
I wanted to ask at that point whether he eats unclean meats, but I didn't because I was afraid that it would be perceived as rude if the answer was "yes." And I now know that the answer would have been an affirmative, because I later saw him eating pork products.
The conversation returned to the topic of sugar, and then Halloween candy, and Cory mentioned something about trick-or-treating with his kids. I couldn't help myself, and a question tumbled out in concert with an inflection that was two shades too dismayed: "Oh, do you celebrate Halloween?"
"Yeah, for sure," responded Cory. "It's my favorite holiday. I love doing costumes."
So, by Cory's Mormon logic, it's bad to:
- consume a component of leaves which the Bible never says are off-limits
- consume fermented beverages, which Y'shua himself did (Matt. 11:19, 26:29), and which was part of the celebration of appointed feasts (Deut. 14:26; Zech. 9:17)
- eat creatures which Elohiym specifically called unclean and detestable
- celebrate a day which the heathen use to glorify death, demons, and fear
- be at least a little gluttonous after collecting candy procured via threat (the "trick" part of trick-or-treat)
Okay, so that last point is a bit of joke, but the others are not. Why would you prohibit something that YHVH never said should be prohibited, then turn around and allow things that are clearly not okay with him? I'll tell you why: rebellion. Men have substituted their own traditions for the commands of the Living Elohiym. It was a rampant problem when Y'shua walked the earth, and it's a rampant problem today.
We're way too prone to conform to man's ways and neglect God's ways.
The Bible tells members of the Kingdom of God to be set apart and not participate in the holy days of the Goyim (foreigners). Ever. There's no justification that will get us off the hook here, like "we've redeemed the pagan things," or "God knows my heart." You're fooling yourself if you think that you can repackage and rename something that God hates, and suddenly he'll be okay with it. The core of it is still the same, and he remembers what it means.

The great darkness of the last days demands that we, the Assembly of YHVH, be a great light in opposition. The Bride must "make herself ready" by becoming clean, clean, clean. Part of that scrub-off involves putting every tradition and doctrine to the test to see whether it be of God. If it can be verified by Scripture, keep it. But if it conflicts in any way, let it go.
You'll be happy you did.