God hates shrimp – Is this an accurate statement?

from the old testament

• The Bible does not actually say that God "hates shrimp." The title of the web site is referring to and making fun of a hateful anti-homosexual slogan that has been made infamous by the Westboro Baptist Church. Their slogan is not in the Bible either. God does not hate homosexuals, nor does He hate shrimp. It is true that God hates sin (Proverbs 6:16–19), and it is true that the Bible calls the practice of homosexuality a sin (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13). It is true that certain foods were forbidden for the Israelites in the Old Testament for the purpose of separation from surrounding pagan nations (Leviticus 11).
• Shrimp was prohibited in the Old Testament because God commanded the Israelites to avoid eating certain unclean animals, including those that do not have fins and scales, as part of His dietary laws (Leviticus 11:9-12; Deuteronomy 14:9-10). These laws were meant to teach obedience, set Israel apart as God’s holy people, and symbolize spiritual purity rather than serve as ethical mandates.

from the new testament

• The Old Testament law does not apply in its entirety to believers today. First, the law was given to Israel. Second, as already mentioned, not all of the law was given for ethical or moral purposes. Some of the law was civil and judicial, meant to govern Israel as a nation (Exodus 21–22; Leviticus 19:18–37), while other parts were ceremonial, pointing to Christ and His redemptive work (Hebrews 9:10; Colossians 2:16–17).
• Because Jesus fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17; Romans 10:4), believers are no longer bound by the Old Testament ceremonial and civil regulations, though the moral principles of God’s character remain timeless (Romans 13:8–10; James 2:8).
• God condemns homosexuality in the New Testament as well (Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Timothy 1:10), but He does not repeat the commandment about not eating shrimp or crustaceans. In fact, He says that all food is clean (Mark 7:18-19; Acts 10:13-15).

implications for today

The comparison between eating shrimp and practicing homosexuality misunderstands the nature and purpose of Old Testament laws and how they apply today. Dietary restrictions like the prohibition of shrimp were part of the ceremonial law given specifically to Israel to set them apart from surrounding nations and to symbolize spiritual purity. These laws were fulfilled in Christ and are no longer binding on New Testament believers. However, moral laws—such as those concerning sexual behavior—are rooted in God’s unchanging character and are reaffirmed in the New Testament. Therefore, while Christians are free to eat shrimp, they are still called to uphold God’s moral standards, including those regarding sexuality.

This distinction is not about picking and choosing which laws to follow but about understanding the Bible in its proper context. Jesus fulfilled the ceremonial and civil aspects of the law, but the moral truths remain because they reflect God’s holiness and design for human flourishing. Christians are not called to hate anyone, including those who struggle with or practice homosexuality. Instead, we are called to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), recognizing that all people are sinners in need of grace. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 6:11, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” The gospel offers forgiveness and transformation to all who repent and believe in Christ, no matter their past.