Never Eat Meat Again (1 Cor. 8:1-13) *All verses in NLT*
– This is one of Paul’s letters to the church in Corinth.
– Corinth is a diverse city with a convergence of cultures, backgrounds, and religions.
– The former Jewish believers came to Christ with a prior understanding that worshiping and following God required adhering to many religious rules and strict personal limitations.
– The Greek believers came with no knowledge of religious laws. They came from a pagan culture that allowed all manner of sexual sin and behavior, “If it feels right, do it.” They only know about salvation through Christ, and abounding grace that forgives all sin. Now they have boundaries.
– Many new converts used to worship false gods and sacrificed to idols out of devotion to them.
– Their differences created issues and division in their church that Paul needed to address. Chapter 8 brings more education for the church on creating unity and showing love to one another.
– 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that “we all have knowledge” about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. 2 Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. 3 But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes. 4 So, what about eating meat that has been offered to idols? Well, we all know that an idol is not really a god and that there is only one God. 5 There may be so-called gods both in heaven and on earth, and some people actually worship many gods and many lords. 6 But for us, There is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live. 7 However, not all believers know this. Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real, so when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated. 8 It’s true that we can’t win God’s approval by what we eat. We don’t lose anything if we don’t eat it, and we don’t gain anything if we do. 9 But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. 10 For if others see you—with your “superior knowledge”—eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol? 11 So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed. 12 And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ. 13 So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble.
- Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. (verses 1-8)
– It appears that Paul is specifically addressing the more experienced believer. The ones who think they have all the answers and have it all figured out.
– Their question: If God is the only God, and all the “little g gods” and idols are fake and meaningless, then things sacrificed to them have no meaning either. So, why can’t we eat the meat?
– My question: Why would they even want to eat that meat? Go get your own from the store.
– It’s because resources were scarce. Converts to Christ were often ostracized, and lost jobs, and had to struggle for resources as a community to survive. Free meat! Why not take advantage?
Example: 1st time in Cambodia. Hot and tired, walked into hotel and found “free” oranges, candy, and soda “for us” on a side table by the check-in counter… An orange sounded really nice right now!
– Turns out that those were sacrifices given to the idol statue on the table. NOT for us! (Idols everywhere, all with sacrifices: candy, food, drinks, stacks of fake CASH, even prepared meals, etc…)
– The idol is fake and can’t eat the food. The people are poor and hungry, and could probably really use the food. WHY NOT just take it? It will just get thrown out eventually anyway….
– Paul’s answer: Yes, the idols are fake and have no power. Yes, there is only one God, creator of all things, and Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. BUT, these idols and sacrifices still hold great significance and meaning to many of the new believers.
– Your deep understanding of this concept is great, but you don’t know as much as you think you do. Truly living out freedom in Christ is loving God and loving His people. This strengthens the church.
– It will hurt their new faith to see seasoned believers appearing to participate in the worshipping of the same false gods that they though they were supposed to be delivered out of bondage from!
*Your knowledge puffs you up and serves your own needs, but your loving treatment of others by understanding their struggles actually builds them up and unifies the church.
Example: Souvenirs from Cambodia (Buddhist country). We know the fat Buddha, but they always have the skinny Buddha. You could buy these to display in your house not knowing who it is of.
– I always buy authentic bracelets: There were these beautiful, polished bead bracelets everyone is wearing that I wanted to buy, BUT… turns out to be Juzu beads, Buddhist prayer beads (Google it).
– I see them sold here too, and many wearing them that don’t know what they are. A Buddhist convert to Christianity could be hurt by this.
– Knowledge inflates your own self pride. Love builds up others around you. The priority is to love and please God, not to be justified in your own spiritual knowledge and freedom.
– Phil. 2:3-4, Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
– Gal 5:13, For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.
- Don’t let your freedom become a stumbling block. (verses 9-12)
– 1 Cor 8:9-12, But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. 10 For if others see you—with your “superior knowledge”—eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol? 11 So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed. 12 And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ.
