Lesson 2 TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT? 1 Corinthians 8:1 13 BACKGROUND

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1 Dr.JackL.Arnold EquippingPastorsInternational QuestionablePractices Lesson2 TOEATORNOTTOEAT? 1Corinthians8:1 13 BACKGROUND Corinthwasawickedcityfilledwithidolatrybecauseofpagantempleworship. PolytheismwassorampantthatthestreetsandpublicsquaresofCorinthwerelinedwith statuesofgods.theconceptofmanygodswasattheverycenterofcorinthiansociety. EveryconverttoChristianityinCorinthwassavedoutofthisidolatrousheathenworship. AllChristiansagreedacompletebreakwithheathenpracticeshadtobemadeafterone becameachristian.theytellhowyouturnedtogodfromidolstoservethelivingand truegod(1thess.1:9).dearchildren,keepyourselvesfromidols(1john5:21). Paganismwithispolytheismandrankimmoralitycoloredeverythinginthecity. ThefundamentalquestionforthesmallandemergingChristiancommunityinCorinthwas howtofunctioninthemidstofsucharampantheathenculture.thechurchwasina culturalconflict.howwasachristiantoliveinanidolatrousimmoralsociety? Among the Christians, there arose the problem of meat offered to idols. Many of the pagan temples in Corinth contained banquet facilities. All the events held in the dining halls, whether social or cultic, had a basic religious character. The Corinthians were big meat eaters and almost all of the meat sold in meat markets and restaurants had first been offered to idols. There were some Christians in Corinth who thought it absolutely wrong to eat any meat offered to idols because it was part of that old system from which they had been delivered. They were weak brothers in conscience and their doctrine of Christian liberty was not straight. These weak brethren became offended at the actions of the strong brethren and began to judge acts and motives. On the other hand, there were some strong Christians in conscience who saw that the meat offered to idols was nothing, so they felt free to eat the meat. They had no conscience or scruples about the matter. Their tendency was to despise and snub those who chose not to eat. Obviously there was a division in the local church at Corinth over this issue. DECLARATIONOFTHEGOVERNINGPRINCIPLEINQUESTIONABLEPRACTICES LoveisSuperiortoKnowledge.1Cor.8:1 3.Nowaboutfoodsacrificedtoidols.Weknow thatweallpossessknowledge.knowledgepuffsup,butlovebuildsup.themanwho thinksheknowssomethingdoesnotyetknowasheoughttoknow.butthemanwho lovesgodisknownbygod.

2 Thestrongbrothersinconscienceweredisgustedwiththelegalistictendenciesof theweakerbrothersinconscience.aweakbrotherisnotsomeonewhoisnecessarily unspiritualordoctrinallyunsound.norisheweakbecausehedoesnotpracticecertain questionablepractices(hemayhavesolidconvictionsabouthisactions),butheisweak becausehecannotstandtoseeotherspracticingquestionablepracticesandhefearshe mightfallintothem,soheisharshwithajudgmentalspirit.thosewhohadlibertywere cryingout: Weknowweallpossessknowledge. TheysaideveryChristianinCorinthknew anidolwasnothing,andtheweakerbrotherswerewrong.thestrongerbrotherswere absolutelyrightintheirunderstandingofchristianlibertybutwronginthattheyfeltthat knowledgealonewasthesolutiontosolvingthisproblem.therewasahigherlawthan rightdoctrineandthatwasthelawoflove.inessence,theyweresayingthattheweak brethrenwerewrong,narrowmindedandignorant.theyhonestlyfelttheweakerbrethren shouldbestraightenedoutbeforetheyruinedthelocalchurchwiththeirlegalism.paul s generalcommenttothestrongbrotherswas, Knowledgepuffsup,butlovebuildsup. The strongbrotherswerelongonknowledgeandlibertybutshortonlove. EXPLANATIONOFTHEPROBLEMINTHECORINTHIANCHURCH IsMeatSacrificedToIdolsSinful?1Cor.8:4 6.Sothen,abouteatingfoodsacrificedto idols:weknowthananidolisnothingatallintheworldandthatthereisnogodbut one.forevenifthereareso calledgods,whetherinheavenoronearth(asindeed therearemany gods andmany lords ),yetforusthereisbutonegod,thefather, fromwhomallthingscameandforwhomwelive;andthereisbutonelord,jesus Christ,throughwhomallthingscameandthroughwhomwelive. Thestrongerbrotherisrightwhenhesaysthereisnothingtoanidol.Itisonlya pieceofwoodorstoneandthegodstheyrepresentedareahoax.itismeresuperstition. Therewerenodeitiesbehindtheseidolsbutthereweresupernaturalbeings(demons).No, butthesacrificesofpagansareofferedtodemons,nottogod,andidonotwantyouto beparticipantswithdemons(1cor.10:20).whiletherearenogods,therearedemons, butdemonsareeverywhere.yet,theepracticeofeatingmeatsacrificedtoidolsisnot inherentlysinfulandthechristianhaslibertytoindulge.noquestionablepracticeis inherentlyevilinitselfandthechristianhasliberty.yet,thechristianneedstobeawareof demonicactivityinquestionablepracticesiftheyarenotenteredintobiblically. APPLICATIONOFTHEGOVERNINGPRINCIPLETOTHEPROBLEM INTHECORINTHIANCHURCH LoveIsMoreImportantThantheUseofChristianLiberty.1Cor.8:7 12 ExhortationtoTheWeakerBrother(8:7 8): Butnoteveryoneknowsthis. Somepeoplearestillsoaccustomedtoidolsthatwhentheyeatsuchfoodtheythink

3 ofitashavingbeensacrificedtoanidol,andsincetheirconscienceisweak,itis defiled.butfooddoesnotbringusneartogod;wearenoworseifwedonoteat,and notbetterifwedo. NoteveryChristianatCorinthhadknowledgethatmeatofferedto idolswasnothing.theycouldnotmakethetheologicalandpracticaldistinctionbetween meatandidolatry.theystillmadeareligiousconnectionbetweenthemeatandtheidol.it isnotjustmeatfortheweakerbrotherbutmeatofferedtoidolsthatinhismindwassinful. Fortheseweakbrotherstoeatmeatwoulddefile(soil)theconscience(theseatof rightandwrong).aquinasdefinedconscienceastheinnervoicewehavethateither accusesusorexcusesusforouractions.theconscienceisdefilednotbythepartakingof pollutedfood,forfoodcannotpollute. Areyousodull? heasked. Don tyouseethat nothingthatentersamanfromtheoutsidecanmakehim unclean?foritdoesn tgo intohishearbutintohisstomach,andthenoutofhisbody. (Insayingthis,Jesus declaredallfoods clean. )Mk.7:17 18.Theconscienceisdefiledbydoingsomethingthe unenlightenedconsciencedoesnotallow. Whatisaweakconscience?Itisaconscienceinordinatelysensitivetoreligious scruples,whichneedsinstruction,traininganddevelopmentsoastoenlightentheperson tochristianliberty.whentheweakbrothergetshisconscienceenlightened,hestillmaynot choosetousehisliberty,buthewillnotbejudgmentalofthosewhodo. Howthenistheconsciencedefiled?Iftheweakerbrotherthinksaboutgetting involvedinaquestionablepracticeoractuallygetsinvolved,hefeelscondemnedandguilty, butatthesametimehesubconsciouslylikestheidea.hisconvictionof tastenot issincere butheisplacedintofrustration,notbecausethebiblesaysitiswrongbuthe(outofhis backgroundandculture)feelsitiswrong.therulefortheweakbrotheris: Whenindoubt, don t (Rom.14:23).Anyquestionablepractice,whichcannotbedonebyaChristian,should notbepracticedbecauseitwillcausehimtosin,defilinghisconscience.achristianmust neverviolatehisconscienceandtodosowouldbesin.hemayopenhisconscienceto understandingandtraining,buthemustneverpracticeanyquestionablepracticeuntilhehas aclearconsciencetodoso,orhewillendupsinninginabigway. AChristianisnotonebitmorespiritualifhepartakesofsomequestionablepractice orchoosesnottopartake.eatingmeatoranyotherquestionablethingisamatterof indifferenceorneutrality.wegainnothingbyrefrainingfromusingourlibertyinthis matter,andwegainnothingforexercisingit.achristianwithweakconscienceneedsto growupspirituallysoastoacceptthebrotherwhocanparticipateinsomequestionable practices,eventhoughhisconsciencemayneverallowhimtodosohimself. ExhortationtoTheStrongBrother(8:9 12). Becareful,however,thatthe exerciseofyourfreedom(rights)doesnotbecomeastumblingblocktotheweak.forif anyonewithaweakconscienceseesyouwhohavethisknowledgeeatinginanidol s temple,won thebeemboldenedtoeatwhathasbeensacrificedtoidols?sothisweak brother,forwhomchristdied,isdestroyedbyyourknowledge.whenyousinagainst yourbrothersinthiswayandwoundtheirweakconscience,yousinagainstchrist.

