1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; but anyone who loves God is known by him.
Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "no idol in the world really exists," and that "there is no God but one." Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth — as in fact there are many gods and many lords — yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. "Food will not bring us close to God." We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.
Pray
By Rev Tomi Jacobs-Ziobro
Now I am aware that the middle chapters of the apostle Paul’s 1st letter to the church in Corinth are not the easiest chapters to listen to, read or preach about.
Paul takes time out to have "a word to the church," dealing with issues of marriage, sexual morality, being single, eating and dietary matters, and disciplining the body and its cravings.
From mid-January to mid-February, the Revised Common Lectionary gives us a series of readings from the heart of 1Corinthians.
Our passage today explores the nature of personal authority and our responsibility for the way our actions – even matters of personal preference – shape the lives of others.
There's nothing more personal than our food choices.
But as I said personal choices are never completely personal.
They always have an impact on the community, which is why Paul makes a connection between food and the health of the church.
In his first letter to the Corinthians, he uses the question of eating meat as a springboard for discussing how Christians should treat one another.
The apostle begins with a clear statement of his belief that love is more important than knowledge.
By doing this he immediately undermines anyone who feels that he has superior knowledge on the question of whether a Christian should eat meat that has been sacrificed to idols.
"Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up," insists Paul, clearly expressing a preference for the power of love, which builds up the body of Christ (8:1). He goes on to say that love is the key to having a relationship with God because "anyone who loves God is known by him" (v. 3).
So exactly what is happening in Corinth that is causing such a food fight? New Testament scholar J. Paul Sampley explains that the tradition in Greece was to sacrifice an animal to a pagan god, burn some of the flesh on the altar, and then eat the rest of the meat in a festive meal.
Kind of like a worship service followed by a barbecue.
Except the remainder of the sacrificial animal was then sold to the meat market, and merchants would turn around and sell it to the public.
For most residents of Corinth, this was no problem.
But for Christians who did not worship pagan gods, there was serious discomfort about eating steak that had been sacrificed to idols.
And unfortunately, these roasts popped up all over the place:
In the market, in the homes of non-Christian neighbors, and in public festivals that were important places to make personal, political and business connections.
So what were the Christians of Corinth to do?
They didn't want to eat food that was considered to be sacrificed to other gods, but they also didn't want to live in isolation from the larger world.
Paul reminds them that no idol in the world really exists, and there's no God but the one Lord God (v. 4).
Paul admits that there may be "so-called gods in heaven or on earth," but for the Christian community "there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist" (vv. 5-6).
God is the source of all that exists, even meat sacrificed to idols.
Jesus is the Lord through whom all things exist.
Since God created everything and called it good, no food should be off limits to us.
Problem solved, right? Wrong!
Remember, Paul's more concerned about Christian behavior than he is about the status of idol meat.
He knows that since some Christians "have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled" (v. 7). They think and feel they are eating idol meat.
Even though Paul knows that idols are figments of the pagan imagination, he also realizes that some Christians are going to get sick to their stomachs if they eat idol meat, or if they see other church members eating such food.
He warns them to "take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak" (v. 9).
My friend, theologian, Rev Dr Bruce Epperly shared on a blog how he discovered the power of influence and personal authority as the grandparent of a toddler:
his lively and creative grandchild is constantly looking at the adults around him – “he laughs at the things that are humorous to us; he wants to play with our toys and act out our hobbies
(by “toys,” he means tennis rackets and golf clubs, but also computers, cell phones, and kindles/nooks); and our words and interests shape his words and interests.”
Bruce likes detective shows but chooses to refrain from watching violent or sexually implicit or explicit programs in the presence of his young grandsons.
He is not a prude but realizes that all of us are responsible for the vulnerable in our midst – and that is all of us… at one time or another – in terms of their moral lives, spiritual growth, and physical well-being.
In his letter to the folks in Corinth Paul notes that even though some of our behaviors or words are in and of themselves harmless and/or innocent, we need to pay attention to their impact on others – especially less mature members of our community.
This is not a matter of co-dependence or over-functioning, but the recognition that our acts do matter and they can often shape the lives of those nearest and dearest to us.
I have a close friend who had a drinking problem … She is an alcoholic.
Her drinking and drugging had contributed to ending our friendship… she went into recovery with Alcoholics Anonymous
her seeking recovery lead to the mending of our friendship
Early in her recovery journey she came to my home… at her request I chose to hide any alcohol I had in my house or not order alcohol when were out because she was still early or “weak” in her recovery process.
I did what I could to help her and not put any temptations or stumbling blocks in her way
That was more than 20 years ago and if we went out now she would not need the same support…
Loving behavior begins with a decision not to be selfish.
For example in a Bible study or small group discussion, you might need to refrain from being the person who feels compelled to offer all the answers.
The life of the church is not all about you; it's about God and neighbor.
You may need to focus on offering only those thoughts that are going to nourish your neighbor and build up the body of Christ.
Each of us need to make the choice to never be obnoxious.
In the life of the church, we're going to encounter a wide range of people who have positions different from our own on politics, parenting, marriage, money management, nutrition, recreation, education, vocation and human sexuality.
Talk with them, respect them, and learn from them. Don't provoke them.
And when we come together with our fellow Christians, we need to remember that everyone is a sinner for whom Christ died -- including yourself (8:11).
Jesus sacrificed his life.
So when you look around, think of what you can sacrifice for others, in harmony with the sacrifice of Christ.
Give up your preference in music, so that others can hear the music that feeds their spirits.
You might even go so far as walking away from an activity that makes you comfortable, and take on a challenge like: working with children, youths, the poor or the disabled.
Sacrifice the pleasure of chatting with friends after worship, and give your attention to a newcomer.
Ultimately Paul is talking about ethics, and he recognizes that it is not a matter of absolutes or unbending principles, but the impact we can have on the people right in front of us.
If our concepts and process harm our neighbors, then our principles are of little value to the communities in which we live in.
If our concepts and process help and respect our neighbors, then our principles are of great value to the communities in which we live.
And we live according to the love of Christ. Amen
Daily Freeman - News - 03/28/2004 - New Paltz inn hosts 11 more same-sex weddings 03/28/2004
