Regarding I Corinthians 8.
"Today's text plunges us into one of the hottest debates that rocked the first-century Christian church. Were the followers of Jesus permitted to eat meat that, before it was sold in the butcher shop, had been used in a pagan sacrificial ritual? Or was eating such meat tantamount to idolatry?" *
This may not be a burning question in the American church today, but it was rocking the New Testament Church in the first century!
"The opponents in the debate were the weak and the strong. On the one hand, those with a strong conscience were theologically [grounded]. They knew that idols were nothing, so they had no qualms about eating. And they were right. But they had little respect for the weak...In their case their knowledge needed to be tempered with love. On the other hand, those with a weak conscience, probably just converted from idolatry, were anxious above everything to serve God faithfully. They would not even touch idol meats. They were right in their resolve to have nothing to do with idols. But their theology was weak. In their case their love for God needed to be strengthened by sound knowledge. The strong needed more gentleness, and the weak more understanding." *
The Apostle Paul goes on to suggest to the strong that they must be willing, at times, to limit their own liberty out of loving concern for the weak!
Be careful...that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? So this weaker brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. [vs.9-12]
Paul had come to a strong personal conclusion on this matter:
...if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again... [v.13]
Wow!
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NOTICE: This is a discussion about those who are saved! It has no bearing on our relationships with spiritually lost people!
The primary indication is that we should CARE ABOUT ONE ANOTHER! The spiritually mature are to have consideration for the new-to-the-faith!
A STORY
My parents, Leonard and Hazel Haire, were married in their home on August 17, 1934. Shortly after that, I assume that my mother began attending the Free Methodist church with my father - after having been raised in the Reformed Presbyterian church.
Several women from the Free Methodist church took my Mom aside and told her that - as a Christian - she needed to take off her diamond ring.
[Explanatory Note: In that time period, Free Methodists were committed to simplicity in their lifestyles. Jewelry was considered 'superfluous adornment'. Let's not get sidetracked here by legalism - it was a different environment ninety years ago!]
My mother responded by taking off her ring and putting it in the top drawer of her dresser.
Let's skip forward thirty years. In the mid-sixties, my Mom began associating with some younger, Christian women who were vibrant in their faith! She was impressed with the depth of their prayers and their passion for Christ. She noticed that they wore make-up and jewelry. She thought long and hard about this and prayed about it.
Then, she took out her brand new diamond ring and began wearing it! :-)
She wore it for just a couple of years and then gave it to me. Debbie wore it for over forty years and gave it to Troy. Missy now wears it! [To see this ring, click here: Engagement II]
APPLICATION
Most churches don't facilitate very deep interaction.
"Good morning."
"Good morning."
"How are you?"
"Fine, thanks. How are you?"
"Fine, thanks."
"Have a nice day."
"Thanks. You, too!"
"Thanks."
Real depth there. Do we even know one another's names - even though we do this ritual once a week?
I'm sorry for the cynicism, but it's a far cry from:
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. [Acts 2:42-47]Real consideration takes interaction!
Interaction takes time!
Interaction takes deliberate decisions to be involved in other people's lives!
Bless yourself by either following this link and listening - or reading the below lyrics!
Be Ye Glad
* Through the Bible - Through the Year, John Stott, p.363
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