Wisdom is King when we interpret scripture. This is because there is alot of legalism and lawlessness in the end time church. Legalism gropes to enjoy controlling masses through the Torah — as many people love to be controlled by the law from man rather than to be controlled by the Holy Spirit; whilst lawlessness aims to enjoy the body at all costs in the name of spiritual freedom.
And Paul’s letters mainly dealt with the two vices. For instance his forbidding of women to teach in the beginning of the book of Timothy concerns a congregation which is sensual, easily falling into the adultery of the eye and sexual immorality. Churches which are disciplined by the Holy Spirit can even have women apostles — as Paul, in Galatians 3, affirms that there is neither male nor female in Christ.
But this shows how women are keepers of purity — for their own sake. If women fall into perversity, they disqualify themselves from advising the most ignorant of men. In an environment of lawlessness,the Adamic and Mosaic laws kick in, rendering the most gifted woman teacher as useless.
Most ‘controversial’ and ‘mysoginistic’ teachings of Paul are directed to the sensuality in a particular congregation. He himself says in 1Timothy 1 that the law(do this and don’t do that orders) is for those who are struggling with lust and pride and are in love with fleshly pursuits. The law is not for the rightous — those who are led by the spirit.
And the advice to Timothy on food advises on two things: first of all, the food should be first consecrated by the word of God. Is the food food. Anything toxic — destroying the body — is no longer nutritious — ceasing to be food. Second of all, even if something is permitted by scripture, it must also be approved by answers to prayers — undertaken patiently. God may instruct us to fast or abstain from certain foods — only for a season — for his own special reason.
Many Christians have fallen and are still falling whilst singing about God’s love and freedom in the spirit. ‘Love’ has come to represent ‘me-me-me’ convictions. This is why even homosexuals demand church weddings — for God to approve their ‘god-given love’.
Essentially, food should be what Jesus would eat. It should not disgust you or poison you. This is even if an apostle can be so anointed that no poison overcomes his system.
Peter was told to eat ‘forbidden’ food by the Holy Spirit so as to underscore how the presence of the Holy Spirit literally paralyzes physical toxicity. In fact when Jesus drank wine — which was fermented — it was ‘de-intoxicated’. Paul reiterated this point when a snake bit him but he just shook it off. The spirit world is mysterious and overrides the natural world.
But Jesus is the word of God and the Lord of your body, determining what enters your body — as it is his body. Even if Jesus is omnipotent, he is omni- tasteful and omni-pure. He may allow us to engage in some special ‘prophetic’ actions. But he can never stomach nauseating passions inside him. His purity vomits out any impurity.
And Paul never went around begging to be bitten by snakes — like some American Christians do. Neither did Peter do a lifetime hunting of weird animals. Their actions were one-time prophetic symbols. Essentially, only the Holy Spirit can teach us what is ‘radical and prophetic’ and what is ‘rebellious and careless’.
joyninn 