– Paul says, “superior knowledge” in quotations. As in, yes, their stance on this issue is more knowledgeable, they understand… but they are not necessarily “higher” in ALL knowledge.
(Remember, knowledge puffs up, love builds up. Higher knowledge of God is expressed in love.)
– Paul describes the others as having “weaker conscience”, as in less resilient. It doesn’t mean they are weak in their faith. (Think about it: You eat pigs but won’t eat dogs. Why not? It’s just meat…)
– This appears to be putting the responsibility on the more mature believer, for the outcomes of the weak believer… Yes, that is true. BUT, they are not “weak” in the same definition as the world holds.
– Society wants us to honor the weak, call them victims, and do everything for them while asking them to change nothing. In fact, if you imply they are part of their own problem, you are hateful!
– That’s not the situation in the Corinthian church. We are dealing with true believers who want to do the right thing, but a still new and trying. They aren’t being selfish or self-centered either. They are looking for an example to follow.
– They look to you, a seasoned believer, and will follow your lead because you are supposed to know what you are doing and where you are going….
– You could accidentally lead them astray by your selfish interpretation. You think you know it all, but you are missing something too. Don’t lead someone down the wrong path, it could lead to their spiritual death.
Example: The Donner Party: (dinner talk at the fire station… cannibalism.)
– I thought it was just a group of pioneers that got lost and turned to cannibalism to survive, but…
– 1846, the Donner Party of 87 migrants from Springfield, Illinois took the Oregon Trail headed out West. The Oregon Trail was well-used and consistent. Over 2000 miles, 15 mi p/d, 4-6 month trip.
– They were on the same track as many other families, but were convinced to take a “short cut”, the Hastings Cut-off, that ended up leading them through desolate and rugged terrain, and because of the season, they were trapped in the snow. They were stuck all winter and resorted to cannibalism.
– Of the 87 member party, only 48 survived.
– Now, the rest of the story: Lanford Hastings had gone to California and had the goal of developing it to make money, and even hoped to hold high office, but he needed more migrants.
– He published The Emigrants’ Guide to Oregon and California, and stood on the trail, to convince people that the Hastings Cut-off was a more direct route (actually 125 miles longer), and would avoid many dangers. His reputation was a renowned author and expert trail guide (which he wasn’t.)
– HASTINGS HAD NEVER ACTUALLY TRAVELLED THE SHORT-CUT!!! He had only been through some of the easier parts during good weather and was unaware of the difficulties. He thought he knew…
*Hastings, supposedly a seasoned traveler, pointed the Donner Party who were new travelers, down an impossible road to their death, because he was only thinking of himself and not how it would affect the new travelers. I don’t think he had bad intentions, just incomplete understanding.
– Can you see the spiritual parallels?
– Maybe there have been some things in our culture that YOU know are wrong for a Christian to support, but is doesn’t change your inner convictions to “go along to get along.” Your appearance of being accepting of sin is “hurting your witness.” It is confusing to new believers.
– Romans 14:12-23, Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. 13 So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. 14 I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. 15 And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. 16 Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. 17 For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. 19 So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. 20 Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble.] 22 You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. 23 But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.
– Take “eating food” out of this scripture and insert whatever YOUR thing is. How does it hold up?
- “Never eat meat again,” if that’s what it takes. (verse 13)
– 1 Cor 8:13, 13 So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble.
– This isn’t really about meat. It’s about putting the needs of your brothers before your own.
– Understand the Jesus died for them too! They are his children too!
– When you cause your brother to stumble, you are sinning against Christ, himself!
– Matt 25:40, “And the King (who represents Jesus) will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’’
– Christ died for them! As you love and serve your brothers and sisters, you are loving and serving the church, and Christ himself. Let this be the frame of mind that guides you. Not what you can do for you, but what you can do for the Lord, and His bride.
– prayer –
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