Bacon—A Clean Meat According To The Bible
Bodie Hodge M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI
Biblical Authority Ministries April 7, 2025 (Donate)
Bacon cheeseburger, bacon pizza, and bacon with eggs! Throughout
the Western world and many part of the globe, bacon—or its cousins—ham and
Canadian bacon, are enjoyed in hosts of dishes. It almost seems like second
nature when one smells that delicate and wonderful aroma and tastes the sweet
smokey flavor of bacon.
And yet, some don’t eat bacon and they appeal to religious reasons. For examples, practicing Jews and Muslims don’t eat bacon. They have a Kosher and Halal diets respectively. Whereas those who eat bacon, are eating an expanded Kosher diet.
Kosher and Halal
Let me briefly explain what I mean by these terms. A Kosher
diet was based on Old Testament law where one only ate clean meats listed in
Old Testament Law of Moses. Halal is similar to Kosher for Muslims but
has slight deviations based on Islamic rules. Muslims can eat a Kosher diet but
Jews would not eat a Halel diet when being consistent.
The idea of cleanliness is a biblical concept by the way. In
Genesis 7:2, long before the Law of Moses, God told Noah to take seven clean
animals and two of the unclean. This shows that the concept of clean vs.
unclean animals existed before the Mosaic Law, though no detailed list is
given.
The Law of Moses (especially Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy
14) later defines and codifies which animals are clean (e.g., those that chew
the cud and have split hooves) and unclean (e.g., pigs, shellfish). These laws
governed diet, worship, and ritual purity.
So, the relationship is this: the idea of clean animals
originated before the Law (Genesis), but the Law of Moses formalized those
distinctions with specific regulations for Israel. The Law built upon an
existing concept to establish cleanliness under the Old Covenant.
Christian Diet or Expanded Kosher
An expanded Kosher diet brings us to the New Testament.
According to the 66 books of the Bible, the shift from Old Testament dietary
laws to New Testament additions is built on by the power of God. Bacon, ham, rabbit,
shrimp, and lobster are no longer considered unclean—and this centers on the teachings and
power of Jesus Christ.
In Mark 7:18-19 (ESV), Jesus says,
And he said to them, "Then
are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a
person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his
stomach, and is expelled?" (Thus he declared all foods clean.)
The context of this relates to the Pharisees and Scribes attacking
Christ for not following the traditions (later written as the Talmud). The traditions
are the man-made interpretations of the Old Testament. The problem was that
they were neglecting what the Word of God was actually saying due to their
traditions. So, they were, whether they realized it or not, elevating man’s
ideas to supersede what God said!
So, Christ showing His power of who He was (God incarnate),
did an amazing thing here. So powerful in fact that it is often “glossed over”.
Christ, who is God in the flesh, declared all foods clean. This is
called an expanded Kosher diet or a Christian diet.
Thus, Christ made pork clean—which is where bacon comes
from. But He also made clean lobster, shrimp, rabbit, catfish (non-scaly fish),
and so much more. This is an incredible and powerful thing Christ did that
affected the entire world.
This statement marks an expansion from Leviticus 11 and
Deuteronomy 14, where pork, shellfish, and other animals were initially unclean.
Since then, they are now clean.
Further Confirmations
Further confirmation comes from Acts 10, where Peter sees a
vision of formerly unclean animals and hears God say, “Do not call anything
impure that God has made clean” (Acts 10:15). Though the vision metaphorically
refers to unclean Gentiles now being accepted by God, it also reaffirms the
dietary change.
Peter’s reaction in Acts 10:14—“Surely not, Lord! I have
never eaten anything impure or unclean”—reveals a moment of resistance to
Christ’s authority. Though Peter had walked with Jesus, witnessed His
resurrection, and heard His teaching that all foods are clean (Mark 7:19), he
still clung to Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14.
By refusing what God had declared clean, Peter
unintentionally placed tradition above Christ’s revealed will and power. His
“No” to the risen Lord showed a hesitation to fully embrace the what Christ had
done. It wasn't outright rebellion, but it reflected a struggle to let go of
the old in light of the new—a momentary dishonor to Christ’s power to cleanse
what was once unclean.
Paul writing by the power of Holy Spirit in the context of
eating says in Romans 14:14a (ESV):
“I know and am persuaded in the
Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself,”
In Colossians 2:16 (ESV), Paul also writes,
Therefore 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.
This reinforces that food is no longer unclean under the New
Covenant. Under the Old Covenant (e.g., Leviticus 11), certain animals were
declared unclean. But in the New Covenant, Jesus’ teachings (Mark 7), Peter’s
vision (Acts 10), and Paul’s writings (Romans 14, Colossians 2) all affirm that
Christ made these meats clean. Therefore, bacon, ham, rabbit, shrimp, and
lobster are no longer unclean—because Christ has made all foods clean.
The next time you go to a restaurant or have a meal where ham or bacon are served, don’t forget to thank Christ for what He did and ask for His blessing.
