Devotion • January 31
Scripture Reading
1 Corinthians 8:1–13
Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; but anyone who loves God is known by him.
Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “no idol in the world really exists,” and that “there is no God but one.” Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth — as in fact there are many gods and many lords — yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. “Food will not bring us close to God.” We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall. (NRSV)
Reflection
Situations in which “can” and “should” conflict make the process of decision-making quite difficult, especially in community settings. The contesting Christians of first-century Corinth found themselves in a battle of wills over a number of issues (rumors of marital improprieties, purity practices, political allegiances), with the conflict over meat sacrifices central to this passage.
A coastal city bustling with merchants and citizens from many foreign lands, Corinth exemplified the robustness and the complexities of a cosmopolitan landscape in which the public sphere and religious ritual were intertwined. Temples to various gods and idols dotted the city square. Meat was a precious and rare commodity for most people, so they reserved the preparation and consumption of meat for the practices of ritual sacrifices in these temples. Christians partaking of this meat with a clear conscious (untethered to the false gods of the temples) sought Paul’s counsel on whether they should be forced to abstain from this practice because of the “weakness” of those in the faith who still believed in the existence and power of the idols and the symbolic significance of these sacrifices. “Shouldn’t our freedom of Christ supercede these superstitions?” was the question at stake.
Paul’s pastoral theology leads him to offer the counsel of practicing forbearance in love as an ethical principle. One could, in good conscience, eat the meat, yet making a different choice for the sake of supporting those who wavered in their convictions is what one should, in conforming to Christ, choose instead. Love in action was paramount, and in this case, demonstrating loving regard for the good of the community through inaction (abstaining from meat) held top priority.
Ironically enough, Paul’s counsel ended up resulting in meat meant for idols symbolizing godly sacrifice after all — Christians were compelled to sacrifice their freedom to consume idol meat for the spiritual well-being of others, saving them from struggling with burdens of conscience.
Prayer
Great and glorious God, give us the confidence and assurance to make choices that preserve the dignity and well-being of others and help us to embrace the responsibility that comes with our freedom in Christ — even when it is difficult. Amen.
Written by Nancy Benson-Nicol, Associate Pastor for Caring Ministries and Spiritual Formation
Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church
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