“Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.”1 CORINTHIANS 8: 1 (KJV).

STRUGGLING CHURCH

All of Chapter 8 of 1st Corinthians, but especially verses 1-13, in essence states that we should not abuse our Christian liberty to the offense of our brethren. As we read on we can see how the sensitivity of conscience, thereby, can manifest itself. Fine and extensive notions in our heads, without love to God and man in our heart, do but only puff us up with self-conceit, and render us detestable to God! And nothing more plainly manifests our want of solid knowledge than our contempt of others as weak and foolish! Read on for a clearer understanding.

The Apostle Paul was faced with such a special problem, but with food, in the early pioneer Church of Corinth when asked whether or not he could eat food sacrificed or offered to idols.  “Things offered to idols” were the remainders of animals sacrificed to heathen gods; whether an animal was offered as a private or a public sacrifice, portions of the meat remained for the one who offered the sacrifice. The meat left after the magistrates or officers took what they wanted might be sold to the markets for resale to the people of the city. Evidences of such market stalls still persist today in Ancient Corinth.

Corinth, firstly, was the most prominent city of Greece at that time; a bustling center for trade and commerce serving as the crossroads between the East and what was considered Europe at that time (today only one hour from Athens). But like any large port city, it was disreputable; decrepit, evil, wicked, dangerous! In fact the classical ancient Greek dramas portrayed the drunkard on stage as “the Corinthian!”

The Corinthian church of Christians was in the doldrums; disputing, doubting, struggling. Imagine a church composed of converted idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, thieves, drunkards, and swindlers! (1 Cor. 6:9-11).  Just think that such a church, furthermore, made up of people from such backgrounds soon encountered a mass of problems. For one, Paul faced a huge challenge; not only diet or food, but to convince these believers, for one thing, of the immorality of sexual activities that had been a part of everyday worship under their old religion. In that church of Corinth–its local situation and its culture, as in Muslim countries today—whether or not to wear a veil was a major issue for women (1 Cor. 11:3-10). In the Middle East, a woman who appeared in public barefaced, without a veil, showed loose morals. Some Muslim countries today still retain that custom. Paul’s advice applied directly to the cultural situation in Corinth, where unruly women were disrupting the worship services. (1 Cor. 11:5).

MEAT

The problems posed to Paul, then were:

1.) Could a Christian partake of meat offered to a false god in a heathen feast?

2.) Might a Christian buy and eat flesh offered to idols?

3.) Might a Christian, when invited to a home of a friend, eat flesh which had been offered to idols?

These were very ticklish problems for Paul, but he did set forth certain principles to guide the believers in Corinth.

The question or questions posed involves a believer’s “liberty” in non-moral questions. They were worried about offending God and about offending the conscience of the weaker Christian in this matter. Although we are no longer troubled by the problem of whether we ought to eat meat offered to idols or not (as animal sacrifices ended with the crucifying of Jesus Christ on the cross, and the tearing of the curtain between the Holy and Most Holy places of the ancient Sanctuary –sacrificial worship being abolished); we are still, however, confronting this same principle today.

We  have Christian taboos about many other issues that may not be directly addressed or clearly stated for many, but are clearly detrimental to our health and salvation: smoking, drinking, eating of meat, dancing, dress, hair, and other issues, but are adequately spoken of and explained in the Spirit of Prophecy. But in fact, God’s diet for man; man’s original diet is clearly stated in Genesis 1:29; simply, a vegetarian diet; “flesh is excluded” (CD 375).  “Daniel and his companions showed the benefits of such a diet.” (CD 155) This dissertation, however, is not expounding this facet of Paul’s problems with the Corinthian Church which was concerned with Christian liberties and choices.

Ah! Yet, again, for many we are faced with the “free-spirit,” liberated man and woman of today. Many who are still struggling to break free from the bonds imposed by evil and sin. One great principle of life, however, mankind has today, a precious gift from God, is the complete freedom of choice, a free will (animals do not have it).

Man was created perfect in the image of God, but at the same time gave man a free will, and God in His mercy, to restrict man, to do good and not evil, gave him a Law, but this Law man transgressed; it was his own will (his choice) to do so, and thus, though he was subject to it, yet it was not the will of His creator that he should sin (Romans 8:20).

Yet, for many in this popular, but misdirected New Age 21st Century, this free-spirited attitude is filled with anxieties! Many poor souls reflect, in retrospect, what their lives would have been like if they had taken another course or path in life; made another choice. They ponder on their choices of the past, actually regressing rather than progressing and prospering in the Lord and dwelling on spiritual things, but rather choosing the defunct (“flesh offered to idols!”).

CHOICE

Consequently, the mind “feeds” on itself, growing into a state of doubt, confusion, and even terrifying thought at times; negative thinking (Type D) which replaces wholesome, noble, edifying positive thoughts (Type A).  Guilt stealthily creeps in to worsen matters, gradually affecting sleep, appetite, performance, efficiency, and… holiness. They morosely dwell on their past choices in life and thereby kill the person they really wanted or wished to be! They’re haunted, grim, worn, and can find no escape… “No remedy” (2 Chron. 36:16; Prov. 29:1; 6:15; Isa. 1:5,6). But why?

Well, many reasons, but one prominent one is, interestingly, shown in a survey which reveals that 22% of American Christians read their Bible through every year, but 35% don’t read the Bible at all because they believe it is irrelevant to their daily problems, conduct, goals, personal matters, and comfort.  Well, they are wrong, wrong, wrong! The Bible is as realistic, alive, and practical book as you are likely to read, and its many inspired-by-God writers know the power of choice, and Christian liberty–God’s gift to our humanity that makes us who we are.  “Man can make the choice of Christ or the world.” (2T 494).