4 Paul sappealisnottotheweakerbrotherbuttothestrongerbrotherwhoshould havemorechristianmaturitybecausehehasrightdoctrineandunderstandinginthearea ofquestionablepractices.paulpleadswiththestrongthattheymayhaveanunderstanding andcarefortheweakerbrothers.whileachristianhastherighttochristianliberty,hemay notalwaysexercisethatrighttokeepabrotherfromstumbling.thestrongbrotherwantshis rightsatallcosts.therefore,personallibertyoftenbecomesabattlecrytoindulgehisown whimsandappetitesregardlessoftheeffectonothers. TheGreekwordfor stumblingblock is astoneinthepathway,somethingthat tripsoneupandmakesprogressdifficult. Astumblingblockistheputtingofanobstaclein thewayofachristianbrothersoastohinderhisspiritualgrowth.astumblingblockwould betemptingaweakerbrothertogoagainsthisconscience apracticeaboveallother dangeroustothechristian.itappearsinthiscontextthatthestrongerbrotherswere abusingtheirlibertysoastocausetheweakerbrethrentostumble.paulappealstothese maturebelieverstoapplytheprincipleoflovetotheirweakerbrethren.theirconductwas nottobegovernedbytheirknowledge(whichwasright)butbytheirlove.paulremindsthe strongbrethrenthatnochristianisatlibertytoasserthisrights,ifthatmeansdoingharm toothers. TheChristianwhosaysheisgoingtodosomequestionablepracticenomatterwhat anypersonthinks,andheisnevergoingtoyieldtoanynarrow mindedlegalistwhoneeds togetinthe21 st century,reallydoesnotunderstandgrace.thestrongbrotherisnotas matureashethinksheis.theactionsofthestrongmustneverhinderthespiritualprogress oftheweakerbrother;therefore,thematurebelieverwillinglygivesupthatwhichisall righttodotohelptheweakerbrothercometounderstandgrace. WhenaweakbrotherseesastrongbrothereatingadeliciousT bonesteakinthe templerestaurant,itwillembolden,strengthen,encourageorinfluencehimtotryitfor himself,eventhoughhisconsciencesaysitiswrongforhim.intryingthisquestionable practice,theweakerbrothermaygobackintohisoldidolatroushabits,bringingdisgraceon hischristiantestimony.openinghisweakconsciencetoeatmeatsacrificedtoidols,which hesawastrongbrotherdo,getstheweakbrotheroutoffellowshipwithchristbecauseof pastassociationwithidolatry.theresultistheweakbrothergetsdestroyed(ruined) spiritually.thestrongerbrotherhasinfluencedtheweakerbrothertodosomethinghis consciencecouldnothandle.theobviousresultisaspiritualdisasterbecausehisweak consciencegetshardenedandinsensitivetothedangerofthequestionablepracticethathe cannotmanage.misuseoffreedombythestrongmaywellinflictruinousdamageonthe weakbyinducingthemtodowhattheyotherwisemightnotdo.christdiedfortheweak brotherandchristlovestheweakbrotherasmuchashelovesthestrongbrother.ifchrist lovedtheweakerbrotherenoughtodieforhim,thenthestrongbrotheroughttolovehim enoughsoasnottoputanystumblingblockinhisway,whichmighthinderhisspiritual growth. TheGreekwordfor wound means, toinflictblowswithafist,stafforwhip. The weakbrother sconscienceissensitivetoablowandislikeaslapinthefacewhenheseesa strongbrotherusinghisliberty.everychristianisinspiritualunionwithchrist,andany

