Sensitivity

I Corinthians 8:1-13

In the world today we hear a lot about people’s rights, what we have a natural right to do.  We try and seek out special privileges, as well. No one likes to have their rights or privileges trampled on or taken away.  So many feel that if they have the right to do something, no one should be telling them otherwise. Many in the church in Corinth felt the same way.  In our Scripture passage today the Apostle Paul addresses an issue which came up in the Corinthian church between two groups, one who knew they had the right to be doing something, and another group who were being offended by the others.

Let’s first get a little background to help explain what was going on. The city of Corinth at this time was filled with dozens upon dozens of pagan temples, filled with idols.  Followers of these false gods would bring meat sacrifices to these idols.  Afterwards the meat would frequently be brought to the market and sold as food. Sometimes some believers from the Corinthian church would purchase and eat this meat.  Other believers there took offense, feeling the ones eating this food were somehow partaking in pagan worship of false gods.

Paul devotes this chapter in order to address an issue that was becoming a big problem there.  Let’s see what he says regarding this. There are many false gods, both at this time and today.  They are not real.  Pagan idols are false, and the gods they represent do not exist. The rituals and sacrifices done to them are meaningless (vs. 4-6). We don’t worship one god among many.  Yahweh is the only God there is.  The one group of believers knew this, and to them, the meat was just a piece of meat, and they saw nothing wrong with it.  The other group felt the group was contaminated by the false gods and rituals.

Paul knew and taught that Jesus has given all believers the liberty to eat foods that had been prohibited in the Old Testament.  They didn’t have to follow the Old Testament dietary laws.  Food offered to idols means nothing, as the gods they represent do not exist.  We are not saved by virtue of what we eat or don’t eat.  There is nothing wrong with eating any food, if we thank God for it (vs. 8).

The more important issue to him was the consideration each group should be showing to each other. Today, food being sacrificed to idols is not much of an issue, but there are other issues equally divisive, that one group says believers shouldn’t do, and others say is permissible. Paul is saying that if a believer misunderstands our actions, out of consideration to them, we should avoid doing those things (vs. 9-13).  We should avoid doing anything that will weaken their faith. Paul did everything with view of honoring God, building believers up, and winning other people to Christ. Stronger believers should be careful not to offend a sensitive, or newer believer by their example, causing them to sin.  Our consideration for others should lead us to put our freedoms aside to help strengthen their faith.

If our knowledge is led by the Holy Spirit, and expressed with godly love, He can use it to transform someone (vs. 1-3).  It is easy to develop an arrogant, know-it-all attitude.  We need to be willing and open to listen to, and learn from both God and others.

Nothing is more important than spreading the Gospel.  God has given us many rights, blessings, and privileges.  Giving up some of our rights is a worthwhile sacrifice, and we should be willing to give some of them up if it will either help someone to come to know Jesus, or build them up.  We should always desire God’s best for fellow believers, even if it means self-denial.