I have to say, right off the bat, I love this passage. It is a reminder to us as Christians that God's heart is not for us to have all knowledge, but to LOVE.
The issue of contention in this passage is whether eating food previously offered to idols is sin or not. Paul makes it clear that it isn't a sin. Idols are nothing, therefore food offered to them isn't tainted (vs. 4).
In verses 7-8 Paul explains that eating or not eating these foods doesn't change our status in God's eyes. "For neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse" (vs. 8). This brought up an interesting thought in my mind, which may prove to be contentious in and of itself: Boycotting products.
I have had several people tell me, "I won't buy Starbucks because they don't support our President," (when Bush was in office), or "I won't buy this or that," because the company supports gay rights, or is pro-choice or aligns themselves with some other non-Christian ideology. I personally won't shop at Abercrombie and Fitch because their catalogs and ads are pornographic. However, if I did, I don't believe it would make a difference in God's eyes. The clothes, in and of themselves, are just clothes. I simply don't want my money going to a company I don't support. My point here is, we must be careful not to judge those people who choose, or don't choose, to "boycott" a company, product, etc. I can't look at a Christian brother or sister who wears and Abercrombie and Fitch shirt, and think to myself, "Wow, that person is so worldly. If only they were as goldy as me." They have liberty in that area, so they, with a pure conscience, can wear those clothes. For me, it would be sin, because the Bible says,
It is easy to build a conviction, and have expectations that everyone else should follow the same conviction. It's a tough area, and we must be careful not to push our convictions on other believers, if the Word has not expressly spoken one way or another to whether we have liberty in that area or not. On a similar note, believers should also be careful to not put themselves under bondage, when Christ has made us free. But, for the sake of a weaker believer, may we all choose to build up one another in love, rather than flaunt our liberties and cause another to stumble.
The issue of contention in this passage is whether eating food previously offered to idols is sin or not. Paul makes it clear that it isn't a sin. Idols are nothing, therefore food offered to them isn't tainted (vs. 4).
In verses 7-8 Paul explains that eating or not eating these foods doesn't change our status in God's eyes. "For neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse" (vs. 8). This brought up an interesting thought in my mind, which may prove to be contentious in and of itself: Boycotting products.
I have had several people tell me, "I won't buy Starbucks because they don't support our President," (when Bush was in office), or "I won't buy this or that," because the company supports gay rights, or is pro-choice or aligns themselves with some other non-Christian ideology. I personally won't shop at Abercrombie and Fitch because their catalogs and ads are pornographic. However, if I did, I don't believe it would make a difference in God's eyes. The clothes, in and of themselves, are just clothes. I simply don't want my money going to a company I don't support. My point here is, we must be careful not to judge those people who choose, or don't choose, to "boycott" a company, product, etc. I can't look at a Christian brother or sister who wears and Abercrombie and Fitch shirt, and think to myself, "Wow, that person is so worldly. If only they were as goldy as me." They have liberty in that area, so they, with a pure conscience, can wear those clothes. For me, it would be sin, because the Bible says,
"But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because [he does] not [eat] from faith; for whatever [is] not from faith is sin." Romans 14:23
It is easy to build a conviction, and have expectations that everyone else should follow the same conviction. It's a tough area, and we must be careful not to push our convictions on other believers, if the Word has not expressly spoken one way or another to whether we have liberty in that area or not. On a similar note, believers should also be careful to not put themselves under bondage, when Christ has made us free. But, for the sake of a weaker believer, may we all choose to build up one another in love, rather than flaunt our liberties and cause another to stumble.
"For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not [use] liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."
Galatians 5:13
Hey Ash! I like it! I think we each need to continue to grow and center our choices around what glorifies God best in our lives and also builds up others around us...walking with the Lord does sometimes require sacrifice..."I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." 1 Corinthians 9:22