Article for January 28, 2024
1 Corinthians 8:1–3 1Concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. 2If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.
I am no expert as some of you are willing to let others know. I have always much to learn, however, I am not without knowledge of God, Jesus Christ, and His word. But this is not about what I know or do not know, rather it is about loving one another. More importantly this is about loving the Lord God, (Yahweh Elohim).
There are many who claim to know more than others and are not afraid to puff up and boast. But this puffing up does not show love to one another. Puffing up is self-serving and a means to help others feel either less about themselves or less about the ones who are too proud to be puffed up.
Though all are not puffed up, all have done much to influence those around them to feel lesser at some time or another. We do this act mostly under the guise of ignorance. In other words, we don’t seem to understand or realize the language we speak in tone and in body linguistics. But at any given time or situation our attitude gets in the way. We end up speaking more words with our actions than we do with our mouth, and we don’t realize we have done so. Therefore, we say much that conveys a message of demise to some around us.
1 Corinthians 8:4–6 4Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
This is not really all about eating food offered to idols, rather it is about serving idols and worshiping them. There are many “gods” and “lords” in this world. It should be made clear that our idols come in many shapes and in many fabricated artifacts. People worship a lifestyle, other people stuff, riches, and even life on earth, in place of worshiping God.
There is a philosophy that one can reach their own heaven. There are some who claim they will reach heaven on their own terms. And there are those who feel you need to grab your heaven now just in case heaven does not exist.
So, science can have their theories on how life began and how life will end, but the Truth will still set us free. What some of our scientists can’t seem to wrap their brain around is the Truth that sets us free is not the telling, rather it is Jesus Christ. Jesus is and always will be, despite theoretical science, the Truth, the Way, and the Life.
1 Corinthians 8:7–9 7However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
So, if you think this is just about what you eat, please think again. This is about everything one indulges in. Food, actions, words, and thoughts can be misleading to those around you. We are all teachers, and we all teach others who are around us at any given time and in any given place. We influence many people though we might not think we do.
There are many who are influenced by the rich and the famous. Not that all rich are bad influencers, or all the famous are bad influencers. And many who are poor or middle class are also those who influence others. Some people influence ignorantly, and some influence purposely. Either way we teach, and we especially teach our youth by what we do, say, and think as well as what we eat.
You wonder where your child got those words they spoke? Mostly from you, but also from school, peers, and entertainment. We have a world that commands the teaching of everyone at every age. Tell me is American Idol your idol, or is the Hollywood infamous your god?
1 Corinthians 8:10–11 10For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died.
Would that we could influence our young and ourselves with the gospel that is given to us as a gift from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. How is it that the world thinks we Christians are judgmental? Is it not Jesus Christ who came to save the sinner and not the righteous? Are we Christians non sinners or are we the worst of sinners like Saint Paul.
We Christians need one who can save us from our own sin. And praise be to our Lord God, (Yahweh Elohim) we are given a savior who is God’s own begotten Son. So, we know Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for all sin, past, present, and future and this is for all who sin so that we may all believe and be saved.
Jesus died on a cross for us. And Jesus saved us through the deepest love of God the Father. The love of the Father is to save His beloved creation. You are that beloved creation and now adopted into the family to be brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus paid the ransom, and Jesus was resurrected so that we may see the path to eternal life. And now we are gifted through the gospel of Jesus Christ to live an eternal life with Him forever and ever. Amen.
Written by Pastor Curtis A. May
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