Read through this
and I'll comment at the end.
1 Corinthians 8:4-13(NKJV)
Therefore concerning the eating
of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and
that there is no
other God but one.
For even if there
are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and
many lords),
yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord
Jesus Christ, through whom are all
things, and through whom we live.
However, there is not in everyone that knowledge;
for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol;
and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
But food does not
commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not
eat are we the worse.
But beware lest somehow this
liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.
For if anyone sees you who have
knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is
weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols?
And because of your knowledge shall
the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
But when you thus
sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against
Christ.
Therefore, if food
makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother
stumble.
So here is my
question. Why would the weak brother
perish from seeing someone else exercise the full freedom and benefits of
knowing Jesus and knowing Scripture?
Paul just said that food does not commend us to God.
Wouldn't it make more sense to use this as a teaching opportunity? After all Scripture does tell us that the truth will set us free? Why would Paul not take this opportunity to instruct someone on the truth instead of hiding it from them? Hmm?
Wouldn't it make more sense to use this as a teaching opportunity? After all Scripture does tell us that the truth will set us free? Why would Paul not take this opportunity to instruct someone on the truth instead of hiding it from them? Hmm?
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