Exercising Your Rights as a Christian & 1 Corinthians 8 • What Does 1 Corinthians 8 Mean? | Church

Understanding Christian Freedom and Its Boundaries

In this engaging Bible teaching from Founded in Truth Fellowship, speaker Matthew Vander Els delves into the complex and highly relevant passage of 1 Corinthians chapters 8 through 10. The central theme revolves around how Christians should exercise their freedoms and knowledge, particularly when it comes to matters of personal conviction and the potential impact on fellow believers. The passage in 1 Corinthians addresses a specific issue faced by the early church in Corinth: the consumption of food that had been sacrificed to idols.

The Corinthian church was a diverse community, much like many congregations today, composed of individuals from various backgrounds and with differing levels of spiritual maturity. This diversity, while a strength, also led to disagreements and divisions. One significant point of contention was whether it was permissible for Christians to eat meat that had been offered as a sacrifice in pagan temples. Some believers, possessing greater knowledge and understanding of their freedom in Christ, believed that idols were nothing and therefore eating such meat was inconsequential. They argued that their knowledge acted as a spiritual shield, preventing any form of idolatrous worship even if they participated in temple meals.

However, other believers, particularly those newer to the faith or those with a background deeply entrenched in pagan practices, had weaker consciences. For them, eating meat sacrificed to idols could easily lead to a sense of participation in the very idolatry they had renounced. They viewed such actions as a betrayal of their faith and a return to their former ways of life. This difference in perspective created significant tension within the church, with the more knowledgeable members sometimes looking down on those with weaker consciences, labeling them as weak and lacking understanding.

The Concept of Adiaphora: Navigating the Gray Areas

To address this issue, the Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, introduces a crucial concept known as adiaphora. This Greek term refers to things that are non-essential, neutral, or indifferent in the context of salvation and God’s grace. These are matters of opinion, preference, or cultural practice that do not inherently hinder one’s relationship with God. Examples of adiaphora could include things like dancing, painting, certain clothing choices (such as women wearing pants, as explored in the teaching), or drinking wine in moderation.

Paul clarifies that there are clear distinctions between what is good and what is evil for a believer. Actions like murder and adultery are unequivocally sinful. Similarly, the life of a believer should be characterized by good deeds, forgiveness, and mercy. However, adiaphora falls into the gray area, where there is no explicit command or prohibition in Scripture that directly addresses the matter.

The problem arises when believers take their personal convictions about adiaphora and elevate them to the level of divine prohibition. When this happens, it leads to division, bitterness, and a misrepresentation of God’s character. Conversely, it is equally problematic when believers dismiss clear prohibitions from God as mere adiaphora, thus minimizing sin.

Knowledge vs. Love: The Priority of Edification

Paul confronts the Corinthian believers who prided themselves on their knowledge, stating that “knowledge puffs up while love builds up.” He emphasizes that true understanding is not merely intellectual but is rooted in love for God and for one’s neighbor. While acknowledging that idols are indeed nothing in reality and that there is only one true God, Paul argues that not everyone possesses this understanding. For those with weaker consciences, participating in activities associated with idol worship can be deeply damaging to their faith.

Paul’s primary concern is not with the act of eating the meat itself, which he considers adiaphora. Rather, his concern lies in the potential for this action to become a stumbling block for weaker believers. A stumbling block, in this context, is not merely causing offense but leading someone into spiritual ruin or causing them to abandon their faith. If a believer with a weak conscience sees a more knowledgeable Christian eating in an idol’s temple, they might be emboldened to participate, believing it to be acceptable, even though their own conscience condemns it. This could ultimately lead to their spiritual destruction, for which Christ died.

Two Scenarios: Temple Meals vs. Marketplace Meat

The teaching highlights that Paul addresses two distinct scenarios in his letter. The first is the act of eating food offered and sacrificed to idols within the pagan temple itself. This setting was not merely about sharing a meal; it was a sacred meal, a sacred space, and a sacred party where people communed with the god they served. It often involved festive environments and could even include immoral practices associated with pagan worship. Paul strongly discourages participation in such temple meals, equating it to dining with demons. He argues that Christians cannot partake in both the table of the Lord (communion) and the table of demons.

The second scenario involves food that may have been offered to idols but is now being sold in the public marketplace. In this case, Paul takes a more lenient stance. He advises believers to eat anything sold in the market without raising questions of conscience, as the earth belongs to the Lord and everything in it. Similarly, if an unbeliever invites a Christian to a meal and serves meat, the believer should eat whatever is offered without questioning its origin. However, if someone explicitly points out that the food has been sacrificed to an idol, Paul suggests refraining from eating it, not for the sake of one’s own conscience (if it is strong), but for the sake of the person who informed them and for the sake of their conscience. This is an act of love and consideration for others.

Forfeiting Rights for the Sake of Others

A central principle that emerges from this teaching is the willingness of Christians to forfeit their rights for the sake of edifying others and preventing them from stumbling. Paul himself provides an example of this, stating that if his eating meat would cause a brother or sister to fall into sin, he would never eat meat again. He argues that true freedom in Christ is not about asserting one’s privileges but about using that freedom to serve others selflessly. If someone cannot willingly give up their right to something that is considered adiaphora for the sake of another person’s spiritual well-being, then they are not truly free but are a slave to their own desires.

Applications for Everyday Life

• Prioritize Love Over Knowledge: In all interactions with fellow believers, let love be the guiding principle.
• Recognize and Respect Adiaphora: Understand that there are many areas in life where personal convictions and preferences differ.
• Consider the Impact on Others: Before engaging in any activity, consider how it might affect those around you.
• Avoid Being a Stumbling Block: Be mindful that your actions could unintentionally lead another believer into spiritual doubt.
• Be Willing to Forfeit Your Rights: If your exercise of a personal freedom causes a fellow believer to stumble, be willing to forgo that freedom.
• Distinguish Between Adiaphora and Sin: Do not minimize clear biblical prohibitions as mere matters of opinion.
• Engage with Wisdom and Discernment: Seek to understand the underlying principles of love and edification.
• Focus on Unity: Strive for unity within the body of Christ.
• Examine Your Own Heart: Be aware of the tendency to judge others while overlooking sin in your own life.
• Act in a Way That Glorifies God: Ultimately, all actions should bring glory to God.

Conclusion

The teaching on 1 Corinthians 8-10 emphasizes that while Christians have freedom in Christ, this freedom should always be exercised with love, wisdom, and consideration for others. For more Bible Teachings, click the link.