“It isn’t MY problem!”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Wednesday, October 4, 2023
1 Corinthians 8: 1-13 (Forward, p. 67) CEV p. 1195
We today, especially those living in the so-called ‘civilized’ West, may consider today’s passage to be totally and irrevocably irrelevant, totally disconnected with the world in which we live. After all, who really believes in idols anymore, much less has a concern about food that offered to idols in their temples or shrines?
However, for some of the people in Corinth, particularly those who had converted to Christianity from one of these ‘pagan’ faiths, this was a very real and pertinent issue. Firstly, in a more general sense—one that impacted a much wider section of the population, it was the case that meat offered in the public market for sale had often been earlier dedicated or offered in a pagan temple. So, then, this raised the question of whether it was fit for a Christian to consume this meat or not?
Now, as for the question of actually going to that temple and eating some of that meat, this was an even more unsettling and difficult question, one that Paul then deals with in another breath. Underlying all this, there was the basic question of whether the idols in the temple—or the gods they represented—were really anything at all. Now, in today’s passage, Paul makes two assertions: firstly, that the idols have no life in them, regardless of what anyone might think (see verses 4,7). Furthermore, he states that they are not really gods after all (verses 4-5).
However, not all of these new believers—these weaker brethren, as he describes them—are fully of this mind, no, not yet. They are accustomed to thinking that the idols and the gods they represent are real, and so eating meat originally dedicated to them poses a very real problem. For them, it is a real stumbling block. For that reason, Paul counsels other believers who don’t believe in this way to ‘go easy’ on these weaker members by not flouting their freedom to eat whatever they want. These weaker members, being of a weaker or more sensitive conscience, would be hurt or led astray by them doing this.
One might well consider that this discussion is totally outside of the parameters of today’s situation, but actually it is not. I know of alcoholics
who find it problematic even to smell alcohol, much less be in the presence of people who are drinking. Same goes for tobacco, drugs and other addictive substances. Interestingly, the same issue arose in terms of the Harry Potter ‘franchise’: those most upset or wary about it were those who had previously dabbled in witchcraft or the occult. And the same thing sometimes happens with those who have converted to Christianity from non-Christian, particularly Eastern or animist, faiths when they encountered material objects—such as a bronze Buddha, for instance—or certain practices from their prior faith. For them, it was all too real and brought back memories of their previous involvements. And so, Paul is counselling us to have compassion on our fellow Christians, be sensitive to ‘where they are coming from’ and treat them accordingly. In other words, not to use our liberty to adversely impact them in their faith. Such, Paul would say, is what love is really about.
Forward notes: “We know that ‘all of us possess knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” (verse 1).
“As an elementary school teacher, I sought to help students achieve their academic goals and increase their knowledge. But it was equally important to me to help them become good citizens and human beings. I would teach students the importance of showing respect to everyone in the school community and treating each other with care.
“At one Episcopal school where I taught, the chaplain ended each chapel service singing the word, ‘It’s about love, that’s what it’s all about,’ as the children and teachers exited. At another Episcopal school, the students and teachers lived by the 3Rs: respect for self, respect for others, and respect for the world.
“On a daily basis, I watched these young people grow, academically, of course, but also in empathy toward others. Learning, reading, writing, and arithmetic—the other 3Rs—is important, but cultivating love of self, love of neighbour, and love of God builds a foundation for a Christ-centered life.”
Moving Forward: “How do you balance knowledge and love?”