Christian Liberty

Questions and Answers

Look at 1 Cor. 7:1

1 Corinthians 7:1 KJV 1900

1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

No look at 1 Cor. 8:1

1 Corinthians 8:1 KJV 1900

1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

We are in the middle of a question/answer session with Paul and the Corinthians believers. This section, from 8:1-11:1 deals with mainly one topic:

Christian Liberty

Chapter 8 Paul focuses on a legitimate question:

Is it OK to eat meat that has been offered to an idol?

The Issue

Corinth was a wicked city given over to paganism and idolatry

There were a multitude of false gods and temples, complete with priests set up for the worship of false gods/idols

Part of the worship included sacrificing animals to gods/idols

What meat was left over from the burnt offering was usually disposed of in 3 ways:

The priests kept some

The one offering the sacrifice kept some

It was sold publicly in the temple market

The Corinthian believers wanted to know if it was “OK” for them to purchase meat, and eat it, from the temple market, knowing it had been offered to idols

Some said “Yes, it is perfectly fine, no problem whatsoever.”

Notice there must have been some arrogance in their tone v.1b

Others said “Absolutely not! It has been defiled because it was offered to a false god therefore a Christian should never eat it!”

Paul's answer:

This is to be determined on an individual basis

The determining factor:

Does this offend my brother?

Though this issue is a matter of liberty, there are some practical guidelines each believer should follow:

We Must Realize Something About Knowledge vv. 1-3

1 Corinthians 8:1 KJV 1900

1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

The world says:

Knowledge is power

The Word says:

Knowledge puffeth up

Puff up = to be inflated

Indicative of pride

Charity, love, is the opposite, instead of puffing up, it builds up!

1 Corinthians 8:2–3 KJV 1900

2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

Verse 3 explains what our motivation should be...

When someone loves God it is evident!

By the way, the issue here is not knowledge or food, or whether or not one can eat whatever they want. The issue here is if you love God you will love others as well!

We Must Remember the Truth About God vv. 4-7

1 Corinthians 8:4 KJV 1900

4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

What’s the big deal? We know the idols aren’t real. We know there is only One true God. We know that the idols were made by men. What is the problem?

The problem is the fact that some of the new converts in Corinth had only recently stopped worshipping these idols.

It was still very real for them, and difficult to break away from their old life!

However, a more loving approach was necessary. Rather than “tough love” how about some good old fashioned education? 1 Cor. 8:5-6

1 Corinthians 8:5–6 KJV 1900

5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

Our weaker brethren needed to learn, at their own pace, the fact that there was only One God who made all things.

They needed to learn that calling an idol “lord” or “god” did not make it so.

This was something they needed to learn, but this was something that was going to take time.

Which brings us to the last point...

We Must Refrain from Harming the Brethren vv. 8-13

Robert Gromacki said this:

“A concerned Christian should be aware that some believers regard certain nonmoral issues to be sinful for them because of their past involvement in a sinful society.” - Robert Gromacki

1 Corinthians 8:8 KJV 1900

8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

The Holy Spirit is saying two things in this verse:

Eating meat offered to idols does not commend us to God (meaning it doesn’t make us more spiritual)

Refusing to eat meat offered to idols doesn’t make us more or less spiritual.

The burden lies on the stronger brethren to keep the weaker from falling

1 Corinthians 8:9 KJV 1900

9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

Remember: Love edifies or builds up, where as knowledge only puffs up

We should be more concerned with becoming a building block instead of a stumbling block.

1 Corinthians 8:10–11 KJV 1900

10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; 11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

Do not underestimate how severe this issue was in Paul’s day (and our’s).

Consider the following scenario:

A strong brother in Christ who understands idols are nothing more than a man made object. With this knowledge he partakes in a festival in the temple square.

Suppose a weak Christian, immature in his faith, sees the stronger brother boldly purchase meat offered to an idol and is emboldened by his actions.

The weaker brother then enters the market and buys meat for himself that has been offered in sacrifice. He goes home and eats the food, but afterwards he is guilty.

All he can think of is his former worship of the very idol this meat was offered to, and as a result, he perishes.

Not physically, but spiritually. That is his spiritual life is destroyed and his growth in God is severely injured.

Who did wrong?

Neither.

But, the stronger should have taken the weaker into consideration.

By not taking into consideration the guilt the weaker brother would face, we have sinned against the Lord.

1 Corinthians 8:12–13 KJV 1900

12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

How often do we let our selfishness rob us of a spiritual blessing?

Take Away

Look at verse 13 again...

Paul says that we need to consider our brethren and their spiritual needs as well as their spiritual maturity.

Paul CHOSE not to eat meat if it would cause a brother to be offended.

“I will eat no flesh” could be rendered “I will absolutely eat no meat.”

That is the distance Paul was willing to go in order to preserve the spiritual welfare of his brother in Christ.

How far are you willing to go?