Knowledge and Love, Idolatry and Food

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<1 Co 8> 1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 2 Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves God is known by God.

4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.

1. Knowledge puffs up while love builds up <v1>.

1) Limitations of knowledge.

Knowledge is good but dangerous >>> Pride.
Not everyone possesses the same knowledge <v7>, or faith.
Not enough to “be right”, should “have love” too.
Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know <v2>.

2) Both knowledge and love are essential.

Knowledge without love >>> pride and legalism
Love apart from knowledge >>> blind permissive love
Instead of blaming it on the weakness of others, there is a duty of love to them.

3) Do not stumble others.

Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. <v9>
A peril if “this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge” <v11>.
When in doubt, always put others’ interests before ours >>> even give up some of our freedom.
<Ro 14:23> But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
<1 Co 8:12> When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
What was at first not sin for us, may become our sin.
Restrict our freedom out of love for others, and fear for God.
Paul: “if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again.” <v13>
Not merely a right/wrong issue but a love issue.
[standalone slide] How will my actions/words affect others?

2. Can we eat food offered to idols?

Few possibilities:
Ok to eat food sacrificed to idols, but refrain if it will stumble anyone.
Ok to eat food sacrificed to idols, but refrain:
- if it will stumble anyone, and
- from eating openly at ‘idol feasts/festivals’, private consumption at own home or others’ homes, and buying such food from the market is fine.
Never eat food offered to idols because it is very much associated with idolatry.

<1 Co 10> 19 Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. 22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”

27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience.

30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

Jerusalem Council (advice from apostles)

<Acts 15:29> You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.

Words of Jesus in <Revelation 2>

To the church of Pergamum, “Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. ” <Rev 2:14>
To the church of Thyatira, “Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.” <Rev 2:20>

Conclusion

* Out of exclusive loyalty to God, do not to eat any food known to be associated to idols at all, even if it won’t stumble anyone.

Reflection

1. Do you feel entitled to do something as long as it is ‘biblically right’? But if wounding a weak conscience is also a sin against Christ, how does that challenge us to rethink our actions?

2. Can you think of some examples which may seem ‘right’ but can potentially stumble others? (or can share the reverse: How have you been stumbled by other Christians’ actions?)

3. Have you ever struggled with eating food offered to idols? As we live in a secular world, how can we set ourselves apart from idolatry while maintaining relationships with non-believers?