You see, one of the problems you and I have in these closing days, is that we have too many choices. We are bombarded, pulverized, with thousands of competing and contradictory options – from consumer goods to careers to religious faiths – and we are terrified of making the wrong decisions, of missing out, of committing ourselves to someone or something, or some church or school, friend, or family that we will later regret.

But, do not consider it any different for a moment; that it was any different for a Christian in the 1st century.  When you consider the choices available to us, living in 1st century Corinth, it was not all that different from living in 21st century Athens, New York, London, or Atlanta.  In visiting Corinth today, it is a beautiful, sophisticated thoroughly secular city committed to land development, commerce, capitalism, threats, strikes, protests, jovial children, abundant parks. But, the choices of religious faiths and various gods still persist and flourish with abandon! In fact, however, in the end, “all men decide their destiny by their own choice.” (PK 536). “God saves no man against his choice.” (3T 457).

The problem the 1st century Christians had is the same one you and I face; how to live one’s life in ordinary times (no longer ordinary) while awaiting the extraordinary promises of God. What are these promises? Well, many! The choices are many! But, dwell on these pertinent choices for now: (Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21). When overstressed, in a crisis, asking how long, then read these blessed promises.

Again, the immediate topic for discussion in Paul’s long letter to the Corinthian Christians in the thoroughly pagan city of Corinth was about food (and will be in the end days – and music!).  If you wanted to buy meat in 1st Century Corinth you went to the butcher shop, which was a problem as the meat was sacrificed in the Temple of Apollo or Osiris (which remnants remain today); or to some other pagan deity.

The question arose in which it was conjectured going through the ancient streets of Corinth, how many Christians resided there? It was found that less than 1% of the population, because most of the citizens worshiped in pagan temples that offered prostitution, alcohol, and all kinds of debauchery – in marked contrast to the strictness of Christianity.

TWO SCHOOLS

Thus, you had two schools of thought in the Corinthian church. One group, the “intellectuals”; pushing Paul’s view of “freedom in Christ” too far!  Their liberty to eat whatever they wanted was interfering with those who had a more traditional view. The radical individualists who knew what they believed were undermining the morale of the church. The liberals were intolerant of the conservative – reformers. They knew that there is only one God and that idols were nothing more than lifeless objects, so why not eat whatever you want? What was said, (and is often said today);  “If you confess Christ as your Lord, all things are permissible.” And how did Martin Luther, Paul’s greatest disciple, state the case fifteen centuries later, “Love God and sin boldly.” Many argue and rationalize today, thusly; “it’s a matter of conscience.” or “it’s not a matter of salvation;” eating meat, drinking, military service, dress, etc.

Ah! But that was precisely the problem. Knowledge does not automatically produce consideration for others. In fact, quite often it leads the person “in the know” to become impatient with the one who doesn’t “know as much.” Paul, himself warns them, “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” (1 Cor. 8:1). What is more: knowledge is so often self-deceiving and illusory; “If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.” No matter how much you know there is still much beyond your comprehension. Socrates, the famous Greek philosopher stated, “I know one thing – I know nothing.”  But, “If one loves God, one is known by God” (1 Cor. 8:2).

The task of a Christian is to choose oneself, to become that person that is a true follower of Jesus Christ. This means both emulating as much as one possibly can, the life and teachings of Jesus Christ; but it also means being obedient, completely obedient to God’s Ten Commandments (all Ten!). The only way to be related and to accept God’s Truth is through a process of ethical – religious striving! It is through this persistent striving that we become Christian followers, and… saints! (Rev. 14:12).

Ah! But, for some it might seem difficult to be a Christian in Christendom; a believer and follower of the Truth. Just look and ask around you, the people like you: the people who worship on Sunday (or Sabbath) morning, are basically good people. We or they might say, “we don’t steal, lie, cheat, kill.” And, “We try to live good decent lives.”  Moreover, “we have a certain amount of concern and compassion for the poor, homeless, downtrodden, and the oppressed.”

But, that is exactly the problem! We think being good, going to church occasionally, lighting a candle, giving an offering, living nice, unthreatening lives is all that is required. But, something else must be realized; the very act of being “good enough” precludes us from accepting God’s grace, mercy, protection and strength! You see, we are just prideful enough, just enough convinced that we can make it by doing a few good things on our own, that we forget that it depends on faith and earnest faith alone; but with prayers of faith, obedience and works will follow. (James 1:25; 2:10).

Accept what you are, instead of denying it. Recognize who you are.  For we come to Jesus the way we are with all our faults, and shortcomings.  God says, “I love you with all your ways, with all your fears and doubts. I am the one who created you and loves you more than you can imagine.  Just give it all to Me; come to Me; let us reason together.” (Isaiah 1:18). That is the joy of the Gospel; confession, repentance, forgiveness, renewal, acceptance, and newness of life.

But, with tender and exact care ought Christians to avoid dubious or even innocent and indifferent practices, which may grieve their fellow believers and occasion their stumbling into sin. Tread lightly!

Paul wrote the most wonderful and most troublesome promise of the Bible: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28). You see, things work together for God because we are held in God’s love.

“YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT!” What choice are you making? “Each soul is left to his own, to choose Christ or Satan.” (1 SM  96). Amen

John Theodorou

U.S.A.