Posted on 01/31/2011 7:43:38 AM PST by Objective Scrutator
When you bite into a delicious pizza, succulent sandwich or luscious lamb chops, are you possibly eating food that has been sacrificed to idols?
An outspoken American pastor says yes, and he's sounding the alarm for Christians to be aware of the Islamic influence he calls "backdoor Shariah" now nibbling its way across the fruited plain.
At issue, says Mark Biltz of El Shaddai Ministries in Bonney Lake, Wash., is eating food that's "halal," in other words "lawful" or "permitted" for the Muslim diet.
Muslims join many Jews and some Christians in avoiding the consumption of certain animals such as pigs and birds of prey, but those of the Islamic faith also have their meat blessed in the name of their god, Allah.
"From the Christian standpoint, Allah would be an idol," Biltz told WND.
In a sermon last weekend which he posted online, Biltz explained, "In order for it to be halal, they have to slaughter the animal facing Mecca ... and they have to say this prayer about Allah is great and greater than all other gods. Muslims can only eat food that is halal, that has been sacrificed to their idol, Allah ... and with Allah's name prayed over it."
"You could be eating beef, chicken, etc., offered up to Allah and not even know it. I can just imagine at a Passover Seder the caterer unbeknownst to anyone is serving halal meat! It could be on your pizza without you knowing it, or at your favorite restaurant. People don't realize they could be eating meat sacrificed to idols!"
(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...
Good point. The one thing I am not worrying too much about is for years and years Kocher has been available but I don’t believe I ever ate any so I assume it will be the same with this Hulul (whatever the word is).
Acts 15:29 (New International Version, ©2011)
29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.
Farewell.
People need to realize that the ENTIRE Bible must be read, and read together.
The admonition against pagan meat is very clear, and has nothing to do with “cleanliness” (ability to pray to God).
It has to do with indirect endorsement of a false religion, however small.
Amen, TC!
Paul's teaching, which he explains in Romans 14:14-23 and 1 Corinthians 8:4-13, is that eating food sacrificed to idols is not wrong in and of itself, but is better avoided for the sake of Christians who think it is wrong and would consequently be led into sin (Rom 14:23).
Now I don’t know how similar halal is to kosher-—but kosher beef is usually dry because all the blood is drained from the cow. I like my beef rare....and hell, I like pork too much anyway.
Then, logically, reciting from the koran makes a person unclean.
I have never in my life walked into a restaurant, butcher shop or supermarket and asked about which idols my food was sacrificed to. Why? Because I don’t care and this article does nothing to change my mind.
Wouldn’t saying grace over the meal in Jesus name trump Allah?
“Cat: the other white meat.”
Farewell to you, too. I plan to.
“So many recipes, so little time ...”
>>You, like most Christians, need to learn context.<<
I don’t think that is the issue here. The context was implied, at least in what I was reading. And the context of Christianity itself supports DannyTN’s point.
I suspect that nobody on this thread would eat anything that had “HALAL” on the package, and for the very reason you give - supporting the religious belief it involves.
Your remark was also condescending.
>>According to the Apostle Paul, eating food that you KNOW was sacrificed to idols is no different from eating food you didn’t know was sacrificed to idols <<
I disagree. I think that is why Paul had a “DADT” attitude about it. And yes, it was about the weaker brother.
The spirit of this is pretty clear. Food is food, but you are not to “appear” to be supporting the false religion.
If there is some guy in the kitchen at your favorite restaurant “sacrificing” the meat before he cooks it, and you don’t know it, you need not even think about it. OTOH, if there is the phrase “HALAL Restaurant” in big neon letters at the door of the restaurant, you should avoid it. Even then,there is nothing wrong with the food, but the reason for avoiding it is to keep from damaging the “lesser brother”.
Don’t even get me started about drinking alcohol. That one is a REAL conundrum - for some.
That is one of the best posts in this thread.
This is stupid. You mean you should not eat food that a Jew has blessed, or I shouldn’t eat food that a Christian has blessed? Silly.
Why should anyone care?
Seriously.
Depends, the rest of the chapter makes clear that what comes out of the mouth reveals what's in the heart. So if you recited the Koran to show people how false it is, then no. But if you recited the Koran, because in your heart you were hoping the Koran was true instead of those original scriptures, then yeah, definitely.
I’m glad to know this. I do not want to support in any way Islam or muslims.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.