Ramblings on What We Share: To Eat or Not to Eat

“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.   I Corinthians 10:23 – 11:1

When studying this passage, we must realize the great variance between the legalism of the Jews compared to the more flexible practices of the Gentiles. Paul, a master at navigating between the two cultures, offers a moderate view on dietary practices. Unlike the Jews, Paul encourages a relaxed approach to what one eats when visiting someone else’s home or when purchasing food at the market. The dietary laws of the Old Testament are not upheld here.

The only restriction on what we eat should be based on the conscience of the person we are eating with. As Paul mentions, this was the practice of Jesus who easily shared strict, Kosher meals with members of the Jewish religious leadership yet was also quite comfortable eating with Samaritans, prostitutes and tax collectors.

We are free to do whatever – as long as it glorifies God.

Ramblings on What We Share: Hearts Undivided

Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.  I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf. Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than he? I Corinthians 10:14-22

There is a saying - Why go out for a hamburger when you have steak at home? We Christians are too content gorging ourselves on scraps from the devil's table when Jesus offers us the choicest cuts of good, solid food. The devil's fare is raw and rancid. It upsets our stomach, so to speak, by sowing corruption into our beings. But we all know the appeal of junk food over health food.

Brothers and sisters, let us commit ourselves to that which is healthy and wholesome. Join me in a renewed resolve to enjoy all the wondrous things of God. Let us determine in our hearts not to gaze longingly at the devil's table. Let us slap one another's hands when we reach for that which belongs to demons. For together as one body we can stand firm with undivided hearts.

Ramblings on What We Share: Evil and Temptation

For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did —and were killed by the destroying angel.

These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.                I Corinthians 10:1-13

What a blessing it is to sit here and read how Paul opens up the annals of history for the Christian. If you’ve ever asked why it is important to read the Old Testament, he tells you – to learn from its example. Christianity builds on the history of a people who often failed by succumbing to the evil that surrounded them.

But the wonder of Israel’s history Paul also makes clear – they were never alone. Christ was always with them…

…making a way where there was no way,

…making food where there was no food,

…making drink where there was no water.

He had to have been there in order to be rejected, tested and grumbled against. His path of mankind’s mistreatment began generations before he hung on the cross. Yet, He still offers us a way out – what an undying love!

Ramblings on What We Share: Understand, Indentify, Share, Protect

Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. I Corinthians 9:19-27

Do you see what I see? Do you hear what I hear? Do you feel what I feel? Jesus does, and He calls us to step out of our comfort zone and look, listen and experience the world through the eyes, ears and heart of others.

The blessings of the gospel are to be shared, not only by the act of our verbal witness, but with our minds, hearts and lives – shoulder to shoulder, side by side with our fellow man.

Yes, this means we will be likely be uncomfortable. It means our faith will be tested and tried. This is why personal discipline is essential. We push ourselves outward, but not to the point of making us vulnerable. Our own eyes, ears, and heart need continual spiritual training to keep us safe from temptation and evil. We never want to forget that we belong to no one save Christ and are bound to no creed but His.

Support for Our Pastors

 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. Don’t we have the right to food and drink? Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?

Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?

But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.                                                      I Corinthians 9:1-18

Since its inception, the church has struggled with the issue of whether or not to pay its pastors and whether pastors should find work outside of the church or minister full-time. I think the answer that Paul gives us in this chapter is simple – YES!

If the work to be done in a church justifies a full-time pastor, then the church should pay the pastor wages appropriate to his efforts. If there are ample lay leaders to share the burden, a church may choose to engage a minister who has a job outside the church.

However, too often a church does not grow because it cannot afford a full-time pastor who can give the work the attention it needs and there are not enough qualified lay leaders in the congregation to make up the difference. The church has two choices – hire a full-time minister or train lay leaders to oversee various ministry efforts.

Some pastors may not want to be full-time. I am sure that part of the Apostle Paul’s objection to paid ministry was that it would take him out of the marketplace and rob him of opportunities to witness to those who engaged him as a tentmaker. Often the answer is for the pastor to be self employed so he can set his own hours and leave his work should an urgent ministry need arise.

Whether or not your pastor is paid, be open to opportunities for the development of lay leadership. The Bible shows us clearly that the work of ministering to people is not just for paid clergy. There may be untapped potential in others that the Lord wants to use.

Knowledge, Freedom & Conscience

Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. But whoever loves God is known by God. So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.                                      I Corinthians 8:1-13

What makes us a better Christian – Understanding the Scriptures or implementing their precepts into our lives? One of the gravest enemies to Christian brotherhood is a knowledge that results in arrogance. One who has studied the Scriptures for 30 years fails to show forbearance to the one who still sins because they are yet unaware that their behavior displeases God. One who has accepted the teaching of biblical scholars that some practices commanded in the Bible were only applicable to the people of biblical times and in their specific situation may feel released from the obligation to follow certain practices commanded in the Bible. Now they think that their brothers and sisters who still feel those certain practices are relevant for today are backwards and ignorant.

In this chapter, the Apostle Paul challenges the church about our attitudes. He calls us to examine ourselves. Have we allowed our knowledge to puff us up? In our freedom, have we endangered our “less enlightened” brother or sister’s faith? If we have, what are the eternal consequences of these things? Does not our pride open the door for sin within our own lives? Does our lack of conscience towards our brother or sister’s welfare endanger their relationship with God?

How great is our need for knowledge and freedom if we misuse it once we have it? With greater knowledge, we should desire greater charity towards those who do not yet have it. When we find greater freedom, we should desire greater concern for our brother and sister still in bonds.