DOUG HAMP: CLEAN VERSUS UNCLEAN FOOD # THE HERESY OF THE JUDAIZERS REGURGITATED

(1) 1 Cor 8 Meat Offered to Idols - To Eat or Not to Eat!? The Way Congregation - YouTube

Torah-observance is a diverse subject that means different things to groups of professing Christians who believe that aspects of the Mosaic Law have continuing validity and applicability under the new covenant. These groups are known by various names such as as Torah-observant, Hebrew Roots, Sacred Name, Messianic, Awakening Movement etc. The consensus amongst most orthodox Christians is that the Mosaic Law is no longer applicable under the new covenant. 

I am very wary of any group that teaches Torah-observance as a requirement for bible believing Christians whether they are mild or draconian in their views. Torah-observance was considered to be at odds with the gospel by the apostle Paul. (Galatians 2:14). The false doctrine of the Judaizers was dealt with by the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 and was strongly condemned by Paul in the book of Galatians. 

Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, (2 Corinthians 3:7). 

Full Torah observance necessitates obedience to all 613 Mosaic Laws (Mitzvot), the majority of which depend on the existence of a temple, a priesthood, animal sacrifices, and living as a theocratic nation within the Land of Israel. Since full Torah-observance is impractical, many of these groups limit their observance to the dietary laws, the Sabbath and the annual Feasts (or mo'adim, Holy Days). However partial observance of the Torah contradicts the apostles teaching: For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. (James 2:10).

One argument I have heard from Torah-observant teachers is that God's Word is eternal and cannot be broken. As such they argue that God's instructions regarding the ceremonial laws are current and that the requirements of the Mosaic Law is incumbent upon believers. This line of reasoning is a logical fallacy i.e. because the premise is true, the conclusion must be true. What teachers of Torah-observance fail to grasp (apparently) is that God's plan in giving the Torah was an object lesson for ancient Israel, not to the nations. The problem was not the Torah, but Israel's inability to keep it. Paul affirms that the law is good and that is was made for sinners i.e. for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, he sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. (1 Timothy 1:8-11). Paul defines various sins that apply to the moral law, but he makes no reference to the ceremonial law in this passage. Elsewhere he says: .. let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. (Colossians 2:16). Torah-observance is no longer required, since the first covenant has become obsolete (Hebrews 8:13). Animal sacrifices and other ceremonial laws foreshadowed events that would be accomplished by Jesus Christ and therefore are not a requirement for Christians. Those who have been saved by faith in Jesus Christ are “not under the law” (Romans 6:14, 7:4; Galatians 5:18). Despite many clear statements in the New Testament, some teachers persist in teaching that Torah-observance is necessary for Christians today and they integrate it into the new covenant. This false teaching contradicts "faith alone" without the works of the law ~ it is in fact a different gospel. (Galatians 1:6; 2:16). 

Doug Hamp is a Torah-observant non-Jewish author/pastor who teaches that it is incumbent upon Christians to observe certain Mosaic ceremonial laws. In his case (as far as I am aware) he applies Torah-observance to clean and unclean foods, Sabbath observance and the Jewish feasts. 

Referring to clean/unclean foods, Hamp suggests that those of us who see no necessity to observe the Levitical food requirements have been badly taught, that we are ignorant, and that we need to revise our understanding. According to Hamp, once Christians have been relieved of their ignorance, the onus upon them to keep the Levitical food laws. Hamp's position is that the Levitical food laws are a given, i.e. unclean animals were never designated as food in the scriptures. Hamp redefines "food" (as most of us understand the term) to apply exclusively to ..animals that He said we can eat.. those are to be received with thanksgiving. (1 Timothy 4:1-5). According to Hamp, food sanctified (set apart) by the Word of God applies only to the clean animals as defined in the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 11). By redefining "food " in this way, Hamp circumvents the scriptures concerning clean/unclean food in the New Testament. 

Hamp contradicts God's word to Noah prior to the Levitical laws:

Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. (Genesis 9:3).

..every creeping thing/moving thing (re·mes) ~ literally everything that is alive. Strong's #7431: remes a reptile or any other rapidly moving animal:--that creepeth, creeping (moving) thing. {1}

The distinction between clean/unclean animals in Genesis 9 was made for the purpose of sacrifice after the ark rested on Ararat. 

