Protect and encourage

1 Corinthians 8: 1-12

“Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.”  (1 Corinthians 8:1-3)

I’ve never encountered food offered to an idol, but for the early church, this was a big problem in Corinth and other areas.  As one who was brought up in the Baptist church our biggie was not food, for if it had been someone might have brought up the sin of gluttony and that was the silent sin that never was preached on.  No, ours was not food, not to idols, nor at church suppers, it was that evil alcohol and dancing, those were the ones that would get one talked about and we were taught at home and at church to stay away from anyone who did such things.  As a young child it only made me wonder, what was I missing, and why did these two things become such big sins, and being a glutton was socially accepted?

All indications are that the apostle Paul is replying to a question much like this in chapter 5:9-11, “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.”   I read in the HCSB Study Bible on page 1971 that the people of Corinth often dined in pagan temples, for they were the center of civic activity, as a follower of Christ was it permissible to eat food offered to idols?

Now these followers of Christ had been taught they were no longer under bondage to rules and tradition, and that was a good teaching, but such knowledge did not give one the right to be arrogant, or to cause a weak brother to sin.  How true that is in our culture, but the problem is very different, it’s the inconsistent man who acts differently at church than at home with his family, with his neighbors and in the workplace.  But the problem is the same as it was in the churches of Corinth, people are watching, and as it was with the meat offered to idols it caused the weak in the faith to sin, so does the dad, husband, boss, co-worker of the weaker brother or sister, when they observe a different action at work, in the home, in the neighborhood than at the local church.

Knowledge of the Scripture without love for the Father, is much like the older brother in the story Jesus taught us about the prodigal son, he had a performance based perception of love, the Father was in his mind, to love him and have scorn for the younger brother, for his performance was good and the younger brothers were very bad.

As followers of Christ always be on guard to protect and encourage the younger, or weaker follower of Christ and remember love is patient and kind, it does not insist on its own way and it looks to the Creator, who is Love, for direction.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice