Chapters 8 and 9 of 1 Corinthians focus on our freedom as Christians and how love interacts with that freedom.
It starts with a comment about food offered to idols – which is a pretty foreign idea for us in twenty-first century America. Have you ever thought about the sacrifices that people offer to other gods? My mental image was always of the whole beast laying on the altar to be consumed by the flames. That was not always the case though. Many sacrifices did not require the critter to be burned whole. Most gave a portion to the priest who offered the sacrifice. Some gave a chunk back to the one offering the sacrifice to eat in gratitude.
And I’m not just talking about the Jewish sacrifices here either. All around the world people were (are) sacrificing animals to their gods. So . . . what do you do with all that meat? Well, apparently the Corinthians were capitalists because their answer to that questions was to sell it!
So, here is the quandary. As new Christians we would have learned there is only one true God. We would have learned to worship Him, and Him alone. “You shall have no other gods.” “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.” But now we’re presented with goat given to the Greek gods. Zebra given to Zeus. Pork to Poseidon. Antelope to Artemis. This was used to worship an idol. If I eat this, does that mean that I’m worshiping that idol too?
Our modern minds say, “That’s ridiculous!” Their ancient thought was divided. Some said, “Yes, to eat mean sacrificed to an idol is to participate in worshiping that idol.” Others said, “No, an idol is just a chunk o’ rock. Forgetaboutit!”
Paul’s point to this is that this becomes a personal matter. If you can eat it and it not tempt or bother you, that’s great. If you would be tempted and troubled by eating, then don’t eat it. That makes sense, right? But then he goes a step farther. If you are with someone who would be tempted and troubled, even if it wouldn’t bother you at all, love for that brother or sister would say, “I won’t eat it either.”
So what’s the point for us today? Do we all run down to the butcher and ask for sacrificed Ham offered to Hades? (Sorry, I couldn’t resist one more.) Of course not. But we do look at our behaviors and start asking, “Will I hurt my brother or sister’s faith if I use my freedom in this area?” This can apply to drinking alcohol, eating junk food, perhaps some forms of gambling, maybe the shows we watch on t.v. (I am treading in dangerous territory here – I might be offending or encouraging you toward something that would harm your conscience!)
What is central to this message is love. Paul says, “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” We might know many things, but ultimately we want to operate from a base of love when we deal with people. Love is what moved Jesus to die for us, and love for Jesus and for our neighbor is what motivates us today. Love turns our focus outward so that we don’t insist upon my right to do what I want (although there are times and places for that too, done in love), but we begin to ask how can I encourage and build up for Jesus’ sake, and for the sake of those He loves. (And in case we haven’t thought that through, He loves everyone.)
It starts with a comment about food offered to idols – which is a pretty foreign idea for us in twenty-first century America. Have you ever thought about the sacrifices that people offer to other gods? My mental image was always of the whole beast laying on the altar to be consumed by the flames. That was not always the case though. Many sacrifices did not require the critter to be burned whole. Most gave a portion to the priest who offered the sacrifice. Some gave a chunk back to the one offering the sacrifice to eat in gratitude.
And I’m not just talking about the Jewish sacrifices here either. All around the world people were (are) sacrificing animals to their gods. So . . . what do you do with all that meat? Well, apparently the Corinthians were capitalists because their answer to that questions was to sell it!
So, here is the quandary. As new Christians we would have learned there is only one true God. We would have learned to worship Him, and Him alone. “You shall have no other gods.” “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.” But now we’re presented with goat given to the Greek gods. Zebra given to Zeus. Pork to Poseidon. Antelope to Artemis. This was used to worship an idol. If I eat this, does that mean that I’m worshiping that idol too?
Our modern minds say, “That’s ridiculous!” Their ancient thought was divided. Some said, “Yes, to eat mean sacrificed to an idol is to participate in worshiping that idol.” Others said, “No, an idol is just a chunk o’ rock. Forgetaboutit!”
Paul’s point to this is that this becomes a personal matter. If you can eat it and it not tempt or bother you, that’s great. If you would be tempted and troubled by eating, then don’t eat it. That makes sense, right? But then he goes a step farther. If you are with someone who would be tempted and troubled, even if it wouldn’t bother you at all, love for that brother or sister would say, “I won’t eat it either.”
So what’s the point for us today? Do we all run down to the butcher and ask for sacrificed Ham offered to Hades? (Sorry, I couldn’t resist one more.) Of course not. But we do look at our behaviors and start asking, “Will I hurt my brother or sister’s faith if I use my freedom in this area?” This can apply to drinking alcohol, eating junk food, perhaps some forms of gambling, maybe the shows we watch on t.v. (I am treading in dangerous territory here – I might be offending or encouraging you toward something that would harm your conscience!)
What is central to this message is love. Paul says, “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” We might know many things, but ultimately we want to operate from a base of love when we deal with people. Love is what moved Jesus to die for us, and love for Jesus and for our neighbor is what motivates us today. Love turns our focus outward so that we don’t insist upon my right to do what I want (although there are times and places for that too, done in love), but we begin to ask how can I encourage and build up for Jesus’ sake, and for the sake of those He loves. (And in case we haven’t thought that through, He loves everyone.)
Comments