1 Corinthians 8:4-13
4 Therefore, concerning the eating of 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 only one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
7 However, not all people have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
8 Now food will not bring us close to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat.
9 But take care that this freedom of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
10 For if someone sees you, the one who has knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will his conscience, if he is weak, not be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols?
11 For through your knowledge the one who is weak is ruined, the brother or sister for whose sake Christ died.
12 And so, by sinning against the brothers and sisters and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to sin.
Limiting Freedom Out of Love
The understanding of those with knowledge
After contrasting knowledge and love, Paul turns to the specific issue of meat sacrificed to idols. (1) Those who took pride in their knowledge and freedom insisted that idols have no real existence. Paul acknowledges that this is true. (2) However, although idol gods do not exist, Paul acknowledges that there are “so-called gods,” – that is, demonic spirits that lead people into idolatry. Therefore, idolatry cannot be regarded as harmless. (3) All things and the church exist through one God and one Lord, Christ. Since all things belong to God and to the Lord Christ, and idols have no real existence, meat offered to idols may rightly be regarded as no different from ordinary meat. The discussion up to this point reflects the logical reasoning of those who possess knowledge. However, Paul says that this alone is not enough.
Judgement based on love
What is important is the fact that not everyone in the church possesses such knowledge. Consideration must also be given to “the weak.” (1) If someone believes that eating meat sacrificed to idols defiles the conscience, then by eating that meat, that person’s conscience is indeed defiled. (2) Food does not determine a person’s relationship with God. Therefore, whether one eats or does not eat is a matter of personal freedom. However, if a person eats without consideration for others, he may cause a weaker believer to stumble. (3) As an example, Paul asks what would happen if a believer with a strong faith were to eat in an idol’s temple for social reasons. At that time, ceremonial meals were often held in idol temples. If a weaker believer were to see this, that person might mistakenly conclude that it is acceptable to participate in idolatry as well. In that case, the strong with knowledge would have become the cause of the weak’s ruin. (4) If we cause the weak to stumble, we are sinning against Christ, who died for that person. Finally, Paul explains how he himself has lived and how he intends to continue living: “If food causes my brother to sin, I will never eat meat again.” This is Paul’s model of limiting one’s freedom out of love.
Today's prayer
Father God of Jesus Christ, please grant me wisdom, protect me, and guide me so that I may never become a stumbling block to brothers and sisters who are weak in faith. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.