TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT THAT IS THE QUESTION
1 CORINTHIANS 8:7-9 NKJV
7 However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse. 9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.
I am amazed at how many problems Paul is having to address with this church. And just think he had to handle all these issues by letter. I wonder how he would operate today.
Now the issue on the table is food offered to idols. To eat the food or not eat the food. Evidently, the pagan temples came with their own barbecue kitchen. Believers who used to eat at these temples wanted to know if it was okay or if it would be a problem.
Paul said that the idols were nothing. There was only one true God. He is supreme, and Jesus is the only Lord. And it is God who created all things. But.
But some did not have that knowledge of God. They were still very conscious of the idol, and to eat the food in the idol’s temple would wreck their weak conscience.
However, food does not matter to God. Eating or not eating makes no difference to Him. If someone ate at the idol’s temple, they would not be punished by God. And if they did not eat, they would not be commended by God. It’s just food. It goes in; it comes out. No harm, no foul. But.
But the issue is what happens to other people. Someone with a knowledge of God could eat with no problem, but it may offend a brother. Or even worse, it may cause someone to violate their conscience and eat the food offered to the idol. So the bottom line was how will this impact my brothers and sisters in Christ? That is the real question.
APPLICATION:
These issues have not left the modern church. Small wars have been fought over drinking, smoking, clothing, and what entertainment is appropriate. I will certainly not launch into an expose of these areas, but the key issue is how does what I do impact my brother. Do my actions cause my brother to stumble?
Years ago, before going to Bible School, Joy and I decided to stop drinking. After Bible School, we stayed with that decision. Being Italian, Joy had grown up with wine on the table. So this decision actually impacted her more than me. But.
But we never wanted to be an excuse for anyone to drink. If they saw us drinking, it might embolden them to drink. And frankly, not everyone can handle alcohol. Not drinking does not make Joy and me any better than anyone. But it does help us keep someone from stumbling in that area.
The biggest question is how will my actions impact the ones for whom Christ died? That becomes the filter by which decisions are made.