The Gospel of the Kingdom is practical not performative. The early Church taught its Gentile followers not to eat meat sacrificed to idols. It did not command them to engage in complicated rituals in which they “cast the demons out” of the food and then ate it any way. Meat sacrificed to idols often included not properly removing the blood from the animal. It often included twisted rituals in which the animal was tormented, tortured and terrified. There were rituals where the animal was kept alive while it was eaten. There were often sexual overtones and activities connected to the slaughter. Practically these activities encouraged disease spread, it cultivated sociopathy and elevated psychopathy to a level of honor and even worship. The method of slaughter, preparation and storage of meat taught by God’s word removes and destroys the blood and visceral fat both of which can carry disease, infection, hormonal imbalance and excess toxins and can cause the meat to prematurely spoil. The killing was done quick, peacefully and reverently encouraging compassion and care for the animal, encouraging it to simply “go to sleep” calmly and with care; the opposite of sociopathy. The waste products like entrails, legs, head and other parts that could also carry what we know today as e-coli, salmonella, and even botulism were removed from the meat and incinerated outside of the camp. All of the meat was washed, cooked and consumed within a short time after cooking so that in a world without refrigerators or freezers it would not spoil or attract flies. Every step encouraged cleanliness, compassion and care. It was practical not performative. Idolatrous rituals brought out the worst of humanity. The preparation of meat commanded by God, brought out the best. Throughout God’s commandments to Moses, the Holy Spirit employed the word translated as “abomination” to connect an unclean alien ritual / practice to idolatry. In most cases where our KJV Bibles have God calling something an “abomination” a direct Hebrew linguistic connection is made to idolatrous ritual. Those words almost always carry some connection to “putrid” “filthy” “to stink like a rotten corpse”. This connection between ritual pagan blood-letting and idolatrous practice was clear. If you do not properly address and dispose of feet, entrails, blood and visceral fat the entire meat preparation will smell like a rotting corpse. Even with careful slaughtering a carcass that has not been bled properly will quickly begin to smell like a rotting corpse. This horrible smell is what Paul would later reference as “the carnal mind” or “the flesh”. It was not some weird Gnostic “this world is corrupt” philosophy. When Paul says the “carnal mind is at enmity with God” he is emphasizing that everything about idolatrous lifestyle smells like a rotten corpse after a while even if it was exciting a few minutes ago. It is bad for you and is diseased and will likely kill you some day. On the contrary, God commanded Moses that most sacrifices should be “peace offerings” meaning a barbecue with friends, where one household slaughtered the meat and the rest of the family and friends brought the potluck trimmings, libations and dessert. When Paul references “coming together for a meal” he isn’t just talking about a ritualistic bread and wine ceremony, he is talking about giving thanks and remembering Christ throughout the practical aspects of meat, bread and wine the cornerstone of every feast commanded by God in the Old Testament. The “Lord’s Supper” was about practically applying the Word of God to our very human fellowship, meal preparation and cultural interactions. It was about inviting God into our daily interactions with one another and seeing the word of God as a practical way of living instead of a set of rituals dressing up the same old rotten carnal orgies with an added empty religious performative ritual.

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