| Paul has been talking about our freedom in Christ, | | | | of conscience -- I do not mean your conscience, but |
| that in Christ people are free from superstition and | | | | his. For why should my liberty be determined by |
| godless cultural practices. He began this section in | | | | someone else's conscience?" (1 Corinthians 10:28-29). |
| chapter eight talking about various food prohibitions | | | | We may ask why we should not be free to express |
| and practices as an example of Christian freedom. He | | | | our freedom in Christ any way we please. God is |
| had elsewhere discussed the fact that Christians are | | | | sovereign, Christ is Lord, and Christians are free in |
| free from the Old Testament food laws. Here he | | | | Christ. All of these things are true. However, said |
| showed that Christians are also free from pagan | | | | Paul, "Let no one seek his own good, but the good |
| food practices. | | | | of his neighbor" (1 Corinthians 10:24). This hearkens |
| What made the Old Testament food laws binding | | | | back to Jesus admonition in Matthew 20:25-28: "You |
| was the power of God. And what freed people from | | | | know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over |
| those Old Testament food laws was the power of | | | | them, and their great ones exercise authority over |
| Christ. Here he argues that only God has spiritual | | | | them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever |
| power, and God has given all spiritual authority and | | | | would be great among you must be your servant, |
| power to Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18). Therefore, | | | | and whoever would be first among you must be |
| the pagan gods have no power. Their sacrifices and | | | | your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be |
| ceremonies have no consequences, and so whatever | | | | served but to serve." |
| power was thought to be transmitted to food that | | | | Having children provides this same lesson. Before |
| had been sacrificed to idols was nonexistent because | | | | they have children parents are free to do all sorts of |
| false gods had no power to begin with. | | | | things for their own benefit and pleasure. But when |
| Therefore, Christians could eat food that had been | | | | children are in the home, some things must be |
| sacrificed or dedicated to pagan idols because they | | | | curtailed -- not because they are wrong, not because |
| knew that there was no spiritual power associated | | | | they are forbidden or unlawful, but because children |
| with such food. Pagan idols were dead and powerless | | | | are prone to mimic behaviors they see without |
| to do anything. So, there was no danger or threat | | | | discernment. "Monkey see, monkey do," as the old |
| from such idols or from anything associated with | | | | adage goes. Children learn by imitation, so adults need |
| them. | | | | to do only those things that will not be abused or |
| And yet Paul did make a case against eating food | | | | misused by those who are less discerning. |
| that had been sacrificed or dedicated to idols that | | | | Christians are free to eat whatever is available at the |
| was based, not on the power of pagan idols, but on | | | | market without concerns about propriety, morality or |
| the weakness of Christian brothers. Paul had argued | | | | conscience. Because pagan rituals have no spiritual |
| that practicing radical Christian freedom in the | | | | power there is no spiritual danger from pagan ritual |
| presence of weaker Christians, Christians who did not | | | | foods. But if someone makes a point about the fact |
| fully or correctly take their own weaknesses into | | | | that the food is associated with pagan rituals, if |
| consideration, could result in the overestimation of | | | | someone brings it up, if someone points it out to |
| their own strength, their own ability to resist the pull | | | | you, then there is another concern. |
| of their old pagan habits, and lead them back into sin. | | | | This new concern is not about the food, or your |
| Therefore it was incumbent upon the more mature | | | | freedom to eat whatever you want, but about the |
| Christians to model faithfulness in such a way as not | | | | person who brought up the concern. If it was not an |
| to lead other Christians astray. It was an argument, | | | | issue for that person, he would not have brought it |
| not based on Christian freedom, but based on | | | | up. So, if the concern is raised, it is a real concern. |
| Christian responsibility to one's weaker, less mature | | | | And it is incumbent upon the more mature Christian |
| brothers and sisters. Of course Christians are free, | | | | to set an example that will not be misinterpreted by |
| but we are also responsible to God and for one | | | | the less mature Christian, or by the person who has |
| another. | | | | yet to confess Christ as Lord. At this point, the issue |
| "'All things are lawful,' but not all things are helpful. 'All | | | | is not the food or the power of pagan gods, but |
| things are lawful,' but not all things build up'" (1 | | | | service to a fellow or potential Christian. Our |
| Corinthians 10:23). Lawful is a correct translation of | | | | obligation to be of service to others trumps our |
| the Greek, but in this context it means permissible. | | | | freedom in Christ to do what pleases us. |
| Paul was saying that while all things are permitted, | | | | Paul has delineated an important principle here, that |
| not all permitted things are helpful, not all permitted | | | | the controlling conscience among Christians is the |
| things contribute to Christian growth and maturity. | | | | weaker conscience, or we could say the more |
| Sometimes some things that are permitted should be | | | | sensitive conscience. We should think of it as setting |
| avoided, if not for our own sake then for the sake | | | | a good example. But let's not forget that while we |
| of others. | | | | want to set a good example, we must not forget or |
| Paul goes on, "if someone says to you, 'This has | | | | neglect the greater responsibility to teach our children |
| been offered in sacrifice,' then do not eat it, for the | | | | how to discern good and evil in the light of Christ for |
| sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake | | | | themselves. |