We live in a very different culture to that of ancient Corinth, so for some, this chapter may feel like one we can gloss over. But passages like this and Romans 14 are vital for equipping us to properly judge the numerous "grey areas" the Bible does not specifically mention. For example, how much violence is too much violence for a Christian to take in through various forms of fictional entertainment? Can a book like Harry Potter be read by a Christian safely? What about the classic taboo of Christian culture known as "Dungeons and Dragons"?
The Bible doesn't name these things specifically, but still gives us timeless instruction and principle that we can apply as we carefully make decisions about what we choose to enjoy or be involved in.
At the time of this letter, Corinth was a city filled with idol worship. Animals were sacrificed to pagan gods and the leftover meat was often sold in the general marketplace. Jews and the young Christians of Corinth fell into two camps on what to do. One side said that eating the meat was of no harm to anyone, since the gods it was sacrificed to are fictitious. The other side said that eating the meat was in some way participating in pagan worship. Paul agreed with the philosophy of the first group, but not their application of it.
He cautions in verse 1 that knowledge has a tendency to make one arrogant instead of loving and caring toward others. In verse 4-6, Paul makes it clear that these pagan gods receiving sacrifices are fictitious. At best they are fallen angels, (1 Cor. 10:20) but they have no power compared to the one and only God. For this reason, those eating "idol meat" were not taking part in any kind of worship simply because they ate the meat. It was their rejection of God and embracing of something else that was wrong.
However, in verse 7, Paul says that those who don't understand this, and think of the idols as real gods, defile themselves when they eat the meat. Likewise, in Romans 14:14, Pauls says "I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean." Why the difference?
In verse 10, Paul identifies the core issue. If someone who is weak (who thinks idols are real gods) thinks that idol worship and following Christ are compatible, they will be in a serious mess. They will begin to believe things that will take them away from the truth and into any number of harmful lies. So Paul allows for eating "idol meat", but cautions those who understand the truth to not let the freedom their knowledge gives them become a point of confusion and misdirection for someone else.
Paul says that "if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, that I might not cause my brother to stumble." This is something to weigh carefully, but not apply rashly. Paul is not making a command here. And by comparing his words to Romans chapter 14:15-16, we see that Paul commands Christians to communicate with each other about what they believe is evil and what they believe is not.
"For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil."
In other words, if a Christian friend sees you eating "idol meat" and says "isn't that evil?", but you believe it is not, don't just shrug and keep eating. This could lead to your friend's misunderstanding about the truth! They might think that good and evil aren't really important to the Christian life! In reality, what they need to know is why you believe eating "idol meat" is not evil. Why, in fact, it is a perfectly good thing! (Protein is good for the diet!)
I want to point out that this passage is only applicable to "grey areas" of scripture. If the Bible identifies something as sin, in black and white, it's sin, no matter how you or I may feel about it. But hopefully passages like this one will help us navigate other waters more safely and confidently.
I would highly recommend supplimenting your reading with Romans chapter 14. I'd also suggest visiting The Christian Gamer's Guild online (http://www.christian-gamers-guild.org/) and reading through the "weaker brother" section of their FAQ page. This is possibly the best treatment I've read of these passages as they relate specifically to fantasy gaming hobbies like "Dungeons and Dragons".
Next Week- Some Perspective On "Ministry" Coffee House Question Have you ever felt looked down on or rejected by others for a hobby or interest you enjoy? How did you respond to the situation?
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