Kosher food
The argument about whether we (Gentile believers) should or should not live according to "Torah", or whether or not we are to eat "Kosher" food is (I believe) at the root of the division between many Jews and Gentile believers. It is a legitimate question and it should be answered by Scripture. As believers in Jesus (Yeshua) we should conform our way of living according to Scripture. Not try to use scripture to validate the way we live.
Here is the letter of Authority from those who were given Authority by Jesus himself.
Acts 15:23-29
They wrote this letter by them:
The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,
To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
Greetings.
24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with
words, unsettling your souls, saying, 'You must be circumcised and keep the
law'--to whom we gave no such commandment-- 25 it seemed good to us, being
assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas
and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same
things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to
lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain
from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual
immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.
NKJV
This letter came about because Jews were telling believers that they needed to be circumcised and how they needed to live according to the law of Moses. Though it does not talk specifically about food, we know that food was a regulation. Does that regulation still hold true today with the new covenant of the Messiah? Lets look at some more scripture and look at the context of what they are saying.
Mark 7:18-19
"Are you so dull?" he asked. "Don't you see that nothing that enters a man
from the outside can make him 'unclean'? 19 For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and
then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.") (NIV)
Editors note; This scripture if you go back a few versus is talking about eating with unwashed hands. It has nothing to do with eating "unclean" food. The inserted part about "declaring all foods clean" is inserted by a translator (It is NOT scripture) and is in no other Bible.
Acts 10:10-15
...... he (Peter) fell into a trance 11 and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at
the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed
animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 13 And a voice came to him,
"Rise, Peter; kill and eat." 14 But Peter said, "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten
anything common or unclean." 15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, "What God
has cleansed you must not call common."
NKJV
This scripture is often used out of context. The Lord is talking to Peter about bringing in Gentile believers through Jesus. He is not saying anything about clean or unclean FOOD. Note that Peter never ate any unclean food.
Rom 14:1-2
Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 2 For one believes he may eat all things,
but he who is weak eats only vegetables. NKJV
There were those who believed that we were to only eat vegetables as in the command given before Noah. This was not about clean versus "unclean" meat.
Col 2:13-17
And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made
alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of
requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way,
having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle
of them, triumphing over them in it. 16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a
festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of
Christ.
NKJV
Rom 14:17-19
...for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he
who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace
and the things by which one may edify another.
NKJV
The letter given to the Gentile believers in the book of Acts are what I believe minimal requirements and not the "Rule". Gentile believers in Jesus may not be held to the standards that Jews hold to. But remember that the "Laws" given to the Jews were to show them how to walk a Holy walk and to be a separate people to God. That included what they ate. Jews were commanded to abstain from unclean animals. There was a reason for that.
Paul said that LOVE is the fulfillment of the Law. (Rom. 13:10). Gentiles were not held to that standard based on the letter from the Apostles. Does that mean we should not abstain from unclean animals? It may not be necessary, certainly not for salvation. It's a matter of motive. And God knows the heart.