1st Corinthians 8:1-13
NO VIDEO FOR THIS SERMON
Imagine this conversation, which may sound strikingly similar to conversations you have had before. A group of Christians is sitting around discussing the latest Netflix Series that is topping the charts. And they ask the question, “should we, as Christians, be watching this show?” I mean, the acting is 2nd-to-none, the writing is incredible, but, you know it has that one scene in that one episode…The first answer might sound something like this: “Absolutely not! I only watch Christian cartoons…and that one documentary about the Book of Numbers. It’s thrilling.” 2nd person says, “I mean, I’m ok with it. I just fast-forward the bad parts, cover my eyes, say a little prayer, and I’m good.” Holier-than-thou Henry chimes in, “I only watch shows with a dove as the production company symbol, and if there’s not at least one altar call per episode, I’m out.” And while this might sound a little extreme, I think it illustrates a really important conversation that comes up when talking about the grey areas in Scripture.
There are some things that are black-and-white. Thou shalt not…those are very specific commands. And it’s interesting that, according to biblical commentators, we only find 3 grey areas mentioned in the New Testament:
1. Observing Jewish Holidays
2. Drinking wine
3. Eating meat that was sacrificed to idols
Fast forward 2,000 years and in America we are faced with a plethora: “tobacco, alcohol, makeup, fashion, dancing, music, movies, gambling, tattoos, piercings…” This might look different in other countries. But the point is, there are a number of choices that we are faced with that may not be answered clearly in Scripture.
In 1st Corinthians chapter 8, Paul addresses a question from the Corinthians believers, and counsels them on how to rightly think about issues that we would call “grey areas.”
Read 1st Corinthians 8:1-13
Big Idea: Our love for each other should always outdo our right to Christian liberty.
The Issue: Eating food offered to idols (1a)
It’s apparent from verse 1 that Paul is addressing a question that had been asked in the letter that was sent to him. Are we allowed to eat meat that has been sacrificed for idol worship? We need a bit of historical context here.
Idol worship was very prevalent in Corinth at this time. One of the practices was to bring an animal to a priest to offer as a sacrifice to their gods. Once that was done, here’s what would happen, according to a historical commentator:
“After the legs of the sacrifice and the entrails had been burned on the altar, and after the priest had been given his share, what was left of the victim’s flesh was returned to the family that offered the sacrifice. This consecrated meat was then eaten–either as part of a banquet in the pagan temple or in the worshiper’s home–or it was sold at the marketplace. If the consecrated meat was used for a banquet, friends and relatives, among whom there might well be Christians, were invited. Christians would then find themselves confronted with the question of whether they should eat the idol meat. So also, when meats previously consecrated to a pagan deity were sold in the market, Christians might find themselves having to decide whether to purchase the meat.”
So Paul, what do we do? We have people on both sides of the conversation. This is what Paul is addressing in chapter 8. And this is where we see the dilemma.
The dilemma: Liberty vs. Legalism
Legalism “denies any gray area and declares everything to be black and white. Unless it is permitted in Scripture it is wrong.
Liberty “denies any gray area and declares everything to be black and white. Unless it is forbidden in Scripture it is OK.
And this is where the difficulty arises. Is it ok, or is it not ok. And so Paul tackles this beautifully. And this is where we’ll spend the rest of our time together.
Right Thinking: Love trumps knowledge (1b-13)
The deeper issue that Paul addresses is not whether or not it was ok to eat the food, but what was the motivation. And right away he calls out the mature believers, right there in verse 1. “Those who possess knowledge.” But there was an issue here. Those who claimed to have knowledge were missing a key component of spiritual maturity, because knowledge without love is foolishness. Oftentimes those with great knowledge can become puffed up. They can become arrogant. Have you ever met someone like that? And here’s the thing, the knowledge that they had was not wrong. In fact Paul agrees with them in verses 4 through 6.
Paul says, “You’re right, an idol is not real, the false gods that the pagans worship are not real. Therefore, the food offered to those gods cannot truly be consecrated. You’re also right that there is only one God. But you have not been wielding that knowledge well. In fact, you have been using it as a weapon against those who are ‘weaker’ in their faith, and it’s doing more damage than good.”
