1 Corinthians 10:14-33
14 So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols.15 You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am saying is true. 16 When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? 17 And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body. 18 Think about the people of Israel. Weren’t they united by eating the sacrifices at the altar?
19 What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods?20 No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want you to participate with demons. 21 You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too.22 What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is?
23 You say, “I am allowed to do anything”[d]—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. 24 Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.
25 So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience.26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”[e]
27 If someone who isn’t a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience.28 (But suppose someone tells you, “This meat was offered to an idol.” Don’t eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. 29 It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.) For why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? 30 If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it?
31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles[f] or the church of God. 33 I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.
This passage seems quite confusing at first as Paul appears to make one argument and then the opposite one. It leaves you wondering what he really means. So, the first key to understanding the flow of his argument is to remember that this is a letter and not an essay. He is writing to people that he knows and he is responding to things that they have said, showing where they are missing the point.
The specific problem that he is dealing with is not one that we really encounter today. In the ancient world people would sacrifice animals to gods and then share the meat in a feast. It is clear that there were Christians who were sharing in these feasts and that others were ashamed of their behaviour. Should they be brazenly taking part in a feast dedicated to Jupiter or Venus?
Their argument is that the demons have no power and so they can eat what they like. However Paul says that this is naive and that they should in no way be part of anything that they know to be demonic. His response is strong: do you dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy? What you worship you become. So, avoid everything that is dark.
I think that we know this deep down. I have recently been helping someone with an addiction to pornography. They feel trapped by their lust and frustrated by their behaviour. Part of their response to this has been to swap their iPhone for a ‘brick’ with no browser. In just a few weeks you can visibly see the difference within them. They are battling but already seem so much lighter and healthier. We are shaped and transformed by our appetites and environments.
However, Paul counters that if they are there because they are trying to reach people for the God, then that is different and they should know that they are safe and under his protection. For Paul, the key is not as much the activity but the intentionality. Are you there are a worshipper or a rescuer? Are you being shaped by the environment or is the environment being shaped by you? Are you celebrating what God condemns?
We should ruthlessly distance ourselves from all things that are dark and evil. Don’t take darkness lightly. However, we are also called to enter into the darkest places to bring light, so equally do not be afraid. Be bold and courageous.
Where does blending in compromise your faith and/or negatively affect how people see God?
