God does not hate shrimp—Old Testament dietary laws were ceremonial, not moral, and are fulfilled in Christ; homosexuality, however, is called a sin both in the Old and New Testaments. Christians are called to uphold God’s moral standards while showing love and grace to all.
There is a web site called GodHatesShrimp.com that proposes an interesting argument about homosexuality in the Bible. The Old Testament Law forbids the Israelites to eat a few types of seafood, including shrimp. At the same time, the practice of homosexuality is condemned. Both are called abominations before God. The people of GodHatesShrimp.com are pointing out the fact that Christians everywhere eat shrimp but condemn homosexuality.
The claim that “God hates shrimp” is misleading and not biblical. In the Old Testament, God forbade the Israelites from eating certain foods, including shrimp, to set them apart as His holy people and teach obedience, not as an ethical command for all time (Leviticus 11:9–12; Deuteronomy 14:9–10). Homosexuality, however, is different. Both the Old and New Testament reveal that it is a sin, putting it in a different commandment than eating shrimp. Jesus fulfilled the ceremonial and civil laws, meaning believers are no longer bound by dietary restrictions (Matthew 5:17; Romans 10:4). Moral laws remain, however, because they reflect God’s character, and God continues to condemn sinful behavior, including sexual immorality (Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:10). All food is now considered clean for believers (Mark 7:18-19; Acts 10:13-15), showing that eating shrimp is permissible. Christians are called to uphold God’s moral standards while loving all people and offering grace and forgiveness through Christ (Ephesians 4:15; 1 Corinthians 6:11). Understanding the distinction between ceremonial and moral laws helps clarify why shrimp is allowed but sin is not, emphasizing obedience to God’s enduring moral truths.
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.