1 Corinthians 8: Freedom for example

The issue that Paul is addressing is that much of the meat eaten in Corinth came from sacrifices that were performed at the temples. This was meat offered in Pagan worship. Paul told the Corinthians that they were free to eat that meat as long as they weren’t participating in the worship. The meat was just meat. However, some Christians felt that this would be an expression of false worship even though they weren’t participating in the sacrificial aspect of the meat.

Paul could condemn these people and tell them that their conscience is too sensitive. But Paul knows too much about the conscience, the playing field for the Holy Spirit. Many of the believers that he is speaking about were steaped in Pagan ritual and to eat the meat of Pagan worship would bring back the previous experience to the point where it would violate their own worship of Yahweh. Even though they were free to eat the meat legally, it was spiritually dangerous for them. It endangered their heart by exposing it to affections that had previously had it captured and enslaved.

So Paul teaches that the people of God need to be conservative with their freedom. “Everything is permissible—but I will not be mastered by anything“(6:12). Though everything is permissible for me, we need to be sure that those around us are not mastered by anything. We can certainly apply this to alcohol, smoking, entertainment and the way we use our words. It is humbling and convicting to think that our example really matters. If you are around those who are new to the faith, you need to know that they are watching you and listening to you. What you do becomes an embodiment of Christian spirituality to them. Though you may not struggle with gossip, if someone new to the faith struggles with gossip, what you think is borderline might thrust him or her across clear lines with your example s their justification.

That is why Jesus said, “Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to the person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone around his neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. So watch yourselves.” Luke 17:1-3

What are issues about which we need to watch our example?

Posted by Marc