My grandmother was a devout believer in her religion. She went to the temple every week to seek blessings for the family. I accompanied her, carrying her offerings of joss sticks, incense, and food. After worship, we ate in the temple compound—dining on food that had been offered in worship to her gods.
Because of their religious past, the Corinthian believers continued to participate in non-Christian feasts in overtly religious settings (1 Corinthians 10:14-22). At the same time, they were invited to their non-Christian friends’ home for meals, which could include food that had earlier been offered as sacrifices in the temples or at family altars (vv.23-33).
Paul’s teaching in this passage prohibits Christians from participating in meal situations in temple compounds or anyplace where religious worship takes place. He warned that such meals are demonic and incur God’s anger (vv.20-22).
In the second meal situation where the food could have been offered earlier as sacrifices, the Christian is free to eat such food without unnecessary questioning, suspicion, or fear (vv.25-27). But Paul sets limits to this freedom. We are to refrain from eating:
• If it encourages a less mature believer to eat when he is not yet fully convinced that he can do so (vv.23-24).
• If another person (particularly the nonbeliever) is uncomfortable with our dining on the food (vv.28-30).
• If it does not glorify God (v.31).
• If it offends anyone (v.32).
Our Christian witness is paramount. Paul says it best: “I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved” (v.33).
More:
• Romans 14:1-17
• 1 Corinthians 8:1-3
Next:
What situations today might be considered equivalents of the two meal situations in this passage? What are some things that you’re allowed to do that may not be “good” or “beneficial” for you?
learning2serv on March 26, 2009 at 1:19 pm
I recently rented a movie because of one of the actresses and the trailer. What I failed to do was screen the movie. The result was a mass of filth displayed in my Christian home which shamed and angered me.
What made this situation immensely terrifying for me was the spiritual babe we have living in our home. When I walked away from the movie, she did also, but the following morning I apologized AND explained the danger of what happened.
As “mature” Christians, there are things we can partake of which *may* not be as harmful to us as to a younger one (1Co 8.9). Our responsibility is to insure that we don’t offend Christ and wound them by any thing (Rom 14.21) we do because God knows that “we are what we eat” (please understand in balance).
Humbled, the point was brought home to me this morning in vivid techno-color reminder: “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in and acknowledge and cleave to Me to stumble and sin [that is, who entices him or hinders him in right conduct or thought], it would be better (more expedient and profitable or advantageous) for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be sunk in the depth of the sea.” (Mat 18:6)
I am very grateful that we serve a God which speaks through His Word to remind me of the value He places on HIS little ones.