Dear Lobster Lovers,
While visiting a relative recently, I noticed she received a package of lobsters. The package was so big that she had to take items out of the freezer to make room. After confirming the lobsters were hers, I asked if she was just going to ignore what the Bible says.
She jokingly asked what the Bible says, and I told her that lobsters were not among the items the Lord said we should eat. I referred her to Leviticus.
When I got home, I felt the urge to send her the corresponding texts, and a few hours later, I did. I shared Leviticus 11:9-10, but for you, my lobster lovers, let’s read up to verse 12.
These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat. 10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you: 11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination. 12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you. Leviticus 11:9-12
I also shared a few scriptures from Deuteronomy.
These ye shall eat of all that are in the waters: all that have fins and scales shall ye eat: 10 And whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it is unclean unto you. Deuteronomy 14:9-10
In response to the passages of Scripture I shared, my relative responded, “Noted.” But knowing her, I knew I had to follow up. Given that she was ignorant about what the Bible says about consuming lobsters, I wanted to see whether, once she knew, she would obey God’s word.
About a day later, I spoke with her, and she told me this was the first time she had seen those Scriptures. By the way, my relative has been a Christian for over 2 decades. I had to press a little, and then she told me that she prepared and consumed some of the lobster that day. This was after she learned the Scriptures forbade her from eating them.
I didn’t stop there; I asked what she planned to do with the remaining lobsters, and she said that after she ate those, she wouldn’t eat any more.
My letter is not to shame my relative, because we have all been there, and who is without sin, let him cast the first stone. In the same breath, I will hasten to say that we should not be comfortable in sin, and shy away from calling sin by its right name because we are sinners ourselves.
My hope is that the Scriptures would have planted a seed in my relative and in those of you who consume sea creatures other than those with fins and scales to ‘go and sin no more.’
From this experience, a couple of points are worth highlighting. First, I have come to believe that not knowing what Scripture says is a convenient way to avoid the impetus to follow it. Secondly, when we do know, as in the case with my relative, we still do what we want to do. Again, even after knowing that God condemns the human consumption of lobster, my relative chose to disobey God’s word. So, we see that for some people, it is not that they don’t know what God says; they just choose to be disobedient.
Before I go on to my third point, I want to pause and remind us that disobedience has consequences.
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Acts 17:30-31
If you think I am putting my relative on blast, let me take you back to my childhood, when, like many of you, I didn’t know what I should and shouldn’t eat.
Once upon a time, I ate crabs. My childhood community was near the seaside, so we had access to crabs when they were in season.
As the crab season approached, members of the community, predominantly men and boys, would prepare their flashlights, crocus bags, kerosene oil to make torches, water boots, rain cloaks, gloves, and other essentials to catch crabs.
Before all of that, the crab pen would be prepared for the night’s catch. Corn and water would also be on hand to feed the crabs.
People would go to sleep early and wake up late at night or in the wee hours of the morning, then go out in teams to catch crabs.
As young girls, we couldn’t wait until daylight to admire our brother’s catch. We’d point out big mampala, or mampie for short, as family members, neighbors, and friends pointed to the male crabs, which were usually bigger with huge claws.
It was fun trying to tell the males from the female crabs, and our favorite time was when the crabs were ready to eat. In ignorance, we kept the crabs for a few days, feeding them corn, fresh water, and other essentials to ‘clean’ them out. Then we would choose the crabs we wanted for lunch, dinner, or whenever the feast was ready.
Choosing the crabs was a bit of a pickle because the mampie would have lots of flesh depending on the size, especially in their claws, but the female crabs would have lots of eggs. The crabs would be taken out of the coop, broken up, and washed properly, including using a toothbrush to scrub away stubborn dirt, etc. Depending on the method of cooking, whether curry or boiled, the crabs would be chopped or left as is, respectively.
We couldn’t wait for the crabs to come off the fire to dig into them by cracking their shells and savoring the flesh. The peppery curry crab gravy on the white rice was something else.
But catching crabs wasn’t only about feasting; for some, it was sport, business, or both. People in different communities caught crabs for fun, while others sold them to people across the country.
Vendors in Kingston and other parts of the country would then line the streets with the crabs they bought for cooking and resale.
So, you see, like most of you, I also was ignorant of what I should and should not eat, and based on what the Scripture says, God winked at my ignorance. However, when I knew better, I was expected to do better, and I did.
For more than two decades, I have not eaten crabs. I wouldn’t say I was au fait with the Scriptures when I stopped eating crabs; perhaps I was prompted by the Holy Spirit that crabs weren’t something that should be consumed.
Several years ago, our community saw an influx of crabs unlike anything we’d seen before. While on other occasions a few crabs would be caught in our yard, that year was so abundant with crabs that we had to close our doors, windows, and other spaces to keep them out. The crab infestation was so overwhelming that it made headlines. It was almost scary; no one had ever seen so many crabs before.
Given that there were more crabs than people had bargained for, that year changed the way many people related to crabs, perhaps including myself.
As I got baptized, absorbed the Biblical studies I was given, and studied the Bible for myself, it became clear what the diet the Lord designed for me was.
There is a difference between being a hearer and doer of the word.
Which one are you?
Now, I know that, especially since lobsters and sea creatures of that nature are marketed as ‘top of the line’ food, my letter to lobster lovers may go in one ear and out the other ear of some of you. Consumption of lobsters, cunk, and caviar is marketed as luxury items that most people boast about while displaying the dishes on social media.
So I am quite aware that, even with Scripture staring you in the face, it may not change your mind about consuming your much-loved, status-giving dish.
However, for those of you who are doers of the word of God, the Bible says that the consumption of sea creatures that do not have fins and scales is an abomination.
Before I explore the word abomination, let me make it clear here that, although God winks at ignorance, it doesn’t mean that all people who do not know what the Bible says about a particular subject will get a pass. The Bible tells us to search the Scriptures.
So, let’s not get comfortable in claiming that we don’t know what the word of God says. Even law enforcement officers will tell you that ignorance of the law does not make it void. We have a responsibility to know what the word of God says, so let’s get into the habit of reading and studying our Bibles.
The third and most important point I want to highlight from my experience with my relative and her lobsters, specifically as it relates to Scripture, is that God calls eating these sea creatures an abomination. He distinctly states that human consumption of the carcasses of these animals is an abomination.
Several dictionary sources suggest that abomination means something that causes disgust, is detestable, or very bad. However, I believe humans struggle to conjure up the words that fully captures the true meaning of abomination. Biblically, it goes beyond what dictionaries suggest.
Nonetheless, can you imagine how disgusting it is to sit in the presence of God, consuming your ‘high-end’ lobster palate?
Based on the fact that eating sea creatures without fins and scales is called an abomination, it is right there on the sin scale like homosexuality, idol worship, and, comparably, eating swine flesh. Abomination!
Given that God made our bodies, the sea creatures, everything, He knows what is best for us and what we should avoid, wouldn’t you agree?
Again, this letter is to raise awareness, not only among lobster lovers, but also among those who are walking contrary to the word of God.
For those who will hear and forbear, good for you.
For those who won’t, good for you too. After all, if disobedience overrides confession, repentance, and transformation, at least you would have enjoyed your lobster fix before your body is ready to be consumed by the fires of hell.
A word to the wise is sufficient, and he who has ears to hear, let him hear, and forbear!
Respectfully,
Patrene Dawkins
Leave a Reply