5 sindoneagainstthebelieverisadirectsinagainstchrist.wheneverthestrongerbrother woundstheconscienceoftheweakbrotheroveranyquestionablepractice,thestronger brotherhassinned,notonlyagainsttheweakerbrotherbutalsoagainstchrist.butif anyonecausesoneoftheselittleoneswhobelieveinmetosin,itwouldbebetterfor himtohavealargemillstonehungaroundhisneckandtobedrownedinthedepthsof thesea(matt.18:6). CONCLUSIONABOUTQUESTIONABLEPRACTICESFORTHECORINTHIANCHURCH ChristianLibertyShouldBeRestrainedFortheGoodoftheBodyofChrist(8:13): Therefore,ifwhatIeatcausesmybrothertofallintosin,Iwillnevereatmeatagain,sothatI willnotcausehimtofall. Theword fall means, tosetoffatrap. Itisequivalenttomakingaweak brotherfallintosin.ifthequestionablepracticecausesaweakbrothertofallintosin, thenpaulsays, I llnevereatmeat.i llbeavegetarianifnecessary. Hedidnotsay, I lleatjustalittlemeat,or Iwon teatwhenaweakerbrotherisaround. Paul wouldnoteatmeateverifthatwerewhatittooktohelpaweakerbrotherfrom stumblingandmaintaintheunityofthebodyofchrist.theimportantthingtopaul wasnothisownrights,norhisowncomfortsorpleasures,butthewellbeingofall Christians.Paulchosetooperateonahigherprinciplethanknowledge.Heoperated onthehighestprinciple,whichislove.itisbetternottoeatmeatordrinkwineortodo anythingelsethatwillcauseyourbrothertofall(rom.14:21). GENERALOBSERVATIONS Paulisnotplayingdownknowledge.Wemusthaveknowledgetoguidethe conscience.theconscienceinthebelieverisfallenandsinful,andthe innervoice convictingofrightorwrongmaybetheinternalconvictionoftheholyspiritorthesubtle delusionsofsatanortheflesh.thewordofgodalonecansensitizetheconscience,soasto letitbethechristian sguide.paulisnotdeprecatingknowledgebutappreciatingloveasthe highestprinciple. PaulisnotsayingaChristianmustabandonallChristianlibertytoappeasethe ignorantprejudicesoflegalistsandbigots.apersonwithaweakconscienceisstillsincerely wrestlingwiththerightorwrongofaparticularaction.alegalistissomeonewhohasbeen taughttherightbiblicalpositiononchristianliberty,butcontinuestobesetinhiswrong, prejudiceconvictionsanddemandsthateveryoneconformtothem.

6 Paul does not say the strong Christian must be permanently shackled by the weak brother. It does not say a Christian should never use his liberty, but he may temporarily set it aside to help the weak brother understand grace. PauldoesnotsaythatstrongChristiansoughttobeconcernedaboutChristian taboosallovertheworldandseektoconform.theemphasisisuponoffendingabrotherin yourculture,andthatonly ifsomeoneseesyou. WhatPaulisteachingisthatbecauseofthestrongerbrother sconcernandlovefor theweakerbrother,hechoosesnottoexercisehisrightofchristianlibertyforfearthathe mightinfluencetheweakbrothertoviolatehisconscienceandfallintosin.astrongbrother isfreetoexerciselibertyandheisjustasfreenottoexerciseit. Paulissayingthatwithlibertycomesmoreresponsibilitytouseone sfreedomwiselyand discreetly,andtoneverabusethatliberty.l