Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them, "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'These are the animals which you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth: Among the animals, whatever divides the hoof, having cloven hooves and chewing the cud; that you may eat. Nevertheless these you shall not eat among those that chew the cud or those that have cloven hooves: the camel, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; the rock hyrax, [a small rodent-like animal], because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; the hare, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; and the swine, though it divides the hoof, having cloven hooves, yet does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. Their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch. They are unclean to you.
So only animals that have cloven hooves and chew the cud are acceptable for food. Acceptable animals would include sheep, goats, cattle, elk and buffalo. Unacceptable animals would include pigs, horses, dogs, cats, rabbits, bears, horses, squirrels, rodents, and camels..
Then the LORD said,"These you may eat of all that are in the water: whatever in the water has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers; that you may eat. But all in the seas or in the rivers that do not have fins and scales, all that move in the water or any living thing which is in the water, they are an abomination to you. They shall be an abomination to you; you shall not eat their flesh, but you shall regard their carcasses as an abomination. Whatever in the water does not have fins or scales; that shall be an abomination to you."
So these verses clearly tell us that we are not to eat any water creature which does not have fins and scales. That would include all shellfish. So we must not eat crabs, lobsters, shrimp, abalone, clams, catfish, sharks, dolphins (the mammal), whales, sturgeon, and a host of others. But there are also a host of common fish which we may eat. Among the common edible fish are salmon, tuna, bass, and trout, tilapia, and cod, as well as a few others. Like the rules for animals, the rules for fish are easily remembered: If they have fins and scales, they are good for food.
As a child/teenager I was a Seventh-Day Adventist my mom was raised that way, and so we had not choice but to accept the denomination. Very strict, I must say...My grandmother ate absolutley no meat..Just vegetarian patties, boca burgers and lots of vegetables and beans. She is 85 now and has a busier schedule than me! My mom recently stopped eating all meat..other then fresh water fish.
Growing up we were never big meat eaters anyway..my parents were against it. So if we had any meat, it was; chicken, certain fish, turkey sausages, turkey burgers, turkey bacon..or just a plain ol' turkey. You wouldnt see my dad coming home from work at 10 oclock to eat a thick juicey t-bone..it wasnt happening! I remember going to my grandfathers house on my mother's side and he was a big hunter! Their deep freeze was packed to maximum capacity with deer meat..unfortunately he's been dead for about seven years now. He died from either prostate or colon cancer..my point is that meat may not have been the total cause..BUT IT DEFINITELY PLAYED A PART IN HIM DEVELOPING CANCER. (I believe)
Im not telling you to do anything you dont want to do..I'm just stating what the bible says and my thoughts in regards to meat... we are not suppose to eat certain types of meat..
AT THIS DAY IN AGE THE MEAT HAS SOOOOOOOOO...MANY FILLERS, HORMONES, ADDITIVES, AND ANTIBIOTICS! THATS WHATS MAKING SO MANY OF US SICK!!!! AND WE DEVELOP DIFFERENT DISESASES AND SICKNESSES FROM OUR CONSUMPTION OF MEAT! If you MUST eat meat, buy organic! It will cost you a little more but your body will appreciate that! Farm raised chickens and cattle that have been given feed that is CHEMICAL FREE! Go buy some canned albacore tuna fish by bumble bee and enjoy that on some whole grain pita bread!
In closing, I'm personally working on going slightly vegan, I will more than likely continue eating fish..because I enjoy it and, its acceptable in GOD's eyes, as well as the omega 3's it contains. But the hotwings and fries...pass...prime rib..pass...bbg ribs..pass..poterhouse steak........tough decision, but it's time to start making better eating choices! It will make God smile too, your obeying HIS WORD! ;)