1 Corinthians 8 - In Using Your Freedom in Christ, Don't Cause Others to Stumble!

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Concerning Food Sacrificed to Idols

8 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 2 Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves God is known by God.

Another issue Paul addressed was food sacrificed to idols. 

 The meat offered on pagan altars was usually divided into three portions. One portion was burnt in honor of the god, one portion was given to the worshipper to take home and eat, and the third portion was given to the priest. If the priest didn’t want to eat his portion, he sold it at the temple restaurant or meat market.

The meat served and sold at the temple was generally cheaper. Then, as well as now, people loved a bargain (including Christians).

Things offered to idols: The issue raised many questions for the Corinthian Christians: Can we eat meat purchased at the temple meat market? What if we are served meat purchased at the temple meat market when we are guests in someone’s home? Can a Christian eat at the restaurant at the pagan temple? (Guzik)

Paul starts by warning them that knowledge about any particular issue can puff one up. We have all experienced "know it alls" who think they have the answer to every question. This will become mre relevant as we move on into this short chapter. 

4 So then, about eating 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 but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

The question is what power do these pagan sacrifices hold and do they taint the meat offered in the pagan sacrifice. What power does the actual idol possess? Paul's answer is nothing. There is only One who is truly powerful and that one is God. There were many gods and lords in Paul's world, as there are today, but they are "gods" not "God"! The only power they have over people is what they give them. 

I.e. Alcohol is not a "god" or "lord" per se, but when someone gives their power over to alcohol, it has become a god for them. Unfortunately it is a god that will only rob, kill, steal and destroy like any other god of this world. The same goes true for money, sex, power etc..

 Indeed, in the ancient world, there were many, many different gods – and even gods known as the unknown god to cover any gods one might have missed (Acts 17:23). - Guzik

7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

Though what we have said is true, there is no inherent power in an idol. The reality is that some people believe the idols do have power. So in this case, I have knowledge that an idol in nothing in itself, but my brother or sister in Christ has not come to that realization. 

Whatever the case is with us, when this brother or sisters eats this meat, they have a guilty conscience because they think they have sinned. 

9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.

Now Paul gets to the important application for us today. Though I have knowledge that there is nothing inherently sinful in eating this meat, my brother or sister still thinks it is wrong. This brother or sister might be tempted by seeing me eat it that it is okay for them to eat it. Therefore, they would eat the meat going against their conscience influenced by my own freedom to eat it. 

If I willingly eat the meat knowing it could cause my brother or sister to stumble, I am basically saying that I am going to use my freedom (or as Paul says "knowledge") even if it is affects you in this way. Paul says when you do this, you are sinning against Christ. Why? Because you are concerned more about your own freedom than watching out that you don't cause your brother or sister to fall into what they think is sin. 

Paul concludes that he would never eat meat again if it meant keeping a brother or sister in Christ from sinning. What is Paul saying? He is putting the needs of others in the community over his own freedom in Christ. He is denying himself something for the sake of the "weaker" brother or sister. 

You can use this argument with anything that might cause a fellow believer to stumble. This doesn't mean you are responsible for someone else's behavior. Rather it is being sensitive to the weaknesses of others and bearing their burden with them rather than tempting them to sin by exercising your freedom. 

As you think about your life what potential areas may you consider limiting your freedom for the sake of one your brothers and sisters in Christ? This requires that you make others interests as great than your own. (Read Philippians 2:3-4)