Consideration for Weaker Believers

Another issue in the Corinthian church was the fact some of them were routinely eating food sacrificed to idols. There were no shortage of false gods to worship under the Roman empire and food sacrificed to idols would have been readily available. So what to do in such circumstances was a valid concern. While Paul agreed that there was nothing inherently wrong with the food and consuming it would have no bering on one's standing before the Lord, attention should be paid to the impact of eating such things on "weaker believers". A weaker believer is anyone of lesser spiritual maturity, either due to the amount of time in the faith or the amount of effort (Bible study, prayer, worship, fellowship with other believers, service, etc.) put forth. New Jewish converts would have been steeped in laws against eating food sacrificed to idols. This practice, while perfectly acceptable under Christian freedom from the Law, would have offended them and in the process, "stained" their perception of Christianity. Or it may cause them to do something contrary to their own conscience, simply by virtue of seeing someone else do it. This does not even take into account the impact on unbelievers, who may have been so offended as to immediately disassociate with believers engaged in this behavior, thereby cutting themselves off from the gospel. So Paul's contention is that believers should "be careful that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak".

Eating food sacrificed to idols is not relevant in our culture, but a modern-day parallel would be drinking alcohol. Clearly, there is nothing wrong with drinking alcohol, as the practice appears throughout Scripture with Jesus and the disciples partaking on occasion. Baptists would argue that the wine of that day was of a much lower alcohol content, therefore rendering it nowhere near what we drink today. Nonetheless, Jesus drank wine which really "bottom-lines" it. . As clear as that is, it is also clear that believers are not to be drunk. The reasons are obvious and do not merit elaboration. But should believers drink alcohol at all? There are many different viewpoints, but if we use Paul's model of food sacrificed to idols, we can think of drinking alcohol in the same way. Though not wrong from God's perspective, it is something that elicits strong reactions in some people. While we have the freedom to drink alcohol, it is not always beneficial to those around us. Might it offend them and therefore damage our Christian witness? Might it cause them to follow our example against their own consciences? Might that "freedom" confuse them in regard to other areas were they may have convictions? These are some of the things Paul had in mind when he referenced "causing them to stumble". Paul would tell us to know our "audience", as the world is always watching us as Christians. We are to put the needs of others, particularly weaker believers and non-believers, before our own.

Feel free to weigh in on this one. I know there are many opinions, and I am merely extrapolating from Scripture to draw a parallel conclusion. This has been an editorial comment! But putting the food sacrificed to idols in a modern context, gives us a better feel for the weight of what Paul was saying to the Corinthians.

Tomorrow's reading: 1 Cor. 11:2-12:31a

Tomorrow's reading: