It happens all the time. You’re relaxing in the back yard when your neighbor fires up his grill and soon you smell the sweet odor of mouthwatering steaks and hear their siren call in the form of sizzle. You call across the fence and compliment the aroma and his obvious skill with the grill. Next thing you know you’re invited over and a juicy ribeye is placed before you. Your about to dig in when he tells you, “enjoy! This is the best steak and the meat was originally sacrificed to Asclepius.”

Don’t you hate it when that happens?

Okay, maybe that doesn’t happen every day, or even any day, but it was a problem in ancient Corinth for Christians and there is some application still be had for the modern reader. Chapter eight begins the next item on the Corinthian list of questions: What are Christians to do about food sacrificed to idols? The context for this section extends from 8.1 through 11.1, though once again Paul makes an apparent shift in topic right in the middle of his instruction regarding idols. In chapter nine he will rant about his mistreatment as an apostle, though not to change the subject, only to boast about his independence from their support. The first half of chapter ten is dedicated to an examination of the sins of Israel, which will ultimately find their application at the end of chapter ten, where he once more picks up the topic of food sacrificed to idols. For this reason, this study will approach chapters 8.1-.13 and 10.14-11.1 as a single text, and then go back and explain 9.1-10.13 in light of the starting and end points.

The sentiments of 8.1 are repeated in 10.23. In 8.1 Paul introduces his topic, “Now about food sacrificed to idols…” and then proceeds to discuss “knowledge” rather than either idols or food. There is a direct correlation, however. The reason will become clear as we continue to study the text. For now, it is important to note that while we all possess a degree of knowledge, knowledge is self-centered and builds up a man’s ego. Knowledge must be tempered with love, which is other-centered and builds up those around him. Using a twist with the words “knowledge” and “love” Paul reminds us that God has “knowledge” of all who “love” Him.

“So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols…” Verses four and five begin a helpful lesson regarding the role of idols and demon-gods, one which finds its conclusion in 10.18-.22. Paul clearly and repeatedly makes the point that, for the practicing Christian, there is only one God we acknowledge for while the world may worship men as gods, idols and even demons “in heaven and on earth” they all pale in comparison to the one true God of all. God’s protection of his children is complete and lacks nothing. His use of the terms “heaven” and “earth” inform us that Paul is thinking beyond earthly idols and is also considering the spirit world of angels and demons (for even demons exist in heaven according to Job 1.6). This is clarified when Paul again picks up this thread in chapter 10.14-11.1, where he clarifies “the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God”. Therefore, though we can acknowledge the existence of entities who set themselves up as a god, we have no need to fear, respect or give credence to them. There is no situation we can get ourselves into that God cannot get us out of. For this reason, Paul tells us that there is no God but ours.

The next few verses (8.7-.13) have been frequently mishandled and misunderstood, so they bear careful examination. This is the famous “Weaker Brother” passage so often quoted by conservatives to denounce everything from drinking alcoholic beverages to violence on television (ignoring that Jesus, and most of the other characters of the Bible, drank wine and that the Bible itself contains much violence).

Verse seven indicates that, since the church is so new, many still do not fully grasp that God is our only concern.

They remain intimidated by the idols (i.e. gods) they once worshipped. For them, to eat the food offered at a pagan feast or festival causes them to feel connected to the false god and violates their conscience. Even though food – sacrificed to an idol or not – has zero impact on our relationship with God Almighty, this person should listen to their conscience and abstain from eating such food.

Verse nine instructs the knowledgeable (mature believers) to act in love toward those believers who continue to struggle with their former beliefs in false gods. Essentially, Paul advises mature believers to set aside their ability to participate in pagan festivals and meals as a form of love toward their younger brothers and sisters in Christ. Think of it as not indulging in a spirited beverage when having dinner with an alcoholic. To do so would be insensitive to their weakness and may lead them into a violation of their conscience or, at worse, into sin.

