We know now that this letter is to answer misunderstandings that Paul’s letter provoked. He has told the Church not to associate with people who say they are Christian but don’t live like one. This is certainly still applicable today. Then because of the crisis they were living under he has written extensively on marriage, divorce, remarriage and singleness and again even 2,000 years later we find this helpful. We are now going to be reading the next 3 chapters about something a little strange for us and our culture.
“Now about food sacrificed to idols …” (1 Corinthians 8 v 1)
The question seems to be this: Can Christians eat in pagan temples? But a further question: Can Christians eat the food that was originally prepared for the pagan dinners but then was actually sold in the market? Some would say idols are nothing, compared to God they are non-existent and we shouldn’t be afraid of them therefore do what you want. It is partly true. Paul says (8:1 – 10:22 don’t do that. Don’t respond to the invitations to have dinner in the pagan temple restaurants where this food is offered previously to idols (even if idols are non-existent). But if you are shopping in the markets don’t be worrying if you are buying this kind of food (10: 25-26) and when you’re home, so long as it won’t upset and disturb the faith of guests, again don’t worry (but if it does then don’t eat the food associated with idols).
It might seem non-applicable to us but it isn’t. We will be challenged because idols are all around us. In the midst of Paul answering this question he will also reveal some amazing statements of faith and advice for Christian living.
Now about food sacrificed to idols.
This is the opener. The focus is not the food but it is the idols. They lived at a time when much of their food was linked to the worship of gods. And so do we.
Yesterday the news channels reported on India’s biggest Hindu festival, the Kumbh Mela, it is held every 12 years and lasts for 6 weeks (until February 26th) Around 400 million pilgrims are expected and yesterday alone 16 million had taken a ritual bath in the Ganges. In their promotional material (which is easily accessed online as I did this morning) they advertise ‘The Role of Food at Kumbh Mela), “It is more than sustenance; it’s a spiritual offering ….” (https://ujjainkumbh.com)
Throughout the Bible we are told not to associate with idols. We are prohibited within the 10 Commandments to worship other gods in anyway.
Idols are things we look to in order to find God. Idols are all around us. We can come closer to home than the Ganges. Is it possible to idolise people and places and become in danger of worshipping those things? Could it be that idols are in the Church? Maybe we are not eating food sacrificed to idols but are we living our lives accepting of idols nevertheless? Do we have an attitude that we can do anything we want. We can bring into our lives and into our Churches anything we want to either entertain or sustain us. Could it be possible we don’t know? Idolising is to make a person or a place (or a statue resembling a god) more than they are and equal to God (in terms of desire, time and energy). Are idols amongst us? The argument commences with this opening sentence. It is simply based on this statement which is as relevant today: I can do what I like. Paul will say No you can’t.
Missions Paul 