Today is the Fourth of July, which means it’s America’s Independence Day. This annual holiday is such a fun one to celebrate. Everyone is dressed in bright red, crisp white, and dark navy blue. The night sky is lit up by fireworks, sparklers, and bonfires. Many spend the day at the beach or the lake. Others watch parades march down Main Street. And a large number of both children and adults engage in eating a classic American food—the glorious hot dog.

Hot dogs aren’t for everyone (I’ve seen some documentaries that have made me question the goodness of that little sausage), but they sure are popular. It’s estimated that Americans consume about 150 million hot dogs every Fourth of July!^[1] But as a Christian living in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave, you may be wondering if you ought to participate in this American ritual. After all, doesn’t the Bible condemn eating pork? And since hot dogs are made out of pork (unless you buy those kosher ones made out of beef), should Christians really be eating hot dogs on the Fourth of July?

Let’s look at the text. The prohibition of pork is found in Leviticus 11, where God outlines which animals can be eaten and which animals cannot. He commands,

“And the pig, because it parts the hoof and is cloven-footed but does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. You shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall not touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you.” Leviticus 11:7-8, ESV

It seems pretty clear. Pigs are unclean; therefore, they shall not be eaten. But this directive is not as straightforward as it may seem.

Many of the commands in the books of the Law have to do with cleanliness and uncleanliness, and they have been dubbed the “ceremonial laws.” The purpose of these specific laws was for Israel to be distinct from the surrounding pagan nations. The Israelites were called by God to be holy, literally “set apart” (Exodus 19:6). When Israel is forbidden from indulging in pork (Deuteronomy 14:8), it is a command to live separately from their pagan neighbors. We are not Israel, so it is not necessary for us to obey this ceremonial law.

Additionally, Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law so that we might no longer be slaves to it. Paul writes in his letter to the Romans,

“For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.” Romans 10:4, NLT

Jesus lived the life we could not live and died the death we deserved to die. In doing so, He fulfilled the Law and freed us from our bondage to the Law (Matthew 5:17, Galatians 3:23-26). We are reconciled to the Father, not through obedience or good works, but by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9, 15-16). We are not bound by the law regarding the uncleanliness of pork. We are free to eat what we’d like to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Finally, Jesus Himself declared that all foods are clean to eat.

“And he said to them, ‘Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?’ (Thus he declared all foods clean.)” Mark 7:18-19, ESV

All foods are spiritually clean. That includes bacon, pork chops, and yes—hot dogs. What we consume does not cause us to become unclean. It is what is residing in our hearts that makes us unclean, impure, unholy. The notion that all foods are now clean is confirmed in Peter’s vision in Acts 10 (vv.9-15) and in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians (8:8). Food is neither good nor bad, so we have no reason to avoid certain foods because they may have once been considered “unclean.”

Israel’s ceremonial laws are no longer in effect for believers. Jesus fulfilled the Law and declared that all foods are now clean. We are saved by grace through faith, not by legalistic obedience of Old Testament commands. Christ has set you free, and you are no longer bound by the Law.

However, I do encourage you to not prioritize your freedom over consideration of other believers. Many Christians are weak in their faith and don’t feel right eating pork. And that’s okay! Just because we can do something doesn’t mean we have to do it. We ought not judge, despise, or argue with those who abstain from pork (Romans 14:1-3). Instead, we ought to be gracious and avoid doing things that might become a stumbling block for them (and this applies to what we eat, drink, wear, watch, listen to, etc.) (Romans 14:20-21, 1 Corinthians 8:13).

So, you are free to eat a hot dog this Fourth of July, or have some bacon at breakfast, or take a ham sandwich for lunch, or order some ribs at a restaurant. But be prepared to abstain, if necessary, to love a brother or sister in Christ.

^[1] “Consumption Stats,” National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, accessed May 23, 2022, https://www.hot-dog.org/media/consumption-stats.