This principle requires openness in the body. One believer cannot know the weaknesses of another by ESP, the information must be disclosed. While this may sound like a violation of privacy, the church is supposed to be a place where such conversations can be held and the people trusted. When believers are open about their weaknesses we can all look out for each other. Unfortunately, many extend this principle too far. For example, many conservative groups teach abstinence from everything from alcohol to rock music citing this passage as justification, which is incorrect. As stated earlier, one would not invite an alcoholic out for a drink, though there is nothing wrong with a glass of wine with dinner when in the company of others who do not struggle in this fashion. This is how the Christian community is supposed to work: we must address concerns when they are raised, not live in fear of theme being raised.

Chapter ten, beginning in verse 14, appears to be the continuation of the topic at hand: “Therefore… flee from idolatry.” Paul claims to be speaking to “sensible” or “shrewd” people. They are people capable of judging right from wrong. All Christians are to be such people, sensible and shrewd (for teachings on being shrewd, see Matthew 10.16 and Luke 16.1-.15). Now Paul lays out an argument for not participating in pagan festivals. He teaches that even as we partake of Christ in the taking of communion, and even as the Jews participate in the altar for the redemption of sins by eating a portion of the sacrifice, so we too participate in the worship of false gods when we partake of their festivals. He clarifies that even though we may not have any allegiance to the false god, our participation in a demonic event is still wrong and may invoke the Lord’s jealousy. If God keeps himself from demon celebrations, how much more should we? Certainly God is strong enough to participate without sinning! “Are we stronger than He?”

Once more we must be careful to apply Scripture correctly. Some use this passage to show why Christians should not participate in Halloween (and in some cases, Christmas!). Though many holidays have their founding in pagan and occult ritual, most of them can be celebrated without violating one’s conscience or falling into sin. There is no reason to not participate, and in fact every reason to use the opportunity to teach a secular culture the value of Christ. How effective would it be to dress our children in Biblical costumes, explaining their significance to our neighbors as we guide our children through the neighborhood? Or to give a brief gospel summary along with candy to the children that come to our door? Yet many Christians stay safely behind their locked and darkened doors.

Finally, Paul gives us a reason why some of the “strong” brothers may choose to partake of occult ceremonies: they themselves wish to appease a strong desire to participate in the things they did before they knew Christ. In today’s culture some Christians “live in liberty” in order to gain the acceptance and respect of others outside the body of Christ. They flaunt their “knowledge” (paralleled with 8.1) and claim it is their “right” to practice eating at the temples of foreign gods (or trying to force the theory of evolution into the Bible), partaking with those gods or philosophies, and then citing the favored slogan we’ve heard before (6.12) “Everything is permissible.” In truth, not everything is permissible.

God disciplines his children.

While He does not stop us from doing wrong, He does let us suffer the natural consequences of our misbehavior and sometimes adds to it with His own form of punishment. Yet the apostle takes a different approach that is more fitting with his statement in 10.15. If indeed we are to be a shrewd people, then we should recognize that these indiscretions are neither beneficial or constructive. The bottom line is we are not to seek our own good, but the good of others.

The conclusion of the matter regarding food sacrificed to idols is in 10.25-11.1. Paul’s instruction is to have a “don’t-ask/don’t-tell” policy. There is no need to buy groceries from only Christian vendors, nor should we hold secular businesses to Christian standards. “Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience…” Also, when eating at a non-believer’s home, eat heartily. Everything on earth belongs to God; so long as it is received with thanks to God, we may eat anything we desire (just make certain that it is not at the idol’s temple). The exception to this rule is if you are informed that the food has been sacrificed to a false deity. This changes the scenario in two possible ways: (1) it may be a well-intentioned unbeliever who wants only those who worship his god to partake (much as we deny unbelievers communion), or (2) it is a form of entrapment. In the first case, partaking of the meal would violate the non-believer’s conscience and would be impolite. In the second case, the unbeliever is testing you. They want to see if you will participate with them in their worship. In either case the appropriate response is to not eat the meal. Show that you are dedicated to your God and no other by abstaining.