“An age-old problem”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Monday, October 9, 2023
1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1 (Forward, p. 72) CEV p. 1197
Here, in today’s passage, the apostle Paul returns to some issues that he had already dealt with in this letter, so now he seeks to clarify what he has said earlier and emphasize it all the more. The presenting issue is, of course, the matter of meat that was previously dedicated in the temple of a pagan god. That this happened rather frequently with meat offered for sale in the public created quite a problem for believers. The question for believers was simply this: just how were they to deal with it?
Paul’s response was to ask them whether they knew for sure that this had happened. If the answer was ‘yes’, they should desist eating this meat, and for two reasons:
a) The first is that though the idols were nothing in and of themselves (and neither is the meat sacrificed to them), the demons that lie behind the idols were very real indeed. Accordingly, by eating such meat, Christian believers were unintentionally worshipping or fellowshipping with these demons, which should not be. Indeed, this is a grave offence against God and something to be greatly avoided.
b) The second concern has to do with the impact of so eating on other believers. His advice: if you know for sure that this meat has indeed been offered in a pagan temple, then most assuredly you should not eat it. But if you don’t know for sure or haven’t been told, then for goodness’ sake, don’t ask. Just go ahead and eat it with a clear conscience.
However, even if this is the presenting issue, there is yet a more serious issue lying behind it. It is the matter of personal freedom. And here it is that many of our present translations do not serve us well, for they do not make it entirely clear when Paul is starting something of his own convictions versus when he is quoting someone else. I would allege therefore that the following statements are not Paul’s but rather someone that he is engaged in a discussion with:
“We can do whatever we want to” (verse 23);
“Why should my freedom be limited by someone else’s conscience? If I give thanks for what I eat, why should anyone accuse me of doing wrong? (verses 29-30);
Perhaps the question of food offered to idols seems rather remote and unrelated to modern life, but now here is an issue that impacts and effects nearly all of us. It is the issue of when our personal freedom impinges upon the faith and well-being of one’s fellow believers. Paul’s conviction is that nothing that we do should ever cause problems or become a stumbling block to the faith of others. Indeed, he says, “I always try to please others instead of myself, in the hope that many of them will be saved” (verse 33).
I would suggest, then, that if each of us in the church were to make it our principle always to look out for each other in our daily interactions with each other, there would be a lot more harmony and a lot less trouble or disputes or hard feelings. Indeed, the church, and the world, would be a much better place.
Forward notes: “Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread” (chapter 10, verse 17).
“This verse from 1 Corinthians is a helpful reminder that even though we may disagree with another person, we are all part of the Body of Christ.
“When Paul wrote these words to the emerging Christian community in Corinth, they were having some difficulties, and divisions were forming. Sound familiar? Like so much of Scripture, these words written many centuries ago are relevant today. Our world is very divided, and there is a great deal of inequality.
“In some congregations I have attended, I know there were parishioners with whom I strongly disagreed on various issues. If I found myself thinking badly of them, I would remind myself that It wasn’t my place to judge them. We all come to the same eucharistic table to share in Christ’s body and blood and remember his sacrifice. Every person is needed in the Body of Christ. All who come to the table receive God’s love.”
Moving Forward: “Plan on attending in the Eucharist weekly. Before the service, offer prayers, particularly on behalf of those with whom you disagree.”
A concluding note: Although today’s author is undoubtedly correct in saying that as fellow Christians we all belong in the Body of Christ, her meditation misses the point of the passage. Paul is talking about more than just differences of opinion, arguments, but about things that severely impair the faith of our fellow believers. He says that this should never happen, and those who have the potential to make this happen—which is all of us—should surely watch our ways and prevent it from