This is why he says in verse 2 that their knowledge has puffed them up, but it’s “love that builds up.” And this knowledge that you claim to have is actually proving that you don’t know anything at all! You want to know what love looks like? Look at the Lord. He loves you. And does His love tear you down or build you up? He is the picture of perfect knowledge and love.
Now, before we continue Paul’s exhortation of these believers, we can’t miss the theological statement that Paul makes in verse 6. Remember, he affirms their knowledge of monotheism, one God and one God only. And then he just kind of preaches for a moment. (Re-read vs. 6)
So much packed in here:
The Lord is One
The Lord is Creator
We belong to the Lord
Jesus is God
The Father and the Son are One
It’s through Jesus that we have life
“So yes, what you know about God is true, but back to the issue at hand. Even though you may have more spiritual knowledge, there are some among you that are new to the faith. And you using your Christian freedom is actually damaging their faith.”
Verse 7. Some of the young believers had come out of pagan religions. Some of them had just recently been worshiping false gods. They are still trying to work out what it means to be a Christian, what’s ok and what’s not ok, and while they are in this really malleable and delicate state, the last thing they need is temptation to go back to their previous life. “So, mature believers, when you teach that it is ok to eat the meat offered to idols, you are creating confusion for the young believers.” Paul even goes as far as to say that their faith is being “defiled.”
And if they are still struggling with their pride, he makes it pretty simple. “Why do you put so much weight on what you eat? The food you eat does not have any bearing on your spiritual health.” Which helps with the perspective of what he says next. You might have the freedom to make these decisions, but if those decisions have no spiritual implications for you, and are doing damage to others, then you may want to rethink them.
They could become a stumbling block. Someone else who is younger in their faith might get tripped up. And this is where Paul comes full circle. So, just because you have knowledge does not mean you have wisdom. Just because you have knowledge does not mean you have love. In fact, the knowledge that has caused you to become arrogant is actually destroying your brothers and sisters in Christ. Those brothers and sisters who you belittle, who Christ died for, are having their faith shattered by your arrogance in your Christian freedoms.
And then he finally just drives the dagger of conviction in. When you do this, when you flaunt your Christian freedom, and it causes another person to stumble in their faith, you have not only sinned against them, but you have sinned against God Himself. So, it would be better to just not eat the meat at all.
Application
This chapter, while it has specific historical context, can very easily be imported into our context as well. To place a definition on “grey areas,” here’s one author’s thought: “actions that Scripture doesn’t clearly identify as “sinful” or “non-sinful” for all people in all places at all times.” And it can get really tricky, because everyone comes from a different background, with different experiences, exposure to different things, different struggles, and so on. What one person struggles with may be different than what another might struggle with. And the temptation can be to look down on people for being different, no matter what side of the grey area they find themselves on.
Take for instance, alcohol. It could be that those who have never had a drink, who see an issue with alcohol biblically, might look down on someone who doesn’t see anything wrong with it for being too free. Or, one who doesn’t have issue with alcohol looking down on the one who does for being too legalistic. And this can happen in so many different areas as I mentioned before. Music, movies, alcohol, tobacco products, tattoos, piercings, swearing, driving 5 mph over the speed limit, gambling, playing video games that contain violence, and the list goes on.
As I was preparing this week, I found a really good article from the Gospel Coalition that poses 6 questions to ask ourselves when dealing with a grey area of Scripture:
1. Is the Holy Spirit convicting me that it is wrong?
2. Is this action causing a brother or sister to stumble?
Someone previously struggled with an addiction
3. Is this action harmful rather than beneficial to my faith?
4. Is this action mastering or controlling me?
5. Is this action causing me to be disobedient to someone who God has put in authority over me?
6. Am I judging others who don’t agree with me in this grey area?
If you answered yes to any of these, there would be wisdom in avoiding it altogether. We must be careful not to be too flippant with our freedoms, but not be too legalistic at the same time. We must be careful not to look down on those who disagree with us. And most of all, we must be careful to love our brothers and sisters well, especially if that means abstaining from the thing that don’t have issue with, but might damage my brother or sister’s faith.
