Is There a "Christian Way" to Trap a Pig?

Yesterday morning in church we read from Acts 15, where the Jerusalem council met to discuss whether or not Gentile believers must convert to Judaism in order to follow Jesus. The conclusion was that Gentiles did not have to convert to Judaism, but were required to abstain from “food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality” (v. 29).

From this passage, we were reminded that our salvation is not based on what we do – on how well we follow the 10 Commandments, or whether or not we are circumcised, but our salvation is based on God’s grace.

From there, a discussion developed about the specific actions that the Gentile believers were urged to avoid. What about eating blood and the meat of strangled animals? Here in our village, the men set traps to catch wild pigs. Some men use snares that catch the animal’s leg, while others use snares that catch the animal’s neck. If they trap a pig with a neck snare, and then eat it, is that a sin? Is it something that will negate their salvation? Is it something that is not in line with following Christ? Is it no big deal in our day and age? These are the kinds of questions that were raised during the service.

And then there’s the matter of food that’s been sacrificed to idols. It is quite common here for people to offer a chicken or a young pig to the spirits. What should be a believer’s response to such a situation?

After some explanation and discussion during the service, it was announced that we will continue with this topic next week -- and for as many weeks as it takes until everyone has clarity on these things. We will also be addressing several other controversial topics, such as smoking and chewing betel nut (also a big deal on this island, and one on which some denominations have taken a strong stand).

This is the first time I’ve been in a church where the topic of eating blood, the meat of strangled animals, and food offered to idols has been directly related to everyday life. Here, these are not hypothetical situations, but ones encountered on a regular basis. There is a felt need to know God’s heart on these issues.

Please pray for God to make these things clear to the believers here. 

Please also pray for wisdom for my co-workers, doing the teaching and leading the discussions. 

Thank you.