1 Corinthians 8:7-13

 Scripture: 1 Cor. 8:7 However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 

1 Cor. 8:8 Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.

1 Cor. 8:9 But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.

1 Cor. 8:10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols?

1 Cor. 8:11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died.

1 Cor. 8:12 Thus, sinning against your brothers[e] and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.

1 Cor. 8:13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

Teaching: Paul directly addresses the issue at hand, the question of eating food sacrificed to idols, but in his typical style, he broadens the issue to teach a principle of discipleship rather than simply give a specific answer to only this question. Paul sees this issue not as a matter of legalism but rather of setting the right example for brothers and sisters in Christ who do not yet understand as much about living for Christ. When we come to faith, we believe in Christ as our Lord and Savior, and earnestly want to follow him and trust him. But in reality, the flesh is a difficult thing to overcome and even more, what we once believed as true (apart from Christ) is hard to let go. We have all been that new Christian, looking for guidance on how to follow Christ. This is the point of discipleship! To grow fellow believers in their walk with Christ. 

Paul tells those who “have knowledge” [wisdom in living for Christ] to use that knowledge for the benefit of others who do not yet. Just as Christ saw fit to give his life in sacrifice for us when we did not know why nor deserve such a gift, Christians should be ready to sacrifice their own freedoms in Christ (that otherwise have no effect on their relationship with Christ) in order to set a better example for new Christians. What this comes down to is helping new Christians to sense and obey the leading of the Spirit. When they feel convicted or even conflicted over seeing their leaders behaving just as the world does (in this case, eating meat sacrificed to idols), what are they to think? Should they follow the conviction of the Spirit and turn from their former lives? Or should they see that their former lives must not be that bad if their leaders are still living that way? This is something that can be avoided by sacrificial and intentional discipleship on the part of those who are more spiritually mature. 

Takeaway: Part of coming to faith is a spiritual growth process as we learn more of God’s Word and by it learn more of who Christ is. When this happens, we realize to an ever greater degree how amazing Christ is and how He is sovereign over all things. With this also comes the realization that just about everything you believed was true before believing in Christ was a lie. The things you thought were important, or perhaps gained you favor with God, actually were rubbish and superstition. This takes time for most people to come to terms with, to surrender their own preconceived notions and plans at the foot of the cross. We all know this state of the discipleship journey, we’ve seen it and lived it. When we read the Gospels, we see the 12 apostles in this same state, as well! Paul’s teaching here urges those who have grown in their knowledge of Christ to not consider themselves more important or holy because of it, but rather offer themselves in greater sacrifice for the benefit of others, just as Christ did. We don’t measure spiritual maturity by how much we know, but rather, how much we are willing to give up for the sake of others. The spiritually mature Christian knows that he can eat whatever he pleases without worry of displeasing God or bringing judgement upon himself. However, the model he sets for those who do not understand that yet is critical. We should all strive to be a welcome mat to Jesus rather than a stumbling block, not because that makes us more holy but because Christ was the welcome mat first when we needed it.