Then Noah built an altar to the LORD. And taking from every kind of clean animal and clean bird, he offered burnt offerings on the altar. (Genesis 8:20).

Hamp: "Seven of each clean were taken for food – only one pair of unclean which were not fit to eat. Had he eaten the pig back then, there would not be any today." 

Either Hamp is ignorant or he is deliberately misleading his readers! The object of taking the animals into the ark was to preserve every species. Noah and his family consumed vegetables on the ark. No animals were consumed as food until after the postdiluvian covenant God made with Noah, his family and the animals (every living creature), confirmed by the sign of the rainbow: ..Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. (Genesis 9:1-17).

Peters Vision: Acts 10:9-33

Undoubtedly the vision concerned Peter's Jewish prejudice against the Gentiles who were considered "unclean" i.e. they were considered unfit to receive the gospel. However, considering the context and the explicit reference to food, Peter's vision would be extremely odd if we limited its interpretation exclusively to this single application. The wider application of Peter's vision was the abolition of the ceremonial laws under the new covenant.

Peter became hungry and wanted something to eat. The vision: In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.(Acts 10:10-16 cf. Matthew 15:11; Romans 14:20).

Barnes: "The ceremonial laws of the Jews were designed solely to keep up the distinction between them and other nations. When the distinction was abolished; when other nations were to be admitted to the same privileges, the laws which were made to keep up such a difference received their death-blow, and expired of course. For it is a maxim of all law, that when the reason why a law was made ceases to exist, the law becomes obsolete.." {2} 

Doug Hamp:

How Romans 14 is Misused to Justify Eating Unclean Animals | DouglasHamp.com

Romans 14

Hamp: "Romans 14 is a discussion about the weak person who thinks that he ought not eat meat and should only eat vegetables. It is NOT about whether a person can eat unclean animals."

Paul is writing about believers whose faith is "weak",  in that they eat only vegetables due to their scruples about meat possibly sacrificed to an idol. Romans 14:2 cannot refer to someone who thinks that he should only eat vegetables since vegetarianism was not traditionally a component of mainstream pre-modern Judaism. (see 1 Corinthians 8:1-13).

Barnes: "This question the apostle discussed and settled in 1 Corinthians 10:20-32, which see. In that place the general principle is laid down, that it was lawful to partake of that meat as a man would of any other, 'unless it was expressly pointed out to him as having been sacrificed to idols, and unless his partaking of it would be considered as countenancing the idolators in their worship;'"  {3}

Paul goes on to discuss the relevance of observing certain days. There is obviously some liberty given to believers concerning these matters. The danger is that those who observe certain days, and those who have scruples about food sacrificed to idols, will impose their views upon others. Conversely, those who have no such scruples should not be brazen and disregard the scruples of the "weaker" brother/sister. It is clear enough surely.

One person regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes a special day does so to the Lord; he who eats does so to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. Romans 14:5-6).

The danger of Torah-observance

In effect Torah-observance produces an elitist two-tier system of believers: the more spiritual Christians who observe the Mosaic Law and the less spiritual Christians who do not. These teachings actually invert the scriptures ~ it was the observers of ceremonial laws who were "weak" and non-observers who were "strong" according to Paul.

The majority of Torah-observant Christians are non-Jewish. Consideration should be given as to why non-Jews are so eager to observe the Torah.. laws that were given exclusively to ancient Israel under the old covenant. God did not judge the surrounding nations for neglecting the ceremonial laws, such as eating "unclean" food. (Acts 15:1-35). 

Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. (Galatians 3:23-29).

Torah-observance has an outward appearance of holiness and obedience to God. In reality it stands in opposition to the the Law of Christ aka the Law of the Spirit and puts believers at great risk of falling away from Christ and becoming legalistic Judaizers.  

For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”.... (Galatians 3:10).

1. Strong's Hebrew: 7431. רֶ֫מֶשׂ (remes) -- creeping things, moving things (biblehub.com)
2. Acts 10:15 Commentaries: Again a voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy." (biblehub.com)

3. Romans 14 Barnes' Notes (biblehub.com)