clear symbol of distinction. Like special clothing in other religious communities, food rules serve as a "visible identity", a marker that is instantly recognisable in social interactions.

Changes in the New Testament: Revolution by Jesus

The question often arises, is this rule absolute and eternal? In the Gospel of Mark 7:18-19, Jesus Christ states that what enters the body does not defile a man, because it ‘does not enter the heart’. This statement marked a radical change in the understanding of uncleanness.

This change is reaffirmed in Acts and Paul's letters, where the boundary between Jew and Gentile is abolished. Not only food, but also practices such as circumcision lost their exclusive identity function. Thus, all food is declared kosher in the Christian theological sense.

Christological Foundations: Divine Authority in the Change of Law

These changes are not mere reinterpretations, but authoritative acts. In the Christian faith, Jesus has the divine authority to fulfil and, in certain contexts, transform the law.

The fact that Jesus could change a provision or law that was previously considered divine is an important indication of His divinity. Laws that originated with God can only be changed by God Himself.

Closer

For Christians, the conclusion is clear: no food is unclean in the theological sense anymore. However, this understanding should not result in an arrogant or patronising attitude towards the beliefs of others. Rather, a correct understanding of the history and theology of this law leads to a thoughtful and respectful attitude towards those who still hold to it as part of their faith.

If in the Old Testament the identity of God's people was shaped through external signs including food, then in the New Testament, that identity turns to an internal dimension: a renewed heart. Thus, the question “are there still unclean animals? ” finds its answer not just in the categories of dos and don'ts, but in a deeper understanding of the work of God who continues to shape his people from outside to inside, from symbol to substance.

God's work continues to shape his people from outside to inside, from symbol to substance.